Automatic transmission

This is cool video to see Eaton transmissions has a 18 speed automatic they are testing now and it can pull something like 150,000 lbs if you watch the second video they actually put it to the test more. They say something about Eaton is testing this transmission in real world trucks now pulling something like 200,000 lbs it has cool feature for trucks getting stuck in dirt like dump truck. You can roll back and forward like a manual transmission.

 

In all the trucks I have ever driven, the rear end gearing was nothing more than useless trivia. Knowing the gears doesn't materially affect how I shift. I just figure out what RPM the thing likes to shift at in both low and high range, and after that...good to go.

 

Plenty of brain dead rick heads driving manual trucks. It's not hard to do, and doesn't take that much skill. After a few days, it becomes a background task. Anything you can do without thinking about it consciously, while doing three other things isn't hard.

 

then, if it's not hard to do (drive a stick) why do so many wannabe truckers, or shall i say steering wheel holders, want to only drive automatics?

brain dead, that's why

 

Absolutely BS. Learning about the machinery is what makes you safer and time behind the wheel with a qualified TRAINER makes you safer.

 

What do you hold on to when YOU drive? Steering Wheel? Thought so.... That term is the dumbest #### thing I hear on a daily basis... we ALL hold a steering wheel.

As far as automatics go, the main reason people are afraid of it AT FIRST is from billy Bigriggers talking about it like it's harder than learning how to do Calculus while standing on your head as someone lights your socks on fire. The truth is, it's not that hard to learn, most folks pick it up in a day or so, plus another day or two to do it quietly. After a week, most can do it without even looking at the tach. The push toward autos is mainly due to efficiency. You would be hard pressed to get very close to 10mpg in any manual truck, but several automated manuals are exceeding that by a fair amount. If you own more than a handful of trucks, that 10-15k per year per truck adds up in a hurry.

 

So tell me that you've never nor could ever train someone to drive a truck at all... without telling me you've never trained anyone to drive a truck.. go ahead.. I need a good laugh.

 

If most drivers could run their trucks even have as well as they ran their mouths.. most of these things would never have had to be driver proofed.. All of the advancements in equipment make the equipment smarter.. because the drivers are getting dumber.

 

That is no BS... I am reminded of that EVERY SINGLE TIME I pull into a stop... good god... I am glad I have always run at night. It at least provides a little insulation from concentrated stupidity.

 

steering wheel holders have no knowledge or want to know the workings of a truck, or the industry. they rarely do a proper-pre-trip, they do not read maps, they cannot back into spaces at the truck stops, and so on and so forth..

and for the record, i never held a steering wheel. my trucks were equipped with a tiller.