Automatic trucks

Discussion in 'Trucking Jobs' started by krisjack, Jan 18, 2008.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. blackw900

    blackw900 The Grandfather of Flatbed

    5,817
    7,675
    Jul 12, 2009
    A.W.O.L
    0
    So do I...

    Winding the RPM is usually just a waste of fuel...Stay in the torque band and it'll pull and save fuel at the same time.
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Iceman_biker

    Iceman_biker Light Load Member

    191
    73
    Apr 30, 2010
    Arcadia LA
    0
    Winding the RPM is usually just a waste of fuel...Stay in the torque band and it'll pull and save fuel at the same time.[/QUOTE]

    Also, if you shift too low in the rpm range it will lower your fuel mileage and is extremely bad on a diesel engine.
     
  4. Buffalo Chip

    Buffalo Chip Light Load Member

    86
    40
    Apr 9, 2007
    Buffalo, NY
    0
    Why would anybody want an automatic anything? I learned to drive in my dads 1965 Chevy 3 speed pick up and every 4 wheeler I have owned except for 1 (which I only owned for 3 months) has been a manual transmission. You get more control with a manual and I can't imagine trying to negotiate a steep grade with 45,000 in the box driving an automatic truck!
    Quite honestly I find automatics boring to drive.
     
  5. blackw900

    blackw900 The Grandfather of Flatbed

    5,817
    7,675
    Jul 12, 2009
    A.W.O.L
    0
    How low is too low?

    I run my motor from 1200 to 1700 and I get better mileage with this truck than almost anyone else I know with a W900L and I have 1.5 million miles on it.


    But the steerigwheelholders are so challenged with the holding of the steering wheel that they need full concentration just for that...They can't be bothered with all that gear shiftin' and such!:biggrin_2559:
     
  6. Iceman_biker

    Iceman_biker Light Load Member

    191
    73
    Apr 30, 2010
    Arcadia LA
    0
     
  7. blackw900

    blackw900 The Grandfather of Flatbed

    5,817
    7,675
    Jul 12, 2009
    A.W.O.L
    0

    I do that in the lower gears when conditions allow to save fuel as well but you have to understand when it's appropriate and when you need to get the rev's up.
     
  8. WatsonDL1

    WatsonDL1 Light Load Member

    214
    167
    Jun 7, 2010
    Knoxville, Tn
    0
    US Xpress, and Interstate Distributor takes some. At least Interstate did about 3 years ago. They have a terminal in Lebanon, Tn and US Xpress is in Chatanooga, Tn
     
    banjer picker Thanks this.
  9. striker

    striker Road Train Member

    5,906
    6,186
    Aug 8, 2009
    Denver, Co
    0
    guess you need to go back to driving school, I do 6% and 7% grades (Vail Pass, Eisenhower, Sherman, Floyd Hill, Genesee, Berthoud, Loveland, I-90 in Montana) grossing between 75,000 and 79,000 in an automatic truck, been doing it for 10 yrs.
     
  10. dwayne

    dwayne Medium Load Member

    324
    165
    Apr 19, 2008
    0
    I've driven various autos. I can't stand the ones that roll while they are in gear (free wheel). I can tolerate the others. Personally I'd rather have a 13 or 18spd. The problem is these companies rather fill seats and accommodate non-driving drivers. I used to pull 6.7 mpg average with a KW W9 (475 Cat/13spd) with no fancy super singles, auto tranny, and other BS. Don't get me wrong though, I'm not saying if your piloting a truck with an auto you can't drive. I'm saying there is really no need for autos or the other fancy crap out there.
     
  11. phroziac

    phroziac Road Train Member

    3,138
    502
    Jun 16, 2009
    Gary, IN
    0
    Recently I've been noticing a lot of drivers who are looking straight ahead, never move their head, and are white knuckling the steering wheel, often with it very near their face. I have nothing to say when I glance over while i'm passing one, and notice this, except for..."Steering wheel holder!"


    I've never had a manual car because they're uncommon in michigan. Where i live, it's pretty much put in a car when the original owner was too cheap to get an auto. I noticed theyre a lot more common in 4 wheelers in very hilly states. Gee, wonder why?

    I'm gonna be putting a manual conversion in my car soon....rear wheel drive, easy deal...pop one out pop one in. All the holes are already cut out from the factory. :)

    Anyway, I guess you've never seen the shifter they use on these auto trucks. You can manually shift it into any gear you want, which is how you deal with mountains. Kind of defeats the purpose though. On a freightliner, you pull the steering wheel mounted shifter up to upshift, and down to downshift, and the manual or automatic setting is a slider switch on the top of it. Some trucks have what looks like a floor shifter from a car stuck in the cup holder though, haha.. :D
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  • Thread Status:
    Not open for further replies.