A note to the anti-auto crowd

I was told today by our maintenance dept. That the autos in our fleet (only like 100 or less) will be sold soon. They said none of the drivers like them.

When the director of Arnold out of Jacksonville, FL came to our school I asked him about Arnold going back to manuals. He told me it costs less per unit and the drivers don't like the autos. So their buying new manuals. Why anyone would buy a 9 speed instead of at least a 10 is beyond me.

I will now be one of the guys that's fully against an auto. Ill take my stick back please.

I'm not comfortable with a computer controlling the transmission anymore. I miss shifting.

Ethan

 

that's why I reach for the jakes driving my pick up....lol.
just habit. Or resting my right arm on the shifter, ophs not there.
Its like the opening I need for cross traffic, you could drive a semi thru.....
you spend so much time in these things, that a car doesnt feel right????
Its just second nature.
Been there done that. Or leave your personal car tranny(manual) in neutral when you park! Taking corners in town like you were 60-80 feet long. Going for that next gear and well there aren't anymore.

 

I'm ignorant? Let me explain it in plain English, if your batteries are dead you cannot Start a modern diesel engine, the reason for this is that below 10 volts approx the fuel pumps will not operate so if there's no diesel to burn you can't start the engine can you? You can bump it down the side if everest if you want but no fuel equals no bang ! If you were an experienced driver you would know that.

You underestimate the learning power of your fellow drivers, in those circumstances a professional driver will know what he wants the truck to do all he has to do is get used to a new technique if achieving it and that usually only takes a good driver 1 day of using it to be proficient with it.
I don't have to 'find' any buttons, I just stick out my finger and touch the button on the shifter paddle or if my finger is busy picking my nose or saluting the police there is also a hold button on the floor, it becomes second nature in hours! Modern autos are no less controllable on slippery surfaces than a manual unless in the hands of someone that shouldn't be driving or in the hands of someone like you who hasn't a clue what he's talking about.

 

Mostly big machines like quarry and mining machines, dumpers, crushers, dozers, excavators etc, 3 weeks ago I delivered a CAT 390 to a quarry in Wales it was approx 185,000lbs, other stuff has been a liebherr 984 which was approx 264,000lbs which I took from Ireland to holland. Also we've done transformers , wind turbines, silos and just about anything you can't put in a normal truck even took a dish for a radio telescope from Ireland to scisily.

 

I should also add that the tractor and trailer weigh over 80,000lbs empty without the inter-dollies, we have a new trailer in the yard with a double inter-dolly and that's approx 114,000lbs with my tractor unit when empty but that's going to be pulled by a new r730 auto 200 tonne tractor , should be an animal!

 

I wou not be afraid to hook my old mack to suck equipment might give that old double over a workout however. To those of the auto crowd might give them a shot one day when i am too old to manhandle a walking beam suspension rig, they are handy from what i have seen ( pointed at you scania ) i just flat out dont like change.......

 

Give it a few years until your back hurts and your shoulder is messed up and you will wish you were in an automatic!

 

Mr christenbury i know whats comin, and fully accept it, this new kenyboxer however has me somewhat spoiled, doesn't mean i cant bring the ol girl back out to hual dirt when this kenworth is paid off. The county counts on that old girl now to push snow during freak storms in oklahoma due to her weight , dont mean she still cant compete in horsepower...

 

Call Guinness!! I've pull started a 2006 Sterling day cab with a Mercedes in it.

 

It is a fact that attitude has the biggest influence to driving a auto.
Take the same trucks but one with a manual and the other with a (good) auto,the way you drive both will not be the same.(first difference is the the gear ratio's aren't the same.)