On the auto vs stick debate I ring in on the side of the manual every time for a true heavy haul truck. For a lightweight truck, running 80,000# loads or less, an auto may be fine, but for heavy loads and the wide variety of road conditions you need to travel to get to new construction sites, I want to control what gear my truck is in, not some computer that doesn't know what the road conditions ahead are like.
I also agree about the auto leading to problems of driver awareness of what is going on around him. When you do not have to think about driving, gear selection, and such, pretty soon you will not think as much about the basic task of driving, and that may lead you into situations you would not get in if you were focused due to the shifting decisions required.
I have an 18 speed with 2 speed rears, and drive So Cal traffic, which is worse than anywhere else in the country other than maybe some of the major East Coast cities and would still not trade for an auto.
I also agree about the auto leading to problems of driver awareness of what is going on around him. When you do not have to think about driving, gear selection, and such, pretty soon you will not think as much about the basic task of driving, and that may lead you into situations you would not get in if you were focused due to the shifting decisions required.
I have an 18 speed with 2 speed rears, and drive So Cal traffic, which is worse than anywhere else in the country other than maybe some of the major East Coast cities and would still not trade for an auto.