Auto vs Standard

Had the chance Friday to explore, but not drive a T880 with 52" mid rise. While talking to the dealership GM, they have been ordering automatic equipped trucks 2 to 1 over manuals, mostly daycabs. He wouldn't name the company, but said they had recently ordered 60 automatic equipped T880's, and the trucking company was reserving the option to order another 40 once the initial lot began arriving.

 

Im not sure they had a lot of students at alliance where I went to school. Everything was paid for but they had to siign a contract for a year I think and work for .22 split miles. I talked to crest and they said I get .33 split mile because I paid for my own cdl[/QUOTE]

So the 22 cent rate includes cdl school payoff. That is not an apples to apples comparison for starting rates as the real rate for all other new hires would be 33 cents a mile. Good to know.....now what was the op question?

 

Almost all of the mining trucks are diesel electric: http://www.mining-technology.com/features/feature-the-worlds-biggest-mining-dump-trucks/

When super sized logging trucks did exist they did often feature torque converter but were air shifted by a manual gear shift lever. Something quite different from today's automated manual.

These same trucks were also made with more conventional gear boxes for their day.

Today I know of no NW logger that has an automatic of any kind. Most drive 18 speeds.

 

To the point. Of course these mega-crap companies are bottom feeding by featuring automatics. Pay will not go down when the economy is in a up swing but wait for next recession.

 

Most off road trucks are 18's and the smaller trucks 15's. Last stringer I drove was a Canadian Western star 18sp 3406e. Burly.

 

Slightly off topic. In the mid 90s i was given a new truck to test. It had a 10spd tranny with an auto synch button. Just push the button up or down and it would adjust the rpm for your next shift. Had that one for 300,000 miles and loved it.

I have never had a truck with a full Automatic but i would love to try one. After 25+ years my left knee has issues.

 

Yes it is but i think they withhold $40 a week for the life of you contract to pay it back. So yes .22 CPM if under contract. I talked to a gut that just got done with his contract and he said he lucky to make 300 a week.[/QUOTE]

Conway wants $35 a week for first 10 weeks to cover the refundable deposit for straps & such.

 

I was listening to Roaddog Truckin on XM radio on the way home today. They were talking about this subject. Alot of drivers were calling in. I wouid say the manual folks beat out the auto, They also said Volvo is going to auto in all there trucks for 2016. I'm guessing alot of the manufactures will go auto in the near future. Alot of the drivers that called in said there fuel mileage was higher with the autos. I;m not driving yet, but when I do I would take manual over auto.