Unfortunately......i'm not the least bit surprised.

Autos suck. Maybe on flat interstates and the prairies they're ok. Same as so many trucks in the States have 10 speeds. Autos and 10 speeds are useless in BC. 13s are kinda ok, but I prefer being able to split down low too, so 18 speeds are the best. I've driven 3 autos on my life. Never for more than 2 days though. And that's always because they were loaners when my beast or a company truck has been in the shop. Computers can't see when you're almost to the top. Neither can they see an 8% downgrade. Even more important, they can't see the slow to 30 corners at the bottom. Autos react after the fact. I always set it to manual in the mountains. But what worries me is the stunned wonders that can't drive sticks. Would they know how to control it manually and/or bang it down quick if they need to. Yes 1000% more rubber on the road nowadays compared to just 20 years ago. That's obviously clods who don't know how to drive trucks, and have never driven in the mountains. But I do see it as a feature of auto trucks too. As I said, you're rolling down too fast because the computer didn't down itself far enough to begin with. Give me a stick anytime for snow. The clutch can be feathered, and you're in control as per whatever the surface is like. Autos have one mind only, same for summer as for winter. The final thing I don't like about autos is docking. They don't know how to kiss it, they ram it. And I'll feather the clutch sometimes when finessing backing, or pulling into a shop bay, or any other number of reasons. Don't get me wrong, if I ever lost my mind and became a town driver, I would get myself the shortest wheelbase cab-over with an automatic.

 

I don't miss the stick. Having one again wouldn't bother me though.

I'm in manual most of the time. There are times it's nice to put it in auto when starting out at a light but the thing I always heard was that I would love it in rush hour/stop and go traffic. Not true. I like to pick the gear.

 

As for all the flaws you point out in the mountains the operator can control. As you pointed to a poor operator with a stick is no better in the mountains.

 

That is correct, Montana has had some horrible wrecks/fatalities from non-English Canadian Trucks. They are not ####ing around anymore, same with Wyoming/Minnesota/Dakota’s and others. They are also really pissed off at the Liscense sharing, No liscense, Claiming to be Canadian citizens when they are not, speeding and every mechanical defect you can imagine.

I go through Montana Weekly, no slack for anything from Canada. Had 7 level 2 and 2 level ones last year; passed them all (my safety bonus was amazing!)

 

Saskatchewan limits you to automatics only if you did your road test here using one.

 

Alberta added Condition K (automatic transmission) in 2010. I would expect all provinces and territories have one by now.

 

K endorsement on the Alberta driver's license indicates that the driver has a disability where they have lost the use of one or more limbs, therefore an automatic is required regardless of their class of license.
K
Automatic Transmission
• Client has lost the use of one or more limbs and is restricted to operating a vehicle equipped with automatic transmission.
Client must:
• Pass a road test in a vehicle with standard transmission.
◊ Vehicle may be equipped with a mechanical device.
or
◊ Client may use a prosthetic device to replace a missing limb.

 

Ask this question. If they need a translator to take a test, how do they communicate with shippers and receivers? Or DOT or MTO?

 

January 1, 2010

EDMONTON, Alta. - In November, Truck News learned Alberta will become the latest province to place a restriction on the commercial driver's licences held by drivers who take their road test using a truck with an automated transmission.

- Automatically Restricted - Truck News​

It appears there is a condition, whether they use the same code or not, I don't care as it doesn't affect me.