Automatic transmission with a smooth bore tanker

So the company I work for is great, but lately things have been a little hectic. I started exploring some other companies just to see what was out there, as this has been my first truck driving job ever. I was contacted by another tanker company not too far from where I live and everything sounded great about it, however, all their trucks are automatics. I have never driven an automatic before, only an 18 speed. I kept trying to figure out how an automatic would work with a smooth bore tanker, especially with a heavy product like caustic where you only have 3k gallon in a 5,500 gal tank. Anyone have experience with this?

 

It takes a little getting used to, I’ve been in tankers since 2002 and have always had a stick when pulling a tank. In 2017 my company issued me a automatic and the way I try and control surge is by gently mashing the accelerator, on flat grounds it works, but when I get in the mountains if I try and gently hit accelerator the truck tends to down shift when I need it to up shift

 

That's what I figured. The thing about smooth bore is YOU have to be in control of it, especially in the winter time. I know you can lock an auto in gear, but still, if the computer thinks it's right then it won't listen to you

 

I've been driving an auto for like two years now. It probably shifts as good or better than I do. You'll figure out pretty quick how much to push on the accel pedal to avoid surge. Plus no more chance of stalling out on hills. I love it. There's a manual mode where you push a button to change gears or leave it in a certain gear. Don't know how I ever survived shifting now lol.

 

I did it with no problems. Ran 48 states. Sometimes the tank would only be 1/3 or 1/2 full of phosphoric acid.
The trucks were Volvo with Volvo engine married to Volvo automatic transmission.
The worst weather I drove in was winter time from Nashville, TN to Seattle, WA and that was pretty often.

 

It’s a pain in the ###.
No matter how gentle you are it still beats the hell out of you. They shift when it wants too.

 

Thanks for this thread as I'm with time dc and have a 07 Pete 379 extended hood they're about to strip me of. If i stay it'll be in a 16 0r 17 pete 579 paccar engine auto shift. That's a big "IF" ! Maybe its time to head to Pohl dryvan no hazmat auto sift 53cpm and home every weekend. Less money but I'm 60 and don't have the best lumbar after 34yrs of trucking.

 

We had one truck out of 16 that was an automatic, after numerous trips home on a tow truck it got switched to a 13 speed..

 

Just have to time when the surge will hit then lean well forward out of the seat so you don't get that smack in the back.

Gotta have that seat isolater/rocking chair thingy enabled too. I never understood the purpose of that feature until I drove tankers

 

I haul dairy, and I would rather have automated then manual.
Who ever says it beats the hell out of you, with all due respect, no it doesn't and it is easier to time the surge with manual, but I would rather haul with automated. Everyone has their preference. If I had to haul with manual which I have a while back, it is all about just easing into the shifts. The b¡7ch is the braking when you get a fast light or so fricking chowder head that brakes fast. Then hold on, you're gonna feel it!