A note to the anti-auto crowd

Not really. Just takes getting used to

 

Just like backing to a dock with one.
Have to give it just enough throttle to bump the dock and not slam the dock. I did that once.......once.

 

The hard parts on the automated cost way more than on a manual.
No reason they should as they are basically the same as on the manual and even simpler sometimes.
As time passes they will come down as aftermarket parts become available I suspect.
Less wear because they shift properly constantly.
We have never had a 3 pedal but I think that would sort out some of the maneuvering issues we have with the 16sp ZF automateds we have.
Only really an issue up a grade with a heavy load.
An issue we have had a couple of times is if you get a sudden air loss and the truck dies in gear.
You then cant start it to build air so you have to get auxiliary air plumbed in to start the truck.
Does not sound serious but when you are 200 miles from anywhere is is a pain.

As far as fuel consumption is concerned the automated transmissions have the edge most of the time.
I prefer them for most applications.
The resistance we got from drivers at first has simmered down.

 

Drove one once and refuse to do so ever again just out of pure stubborness ( fire away all you want )

 

That's why your hard parts are so expensive. ZF is mighty proud of their stuff, to such an extent that they'd gold plate it if they could find a way.

 

This could open up a big can of worms if states are not complying with Federal regulations. Some people may end up losing their CDL until they retest...

 

I had a three pedal eaton 18 and it did everything just fine. No different than a manual. Only thing it didn't do was move if a sensor went bad or the wiring harness just didn't feel like giving good signal to other parts. That was my beef and the reason I swapped it out to a manual. It was just one more thing that could leave you sitting in the middle of a busy intersection