I have recently started driving my first automatic truck and I am a bit nervous about icy roads. I’m mostly concerned with taking off on hills. The truck sometimes comes to a complete stop trying to downshift to the right gear, and even rolls backwards a bit at times. I wish I could just put it in the gear I want. How do these things work on ice?
Driving an automatic on icy roads and taking off on hills?
Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by OldeSkool, Nov 21, 2024.
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I am not sure about your truck, but with my old automatic I was able to select and hold a gear, preventing it from up and downshifting
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Same, what truck is it @OldeSkool?
FearTheCorn Thanks this. -
Can you in YOUR truck cause the truck to shift up or shift down by moving a lever in some manner. Can you make the automatic to enter a manual mode. MOST trucks have a switch for auto & manual but many of those switches are disabled and cannot be used. Lost of new drivers don't know and don't try. I don't know EXACTLY what is your situation. So I'm just asking about your situation, not accusing you.OldeSkool Thanks this.
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What kind of truck and what year?
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ONE model of Volvo was the only 1 of 2 trucks I had that I couldn't manually force an upshift or downshift when needed.
OldeSkool Thanks this. -
My manual only works when it wants to. Also.
As for taking off on hills. Mine won't do it on wet roads. It just spins out. All 4 tires. When it's empty.
When it's loaded. It just kills the engine. But if it manages to not kill the engine. It crawls. Gas pedal does absolutely nothing.
Autos need to be banned. They have no place for commercial use.NightWind, snowlauncher, Cherokee65 and 5 others Thank this. -
I’m in a 2022 Freightliner Cascadia. It does have the manual shift option, but doesn’t seem to necessarily stay in the gear I put it in. I don’t think there’s a manual mode on it. Sure wish there was. The other day I was trying to ease through an intersection on a hill since it was a tight fit, the truck came to a complete stop for about three seconds. Just frustrating.
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And then it sits there smoking a cigarette before it takes off.
The frustrations of driving an auto.PaulMinternational, JForce28, Numb and 1 other person Thank this. -
They are irreplacable for drivers that have "no place for commercial use"

Any machine that overrides the operator is possibly dangerous. And possibly designed by vindictive weeny washersPaulMinternational, Cherokee65, RockinChair and 2 others Thank this.
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