Automatic trucks

"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..."

 

Its not the Stick shifts Fault You made a Series of Honest New Driver mistakes.. I Really mean this in the best of ways.. Companys shouldn't put automatics in Trucks just so some rookie Drivers can be saved some embarrassment and because its Easier for them..

Should we then Ask these same Drivers To take those Automatics Down Donner Pass? There Is so much more to Truck Driving than the Transmission you choose...

 

right im not saying that. I just prefer to not have the hassle of shifting. im sure many of you enjoy manual I hate it especially in traffic. im not planning on being an O/O so its on the company if it messes up. im not in this for a ego thing im just trying to make money and if I can make the same amount in a easier way I plan on it.

 

Too much generality. I'd take just about anything over the 10 speed I have now. Most certainly a 12 speed Volvo I-shift. Thinking specifically about uphills. As someone else pointed out, the long level parts I'm in tenth on cruise. Could start another topic, "Real men don't use cruise control!" LOL.
"Real men don't use power steering!"
"Real men don't need APU's!"
"Real men don't use bunk heaters!"
Where does it end?
Whether I'd take the I-shift over a 13, can't say. Would need actual load hauling time with a 13 to make an informed opinion.
I know my car is automatic specifically so I could more easily drink coffee in the morning back when I drove to work everyday.
Learned to drive in a no power steering, one wheel drive, three speed on the tree, straight six pick 'em up.
Good times.

 

Not saying they are going to replace trucks any time soon, but they are working on it, there's a few other companies working on it too.

 

I read somewhere Swift are going Auto but can anyone confirm?

 

Even if they do you can do better

 

I work in the street department of Wichita Falls, TX. All their trucks (with the exception of a couple trucks) are Allison automatics. One thing about the Allison autos in the early 2000's RD688S Mack's with the Renault engines, is that the transmission can often produce a very harsh downshift from 2nd into 1st when driving slow. It can very nearly propel you into the windshield.

 

I would think over the last 15 years give or take the technology behind the autos would have improved a good bit.

 

Yeah, our newer trucks shift a lot smoother. We have a couple Freightliner Business Class M2 as 5 yard dump trucks and a Mack from 2012. (Those others I mentioned are from around 2002-2005).

All the other trucks that are around 2002-2005 are Freightliners, and the Allisons they have shift pretty smoothly.

Here's a good picture of some of our vehicles (The Gradall is a Mercedes diesel and Eaton Fuller 8 speed split manual (clutch is messed up, and the city doesn't want to spend the $9k to fix it)):