when will the trucking industry dispose of the manual transmission?

these days high tech trucks on the road use many different versions of automatic and semi automatic transmissions. the industry knows full well that to get the needed drivers they need to make trucks easier to drive. manual transmissions do save fuel and that is a major issue when running at least 100,000 miles a year at 5 to 8 miles per gallon. automatics are getting more and more prevalent in the industry

This is true and it is slowly happening. I think US Xpress has all automatics now. One of the reasons is like you mention, less training. 'Automatics' should not be confused with 'Automated'. Automated transmissions have a clutch pedal but it is only used when stopped. Once you get going it shifts by itself. This is referred to as a 'three pedal system'. A fully automatic transmission (like a car) is called a 'two pedal system'. The three pedal transmissions are more reliable because they are built from modified manual transmissions that are generally more reliable than automatics.

By the way these transmissions do come with Jake Brakes. I've driven both. With the automated transmission you probably get BETTER mileage because it is basically a manual transmission (Roadranger) that is being shifted by computer.

I hope not,I run 13 a speed now and love it. Shifting gear is not that big of a deal there is a lot more to worry about than just shifting. Like stopping 40 tons at 70 MPH when some soccer mom with kid's in the baby seat jump in front of you.

My daughter at thirteen could drive my big rig and she did great. Also the ARMY keeps it around 45 MPH for the most part.

So put on your big boy paints and learn you make it if you want to.

The VIN number indicates what type of transmission it had when it came off the assembly line. If you are looking to sell it as "original" then keep it that way, basically it is a matter of preference. The manual offers more transfer of torque, while the automatic is convenient. If you are restoring it then go with what it came with, if you are going to raise or lower it....I would go with manual if raised, auto if lowered.

I don't think they will; being able to shift up or down allows a safeguard not available in automatic transmissions, semi's, trailer pulling trucks need tremendous braking ability and the manual transmission is an aid in that respect, for going down steep grades and a way of slowing without burning up the brakes.

Manual transmission vehicles are cheaper and more fuel efficient than automatics--- so they mean less $$$ spent. Only when they loose more than they gain by staying manual, will they choose to *shift* to the automatic transmission system.

Well see then you get your grandma that can drive the truck and the only thing she knows how to do is put GASOLINE NOT DIESEL into the fuel tank of your tractor trailer....This being said....you could just hire your average Wal-Mart employee to drive your Peterbilt. NO sane person would ever want that to happen. It would be like a retard in a candy store.

If you can't drive a manual transmission then you shouldn't be driving a CDL required diesel. Unless it is a ford then...well who really cares? Why would you want the average person to legally be able to drive your tanker full of diesel fuel, octane fuel, or a National Bi-product tanker?

Personally, I don't want a zillion-pound logging truck coming up behind me down a hill with no way to gear the thing down and stop. I suspect standard transmissions in big rigs are here for the foreseeable future, and I, for one, am glad. I myself have a 5-speed standard transmission in my Jeep, and there's no way I'm going back to automatic. It took me all of a week to get into the feel of the standard, and I love having it, especially in the mountains!

Learn stick! What is wrong with the young people these days? Lazy! Better fuel economy, more control over the vehicle, less maintenance, and cheaper. Why wouldn't you learn how to drive manual transmission?

My guess is never. Manual transmissions are cheaper, more reliable, and much easier to repair when that needs to happen.