Future thrends = Automatics?

Auto shifts will do as well or better in fuel mileage than any comparable truck/engine combination. That is, just like most things, if they are driven right. Letting them shift on their own at the OEM shift points, this may not be true. But set on manual shift, and done by the driver who recognizes the load and terrain conditions, the auto shifts will actually do a little better because they shift smoother than the average driver will with a manual.

I get the impression that some think that these auto shifts are like automatics in autos. they are not. Those are hydraulically run via a torque converter. The auto shifts in trucks have a clutch and a normal transmission that is shifted by computer. So...... they will get the same mpg as any manual shift transmission. Only the driver is the weak link.

 

Originally Posted by Lilbit
Sorry, but it ain't drivin if I ain't shiftin!

You been driving a year and think that drivers in automatics aren't drivers??

Now that's funny! I drive an auto and have logged more miles in reverse than you have going forward....

 

I've driven (in this order) an autoshift, ultrashift, autoshift, 10 speed (my first truck on my own,) an autoshift, ultrashift and my last truck was a 13 speed. I'll take an ultrashift (NO clutch) ANY day of the week. I had never driven a 13 speed - they threw me in it with NO training - had to figure it out for myself! it wasn't too bad, but they had the RPMs limited to 1500. could NOT accelerate on a hill from a stop with a heavy load. the auto/ultrashift RPMs went up to 1800-2000 to accelerate if necessary.

I was going to work for a company hauling fuel. guess what they had? autoshifts! was going to work for a company that had 10 brand new volvo condos - guess what they had? ultrashift!! and believe me, neither one of these companies hire students!! keep that in mind if you're convinced that only a "real" trucker drives with a stick! you can take that stick and .........well, I won't go there.

 

I've never even seen an auto! I've been out of the seat for almost a decade.

I know you're a driver monkey man. The truck doesn't make the driver.

 

i drive an automatic.......hey i drove my wife crazy......does that count as haven driven a stick......it was a ##### driving her crazy, sometimes youd have to shove it in ultra low gear and at other times youd run that thing wideeeeeeee open.

 

Just a final thought before i go to bed....... people who used to crank start their cars thought that people who drove cars with starters were once wussies too.....its an everchangin ever improvin world. i for one love my auto.....and yes i can drive a stick just fine.but why if you dont have too......hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

Some of you guy make some good points...I for one dont think a person that drive a auto is a wuss,to think that way of a fellow trucker is childish.In my humble opinion these schools or companies should teach a driver the basics which includes shifting.As one driver said what if the auto breaks and all they have is a manual then what?Knowing how to shift makes a driver more flexible,you can go anywhere and work.Whats important to me is home time,pay,benefits,ect.Take pride in whatever you drive auto or manual,peace.........

 

God I hope not. It would be boring in traffic, lol

 

It would seem that those students that wish to be flexible in their careers should demand that a school teach them manual shifting under loaded conditions. Since they are paying for the instruction, then make demands of a training program or go somewhere else. There are a number of very reputable truck driving schools around the country. Most of the schools are trying to get students signed up, so the students have the leverage to demand certain things from the training they are paying for. Of course this is all moot for those that opt for the big carrier schools, but then with those, you get what you pay for.

If I had ever gone to a truck driver school I would have wanted it all..... doubles/triples, RGN, belly/end dump, baffled and straight tube tanks, etc. All of these in real world training. It would be expected that manual shifting in all of these conditions be a part of it as well. Even skid pad training would be part of the package.

Probably why there is so much revolving door of new drivers. If you don't have a broad base of training and then the experience to back it up, then don't expect much from your employment. I got a lot of my training and experience via hands on in the interior of Alaska pulling just about all there is to pull except livestock. When you approach carriers with a broad base of experience and you got a decent safety record, you can pretty much hand pick the job you want. Those that limit themselves in their expertise will probably never really find a position that they like with a carrier they can feel comfortable with.

I guess I really could care less about carriers getting auto shifts. I have done enough shifting in almost 3 decades in every location between the Rio Grande and the Arctic Ocean, I would feel real comfortable about having an auto shift. Getting lazy in my old age.

 

I know my company bought Fuller 10 speed auto shifters in our newer dump trucks a few years ago thinking the drivers would like them better. WRONG!!!
The drivers haven't stopped complaining about them since they got them about how horribly they shift, not going into D or R from N, blanking out and needing to be reset on the jobsite, ratios not deep enough, etc..etc..
The drivers pretty much all say "buy us manual 18 speeds instead", but for some #### insane reason, they won't put 18's in a dumper. Looks like they will not be buying Auto shifters again, though.