Question:
If I got my CDL with a PTDI and drove with them for a year, Whats the big deal??
I am 57 grew up with stick shift, shifting without clutch, drove everything from farm tractors, to 6 bys in the service.
I don't fear shifting, he## never saw an auto till like 63 and it scared me, no clutch.
I can't believe that learning to shift from 3 or 4 or 6 gears is any different from 10 or 13 gears, its all tack,mph,or engine sound/feel of the truck.
I can't belive that I couldn't go to some school after leaving them, and buy 8 or 16 hours of time with a truck and instructor to get me on track and brush the rust off. Probably would have more time in truck than the school student did, shifting thru his whole course.
Worst case, with a CDL why couldn't I rent a truck for a day or two and just go out on my own and practice?
Now I understand and have met some people who have NEVER EVER seen or know what a stick shift is. They may have problems. But what about us old mossy backs that grew up on them. Just can't see where its a big deal.
I can't believe a Company is going to just FLAT turn down a PTDI with a year and say nope not interested you only drove auto's. They at least are going to get someone in and say take him around the block.
Don't mean to make anyone mad, but thats how it looks to this newbie and want to know if I am missing something?.

Answer:
If you have previous experience on a stick(such as Yourself), then by all means....Go with USX or any other Auto-Shift carrier.
It's the folks with NO experience(cars or big trks), that we advise NOT to start with a carrier that has auto-shift.
Once that person gets 1-2yrs under their belt drving "sticks"....THEN....they can drive for all of the auto-shift carriers they desire.
As` far as the carrier not hiring them b/c they have no exp with a stick....I can't help with that.
I always thought that the carrier would Road-Test the individual First, then go from there.(I could be wrong, since I've Never drvn an auto-shift....I've Never had That particular problem)
I remember road testing with a carrier that had all super-10's(I had about 5yrs exp with a stick & NO exp with super 10 or auto)..........
I simply told them in orientation that I have never drvn a super-10.... at the time I've only drvn straight 9 & 10 speeds.
Nowadays, I perfer a 13, 15, or 18spd.

Answer:
thanks, I just couldn't figure out what was the big deal. My dad and grandfather started me driving farm tractors at about 6 and at 7 I had to back and shift even when I had to stand up to push the cluch in. Went from cars, trucks, ect, shifting without cluch, service time. the whole ball of wax.
I just couldn't figure out why driving with an AUTO was such a big dear?? and going to cost me a chance with other companies.
Truth be know, I love shifting, listening to the engine, tact, the feel was the way I was raised.
Thanks again
John

Answer:

No company that I know of will do that. The issue is that drivers who have very little experience driving a manual truck truck tranny often fail the pre employment road test because they fail to demonstrate reasonable proficiency double clutching.

Semi trucks do shift differently than a manual in your car or pickup. Your road speed and engine speed must match precisely in order to complete a shift, unlike in a car which if you are in the ball park of 15-20 mph you can get it into what ever gear you want.
No one is telling you or anyone else to not go with USXpress. All we have been saying all along is that those who do may face additional hardships so be prepared.
Answer:
I think it's funny that choclit snda is always the first to chime-in against USX and autoshifts, since she (admittedly) has absolutely no experience with either.
Answer:

Her only comment against autoshifts is that it may hurt the mobility of people who aren't proficient with manual transmission vehicles. I would fit into that category since I've only had a stick shift car for 6 months (it was a $100 clunker) and a John Deere B tractor. If I learned how to be a driver in an auto and wanted to leave for a company that uses manual transmissions a year later, I'd be screwed since I probably wouldn't pass the initial test--regardless of my driving ability--simply because I didn't have time on a stick shift.
While I decided last year not to get into driving for now--although my cousin does well driving trucks and I thought about it again--I can say that people like her helped me make that decision with a lot more information than I would have had if I just talked to recruiters or isolated truckers. She has said more negative sounding things about CRST and lots of other companies than she has said about USX, and most of those were talking about the personality traits needed to last at certain gigs--such as the ability to drive team with CRST.

Answer:

My dear FATTY, you have a Severe case of Selective Reading.
Although I've never driven for USX....I DID drv for SWMF, which was an offspring of USX, until USX decided to totally gobble SWMF.(SouthWest Motor Freight, was the Solo drvr division of USX & USX, was the TEAM part of the company.)
Although, SWMF, had their own trks/trlrs, it's own dispatchers, it was Not uncommon for us to pull each other's trlrs.
SWMF & USX, also Shared the Same terminals, maint shops, drop yrds, customers, fuel stops, company policies, etc.
I'm NOT AGAINST Them(USX or Auto-Shifts)......For EXPERIENCED Drivers.(or newbies that HAVE Driven a stick in a Car or Straight Trk.)
But, to your defense.....you are Correct....I Am Against Them For NEWBIES with NO Shifting Experience.
I have made it NO Secret that I have NEVER driven an auto-shift.(nor do I have any desire to drive one at this time.)
To me, one of the Fun Parts of driving is being able to control my shifts. (I'll admit, SOMETIMES in stop-n-go city traffic I wish I had auto-shift...then...I shake my head & come back to reality. )
Maybe one of these days when I get Lazy & more concerned about fuel efficiency I'll decide to get one, but for now I'll "stick" with my STICK.