Automatic transmission?? Freightliner Cascadia

I have a 2019 15 liter with the DT12 two months now ... this transmission engine combo is the worst.., it has NO training wheels or blockouts.. the DT12 is pure junk , years behind my 2015 and 2017 volvo ishift.
DT12 Is embarrassing with its air controlled shift modual buzzing constantly like a dirt bike. Or the ecm searching for gears and throttle just idling through a parking lot.
The #### thing uses the engine brake to shift !! Dumb as a rock .
It's like the engine and transmission are fighting all the time.
Took it to the dealer last week ... salesman rode along , says they just do that. You git to be sh$#ing me !
No wonder drivers back into everything. It launches in reverse like it's taking off from a carrier. The creep mode is juvenile and worthless.
I can't believe how screwed up Detroit has become. They were the pinnacle of electronic engine management. Now it's back to the stone age .
And they can take this electronic accelerator pedal and shove up their $#@% . Freightliner,,, Don't tell me this thing can't be calibrated .
And that stupid brake release valve sounds like a Trumpet!!!! Wtf ?
$155,000 for this embarrassment?
I'm outta this POS and back in something more predictable before the end of the year. My company wanted me to try it out ,, but I guarantee this is the first and last mexican freightliner with a DT12 for them . What a joke.

 

I have DT12 transmission on a 2017 it work good. What don't you like about yours ? Using the engine brake between gears help it shift faster. You can turn off hill assistance. That's what you hear air brakes release when stop at light or on a hill

Sounds like you have to learn how to back up or wear in that new clutch on DT 12. Mine did the same thing at first, now i can back in no problem. Maybe I learned how to control it better or it wear in a little

I never drove the Volvo ishift yet. If you leave the engine brake on with Freightliner it will seem like they are always fighting because when you take you foot off the computers will turn on engine brake and downshift.. You have to turn engine brake off in city driving or parking lots. You set the cruise control on highway and let the computers run the engine brake.

 

The DT12 has a special downhill mode a lot people don't know about or they use engine brake like old way of turning it on leaving it on. You can't do that with DT12 because it will downshift gears to give you maximum braking power in any gear your in and it will keep downshifting gears as the truck slows down. So someone could be driving in parking lot or city driving and if you turn on engine brake .the second you take foot off the throttle it will try to downshift vs if iit' turned off it will let you roll thru the parking lot or city traffic.

 

Automatics have a totally uninspired drive quality. Driving one is like trying to talk to my ex wife... the darn thing won't listen to what you want it to do. I routinely get 6 mpg with an Eaton 18 speed hauling permitted overweight loads. But I get 5.8 mpg with the detroit dt12. Not that it matters but most of the fun, skill, and challenge is taken away from the driver...

 

It's just a job to me. Anything that makes it easier without causing headaches is fine with me.

 

I enjoy the DT 12 to be honest. Only thing I hate about it is the ECoast nonsense. I end up driving in Manual on hilly roads.

 

I honestly can't think of any 'pros' for manual transmission .

 

Well this cascadia buzz saw gets a new driver soon . Going down to Peterbilt and pick out our next candidate with the X15 plus this time and see how it plays out.
After 75k miles . This DD15/DT12 combo is just unpredictable and lethargic. Such a shame, this big bore engine is so hobbled by the transmissions archaic software.
IMO, Detroit hid so many idiot proof safeguards , this truck will never be a serious contender for an O/O . Apparently Freightliner is happy with it still relegated to MEGA Fleets as the Ford Taurus of trucks. Yeah I get it. Single truck or small fleet buyers became a nuisance back in the 80's , unless the dealer had some misfit freak show rotting on the lot.
So off to the next adventure. 2019 Cascadia,,, aside from the leather seats and firm suspension...you failed .

 

more o/o with DT12 transmissions, more job and better rates for us, manual transmission user... buy DT12 as much as you can ))))))))))

 

changing to manual mode will stop that