They say they get better fuel milage....

 

Just think of the new crop of drivers this will bring to the Industry!!

 

The school I went to here in NY. We tested in automatic and a 28 ft trailer.

CDL Mill Oh yes without a doubt.

Can I shift now. Yes Thank God for an awesome trainer. That was over a year ago however.

Do I think Auto should be tested in? NO way. They should test with a Pete 379 and a 53 foot trailer. Well maybe not that extreme but you get the point.

 

I think they should go to these extremes. A 379 Pete will be harder to back up because of the mirrors being so far out and the stacks are so close to the door, more so than a w9. There is no looking behind you out the drivers window. This will teach them to use the mirrors instead! Its also easier to haul around a 53' as compared to a 28'. I think a smaller trailer and a 379 would be the perfect learning and testing vehicles. This will probably weed out a lot in the 1st week of training with the damage they will do...lol

 

our company hires drivers with 2 years experience and some of them drive my truck for a week to see where all the mills are.im amazed how many of them feel the need to practice shifting while empty rolling up to a stop sign on level ground.seems like a lot of wasted energy .if im gonna stop im not gonna step on the gas maybe grind a few gears whatever.why not step on the brakes roll up to the sign no muss or fuss. the night shift would destroy clutch brakes all the time now were getting these autoslop trannys that destroy clutch brakes automaticly