Deeply concerned about automatic transmissions.

Sometimes you just sit back and wonder about the people who have time to worry about this crap, much less create an entire thread on the interweb about it.

 

AMEN!!! I'm stuck driving an automatic one at the moment and have never driven a slower truck with more issues than this p.o.s. I've always despised them and didn't think one could get any worse, but a maxxforce tied to an automatic could be the worst combination of any vehicle since the fwd Cadillac days

 

Better yet it will get rid of the old school whiners who cry about automatics.

 

You heard correctly.

http://www.gizmag.com/volvo-trucks-i-shift-dual-clutch/32846/

That article has a video that shows it in action.

 

I hauled heavy equipment with 2 different macks and some internationals the 1 mack was a 10 speed the rest were 6 speed Allison autos tied to them the mp10 tied to an Allison was heaven. Routinely was near 130k lbs and that truck just wanted to pull all day long. The engine brake was awesome in that truck as well

 

That was definitely not the engine brake in a Mack, it was probably the braking they put in the Allison of up to 600 hp of braking power.

 

The I-Shift backs just like my car.

 

The last Mack I drove was the old E7 engine, it's engine brake would almost skid the tires bobtail if you forgot to turn it off after you dropped your trailer. It's all in how it's adjusted.

I have a '13 Maxxfarce now, and people complain about how guttless their jakes are, but if you run them like Navastar recommends, they work great. I decend Cabbage with 44k, 50-55mph and touch the brake 2 or 3 times unless there is a really slow truck in the left lane.

 

I believe it was a 'power leash' engine brake but don't quote me on that but it was equipment straight from mack.

 

I will admit one thing about manual transmissions. They forced you to pay attention to your engine RPMs. It took me a while to get used to that. I also agree with the OP that this is a skill that has separated Truckers from wannabes for years. I also agree that trucking companies will see a lot of lawsuits in the future. My father was asked once what event he thought started this change in trucking. Without even thinking about it he said the national 55 speed limit, the song Convoy, and the Smokey and the bandit Movie. Don't get me wrong, my father loved that song and the movie. However he hated that both glamorized trucking. My father drove trucks going back to the early fifties in the Army. He pulled reefers as well as dry van in the sixties, seventies and eighties and up to the day he retired. To this day I can remember how tired he was when he finally did get home. My father was no saint, but he did know how to drive a truck and operate it safely. To the best of my knowledge he never had an at fault accident or incident. The day I drove him to Greenville SC to clean out his tractor in 1993 after he retired he admitted to me there would be parts of the job he will miss. However he was growing tired of what he called Riff Raff that was starting to enter the business. So while I can't agree fully with OP about auto's I do fully agree about the other things.