Autos vs Manual transmissions

There is no doubt that the standard is a simpler tranny, but it's not without its own issues. Clutches burn out, gears get broken off, etc.

You people sound like 1939 all over again. We don't need no stinkin' automatic. Why does GMC want to put an automatic in a Buick?

Face the facts. Technology is catching up to trucking. Just like aviation. It takes a while but eventually it happens. Fuel injection has been in cars since the 50's, really more in the 60s yet the first fuel injected plane took to the skies in 1997.

 

Can you feel when the clutch is acting up in your 2 pedal truck or do you drive it until it doesn't go anymore then call dispatch?

 

Here’s a fact to face. If you have weak batteries and your truck won’t crank this winter, you are stuck where you sit. You can’t pull start an automatic.

I have driven trucks with 1.5 million miles on the original transmission, hard miles hauling dirt and rock into pits and out of fields. Poorly maintained on top of that, and they gave me no trouble. Can’t say the same for the handful of times I have driven the various automatics my company now owns. I will keep my manual as long as possible,

 

Doesn't shock me. Manuals are a much simpler design. They're actually known as gearboxes.

 

Maybe we ought to get rid of automatics altogether?
Things happen, and you adapt. Maybe you call for a tow truck or road service, or if you have jumpers, someone nearby helps you out.
Whether you get a pull start, a jump, or have fresh batteries brought to you, someone has to come rescue you.

 

I am fortunate in that I have mechanical ability and can usually figure things out to keep from having to call a tow truck or a roadside service unless it’s a blowout. That’s why I keep an assortment of tools with me every day in my toolbox. Keep automatics if you prefer them, I’m just letting BrandonCDL know to look out for that this winter as he is somewhat new to the industry.

 

Bit of a difference being rescued from your broken down car which likely has a very small radius to your home, grocery store, golf course, work, etc vs being in a truck that gives you a hard time you are far more likely to be at the mercy of whichever mechanic will help you..

Brandon has it all figured out. Even though he agreed you can't kill a manual transmission even with 1.5m miles and has been neglected it still gets the job done. Yet somehow the auto is superior... Guess we will see if he ever puts his money where his mouth is by driving his own truck. For some reason I doubt we ever will.

It's a matter of preference for the company drivers I suppose. If I had drivers that refuse to do anything without a line on their pay stub for "thinking pay:" then I'd buy them automatics, govern their speed, and install elogs as well. There is a reason most owner operators stay with the tried and true methods of the past. And we don't want to change and still carve out a handsome paycheck to boot. Maybe all us dumb independents could learn a thing or two from these new breeds..........................

Seems like there's no truck drivers in this industry anymore.

 

@gokiddogo

I drive a daycab everyday, so it’s imperative for me to make it back. Let’s face it, my company will pay layover if I break down, but I make a lot more money actually being at work. My experience is also that most roadside repairs will take at least three hours, and that’s sometimes three hours I don’t have to spare on 500 mile multi stop runs.

Last Thursday I had a flat tire off the rim at 430 in the morning. I went to the Loves, and after sitting until 7 am, I left there and went down the road to the tire shop where a bunch of employees were standing around. At 8:05 I left with the tire fixed, and got back from my 450 mile three stop load at 5:00 pm instead of the 1:00 pm time.

The casing was good, and had I known that I would have a flat off the rim, I would have pulled the outside tire up on a block, hook the hose up to the inner rim valve stem, get some starting fluid and blow it back onto the bead, and been gone by 4:45 am instead. My gripe is that no one wants to work when it comes to truck service. Every time I lose at least 2 to 3 hours if I rely on someone else, so I fix it myself.

One of many times my Volvo went dead, it went COMPLETELY DEAD. No power to anything, so I pop the cover off the batteries and find a weak spot in the 150 amp inline fuse. I jump the positives together, bobtail down to Volvo and get the fuse and a new ground cable since it’s fraying a little. When I called breakdown and told them that I just wanted to be reimbursed, he was amazed that I fixed it. I told him I would rather fix it than wait on a tech to come out and then tow it back to the shop because they couldn’t figure it out. So I will always carry tools, air hose, and maybe add some ether and wood blocks from now on

 

Um no, but you can jump start one quite easily. If a truck has enough power to pull start a big rig it has the battery juice to jump it.

 

A fellow problem solver. Used to be a common trait amongst drivers, but has gone by the wayside in recent years. No surprise really considering the current generation needs to be spoon fed and wiped beginning from cradle ending at grave.

I also carry a lot of tools and on occasion have to use them to get me out of a situation. I do not have a dispatcher I can call. I am no mechanic, but I can identify a problem and think how can I fix this good enough to get out of this jamb? Has saved me lots of money and time.