Questions for those who drive automatics...

You're no fun! I do like automatic coffee machines . . .

 

After all these years driving OTR, I recently discovered that truck stop coffee is not free. I learned that on this forum.

 

Driving 2010 Pete 387 ISX 15 with Eaton 10 auto.

Now that I have had the trans software updated the larger issue is the DEF filler is on the passengers side of truck.

Clutch can heat up and throw alarms when doing tight/slow up hill backs when fully loaded.
My left knee sings praises every time I'm stuck in interstate backups.

 

I just got out of one and loved it for the most part since I am local and move 15 - 30 trailers a day. One thing I did not like, is when pulling from a complete stop there is a lot of hesitation in the throttle and is not snappy and it will take 1 - 2 seconds for it to respond, so sometimes you almost have to preload it to go, which is not good when dealing with traffic all day. I am not so sure it is transmission related or the throttle control, it might be a combination of the two. Also when doing hills it will sometimes hunt and find the gear it thinks it should be in versus the gear it really should be in. Meaning when going up a hill it will get to the top of the band and upshift and when it does you start bogging and then it has to downshift right away but you can fix that by switching into manual mode.

 

As Rockee points out manual mode can be your friend when the computer proves it is only as good as the programmer.

Just make sure to either keep your brain in manual mode or get back to auto when you get back to cruising mode.

 

I'd love for Allison to get more of a foothold in this segment, the Army uses them and those transmissions are awesome! They can take quite a beating and there isn't any lag that I've ever noticed with the transmission. But, I've also heard that the Allison autos weigh quite a bit more than the automated manuals.

 

My company has quite a few as well as new M-drive Macks and a lot of the "automated manuals" or auto-shift which is what I'm currently driving.
I like the Allison a lot, no lag is right they just keep pulling and really get moving from a dead stop quickly.
To the OP here, full on autos (with no clutch) like the Allison are real nice when you get caught in a big stop and go traffic mess and overall reduce driver fatigue IMO, they are simply very easy on the driver.

Greatly reduces coffee spillage in the cab too! lol.

 

I drive a 2012 Pete with an Eaton 10 speed automatic. Been driving the auto for that last year or so. I like it because I don't have to do #### except pedal the throttle and steer the vehicle. I'm in the Bay Area a lotso it's nice for stop and go traffic. I also go over Donner pass a couple of times a week. I use auto mode climbing the hills and manual mode going down the grades. I'm empty going east so the jakes will hold me back in 10th gear. Going west I'm loaded to almost 80K. Jakes will hold me to 58 in 9th gear. I have no complaints with the auto so far. Can't say anything made me want to drive it. It's what I was issued. I might have asked for a manual but the truck came with a fridge in it. Gotta have my cold drinks!

Edit* I do have one complaint. Because I drive an auto I are not am a real trucker. I is wants to be's a real trucker so's bad. One's days I is to be a real trucker!

 

double posted.......

 

Yeah it bites being a wheelholder huh lol.