How come semi-trucks don't have heavy-duty Auto transmissions?

I wouldn't call shifting a burden,I would call it a part of the job.Automatics are computer controlled.I prefer do be more in control with manual transmissions versus auto.Climbing a grade or going the downside,your auto trans is in control,not you,the driver.In snow,God only knows what that auto trans is thinking.I climb a grade in a gear I feel good with.I go down the grade with a gear I feel good with.Snow packed road, I shift up or down ,no brakes if possible.At least I get to make the decision,not the auto trans.Learn it,you will come to like it.One other thing,if you limit yourself to an auto trans,you will limit yourself to companies that use them and never gain the experience of driving a manual trans.You will limit your job chances.

 

The only auto I will trust is volvos I-shift. A lot of people love it and have not had problems on mountains or terrains. The good thing about I-shift is that is poesses a manual feature.

I know Freedom line has auto tranny and fuller does too. Not too sure on those but would like to hear your stories on those transmissions.

Kinghunter

 

It has gotten to the point where the truck is "driving" you the driver and telling you what it will and won't do.

When I was in the Army back in the "Dark Ages" we had the 900 series tractors/trucks that used inline air-assisted transmissions. They didn't have clutches (they had torque converters like earth moving equipment) and just like the fully manual, the driver could "skip-shift".

Me, I prefer a 13 or an 18 any day. and just because you have that many gears doesn't mean you have to go through all of 'em in an intersection either.

 

OK? You Wanna talk pickups?, Well that D2 engine was a 11K option,in 03!!.Its $4.09 D2 here now. And has ben 30% more since 03,compared 2Gas..We bought a row of FreightShakers back in '72 with Allisons a girl drove.GO!!, GO Start Your Own CO.!!

 

Why does eveybody seem to use "a two stick Mack" as the ultimate hard
truck to drive?

 

My take on it all. I can train a monkey to hold a steering wheel and run a computer. Now to make a truck driver verses a steering wheel holder he better know what a pyrometer and a throttle and a shifter have in common. Oh i forgot no one knows what a pyrometer is any more probably never seen one that worked any way these new computer motors want let you drive them they drive you. And a 2 stick mack with a shack on back is a fine peace of equipment compared to the old white Freighliner COE i learned to drive in with a 4X4 and a 2 speed browny. NOW that was fun to drive with a shiny 290 in it man what a machine spent all day in the gear box to make it work but then you knew you were a truck driver and not a steering wheel holder.

 

Drive a B61 through the rockys then talk about how they aint nothing

 

The first diesel I drove was a 66 R model 205/triplex; the first truck I owned was a 60 B67 711/duplex hauling chips and pulpwood grossing anywhere from
75-90M#. I still own an R model with a 250/triplex that I keep for a pet, so
you aren't going to impress me with your 4n4 with a 2spd. I still believe what
one of the older guys told me 30 years ago: if you can't shift 2 handles, you
don't have any business trying to shift one.

 

I have no interest whatsoever in ever driving an automatic.

 

I never drove a mac but i hear they were fun back in the day and if it aint got 2 sticks its not a truck. my opinion any way but these days a 13 is fine with all the horse power these new trucks make don't need the gears like we used to with low horse power.