How are the auto-shift transmissions?

Discussion in 'US Xpress' started by jemack1, Dec 4, 2010.

  1. jemack1

    jemack1 Bobtail Member

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    Jul 9, 2010
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    I was just wondering if anyone could tell me how good auto-shift transmissions are compared to manual transmissions. I'm not very good at shifting a manual transmission and I would think that a truck with an auto-shift transmission would be so much easier to drive. If anyone could give me some answers I would greatly appreciate it.
     
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  3. Dionysus

    Dionysus Medium Load Member

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    Nov 21, 2010
    Edmonton, AB
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    We have a vehicle on our fleet with Volvo iShift. The rest of us have the regular 18-speed.

    I've never driven the Volvo, but I can tell you that the guy who regularly drives it gets all defensive and fidgety if anyone goes near it. He loves it now, although I believe he was a bit dubious when he first got it.

    I don't think it will be many years before we are all driving with automated transmissions.
     
  4. VIDEODROME

    VIDEODROME Road Train Member

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    angola, in
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    Well after CDL school I was placed with PAM and drove autos for 2 years so I'm used to them and like them.

    Of course just keep in mind the manual override for the hills and weather. There are times it makes sense to force it to hold the gear. I love it for stop and go traffic though.

    I will say some of the older ones really suck though. I recently drove for MCT and the trucks were Autos with a Clutch. Some older ones are probably the reasons some people hate them.

    But with USX I bet you'll get a Smart Shift and it'll work fine.
     
  5. jemack1

    jemack1 Bobtail Member

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    Jul 9, 2010
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    Thanks for the answers. I do worry that if I went to work for this company and decided to jump ship that I would end up driving a manual transmission and not be very good at it. I'm also worried that another company wouldn't hire me because of this.
     
  6. VIDEODROME

    VIDEODROME Road Train Member

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    angola, in
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    Admittedly also as an Auto driver I have run into this. It makes some recruiters cringe knowing you lack manual experience.

    It depends I guess on what you think you need to do. If you're okay with OTR I think there are ample Automatic fleets out there. Trying to find something more local I think you'll have a hard time though.

    I will also mention I've been eligible for 2 companies recently. J.B. Hunt and United Road. I was much more favorable to United. They were willingly to start processing my application and let me take a driver test.

    However I took the easy way out and hooked up with a company called Hiner out of Indiana that has an Autoshift fleet. But for me it's just work in the short term. In the long term I hope to transition out of trucking if possible.
     
  7. BLACK

    BLACK Bobtail Member

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    Jul 29, 2010
    augusta,ga
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    quick question. are us xpress INTERNATIONAL PROSTAR AUTO SHIFT TOO
     
  8. miz860

    miz860 Medium Load Member

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    Aug 23, 2010
    Philadelphia, PA
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    no internationals.
     
  9. Skunk_Truck_2590

    Skunk_Truck_2590 Road Train Member

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    Garbage AKA trash tranny's! Drove one, hated it, never again. Not many companies do have auto's so if you quit or got fired from one and didn't get hired on by another with them then your gonna be in (needless to say) deep #### because you never learned how to drive a stick.
     
  10. Flying Finn

    Flying Finn Heavy Load Member

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    Jun 22, 2010
    Ontario, Canada
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    I've driven the Eaton Autoshift and Volvo iShift.

    The Eaton is noisy and tended to hunt for gears on hills. The override did not work overly well to say the least. Might be fine out East but in the West it sucked on real hills.

    The Volvo was like a dream to drive. So quiet you almost never even knew it was shifting unless you watched the display. Ours didn't have the override on the iShift but you never needed it. The hill start and descent features worked flawlessly. Never had to hunt for the right gear when climbing a hill.

    If I had my choice I'd get an iShift before another Eaton.
     
  11. 52p-up

    52p-up Bobtail Member

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    Dec 5, 2010
    San Diego, Ca
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    quick question, the manual override or when you goto manual shifting does it work like a regular 10-speed on up?
     
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