Companies running automatic transmissions?

We have two autos and 12 manuals. The autos are easy but also use a lot more fuel than our manuals. They also have a manual mode, so pulling hills and going down them isn’t an issue. But I prefer manual

 

Oh youz guys... ...lol

 

That's odd that your fleet uses "a lot more" fuel with the autos than your manuals. What kind of setup do you have in each truck (assuming they're spec'd the same on each side)?

 

Auto 10 speeds with 3:55 rear ends. Manual 13 and 10 speeds with 3:55 rear ends. The manuals use less fuel. Auto shifts at lower rpms and isn’t as fuel efficient. These autos are 09’s so today’s might be different.

 

You're probably right. We just changed to a fully auto shift fleet at the beginning of the year, 10 speed manuals to 12 speed auto shifts, everything else the same. We've gone up on average +/-1.2 mpg.

 

As far as pulling a grade with an auto and it pops out of gear then it's not really a problem just raise the rpm's and grab the next lower gear. I'v been up so many grades loaded they don't scare me anymore.

 

My 2 cents worth...
I've driven for over 20 years, and I was always an advocate for manual transmissions. Even though I drove a couple autos, and they were ok, except for the 1st and 2nd generation when you were backing in! What a joke!
However... one FACT that I'm seeing that none of you have considered is my particular situation. And that is... an injury to my shoulder and elbow. In fact, I suffered a torn tendon in 2012 in my right shoulder, where the tendon in question was evidently weakened by the perpetual movement of shifting! Do your research if you don't believe me. This required surgery. Now, unfortunately... I have a torn tendon in my right elbow! While the shifting of my 13 spd did not "cause" this, once again, that perpetual movement, over and over and over again... weakened it to the point of allowing it to tear with what I did. And again, I may have to have surgery .... again!!!
Hindsight is 20/20, and I should have exercised A LOT more than I did. But, the fact remains... it happened!

Now... if I don't want to just hang up my keys all together... I must either drive for a company with AUTOMATICS or... if I stay an O/O, I will have to buy/lease only an automatic. My right side is too worn out to shift anymore... that is if I don't want to have more surgeries.

So... just a bit of advice there fellas... stop being so gung-ho, and holier-than-thou! There are those who may just like autos... so what? Are they less of a driver than you if they have the experience? And then there are those in my predicament... injured and not willing to stop driving yet and MUST have an auto. And maybe there are new drivers out there, and that's all they know. If so... help them... and stop bullying folks and putting them down! Does it make you feel better about yourself or something???

But whatever the case.... be wise, be nice, treat others as you would want to be treated, and just chill a bit.

 

A voice of reason...

 

Somebody with a day job might be warned here. Being you've got to get out of the cab all day long.

 

Is that directed toward me? If so, I'm not following your train of thought...