Automatic trucks

so what are the benefits of manual to automatic then?

 

Does a duck love water does a cow eat grass its stating the obvious isn't it? We all know its easier but as you say perhaps the days of the true truck driver changin gears will be a thing of the past. Gitda-done

 

I don't know about you, but I spent about 95% of my time in 13th/10th gear. This "real/true truck driver" thing is part of what's wrong the industry right now. The guys driving automatics are just as much truck drivers as anyone else.

On a side note, I've driven 9/10/13/18 speed, and now Automatics. I'd still drive a 13 speed, but honestly I prefer the automatic now, mostly because of the floor space it frees up.

 

Last post here for me since this thread just seems to attract Fanboys..

Look If Automatics are what you want to drive there is nothing wrong with that.. However Automatics Are only "the future" for giant carriers who also are TRAINING Company's.. Is it any wonder that most of them completely disable the manual Shift feature?

The Only Reason Automatics are "popular" Now is Because these big company's who can afford the Repair Bills are doing everything to get and keep Drivers behind the wheel... Anyone Else find it funny that After The Stock Market took a dump suddenly there were tons of People asking which companys had automatic Trucks with Apus and all the creature comforts? I know im not the only one to notice that..

I'm not Against Automatics... Run what makes you happy, .....But when you have to foot the bill for your Equipment you will see why Owner Operators Almost always run stick shifts.. Instead Of me Listing all the Pros.. go ask An Owner Operator why he DIDN'T choose an automatic.. Or Just Search for all the Threads here of owner operators stuck somewhere losing money because their Automatic Tranny Has a Fault and wont shift...

 

nailed it. both are good, but^^^ got it right

 

Not one point about how manuals are better,

 

I've been shifting for enough years.....time for an automatic, so I ordered a brand new one, lol.

Oh but only "bottom feeders" do that, right? Not quite, I know MANY O/O's that have gone to them, especially older drivers that have done more shifting than most. In the Northeast I'm looking forward to it.

 

Manuals aren't better except in certain types of hauling such as heavy haul and maybe some off road oil field type trucking.

 

Fully automated trucks are on the way... Not just the transmission, steering also. They are being tested, they will fine tune the technology, it will happen.

This manual/auto argument is going to be a thing of the past over the next 20-25 years anyway.

Drive what you want to drive. One does not make anyone more of a Driver than the other. I drove a semi automatic way back in 1980. I am currently in an automatic, in between I drove 8/10/13/18 speed transmissions. Doing OTR I am spending 90% of my time in top gear anyway so there is not a huge amount of shifting with any transmission.

Driving the mountains is about the only place I really prefer a Manual, but I do change into manual mode so I have control over the shift points for the most part.

It really is kind of a pointless argument.

 

I prefer automatics. Drove a Volvo with Volvo engine married to Volvo automatic transmission and it was the most relaxed driving I've ever had. Was pulling tankers coast to coast (48 states). Probably 90% liquid loads and 10% dry bulk.
If I wanted to be an 0/0, that's what I would buy.