Automatics

That is what cruise control is for. I know where all my controls are, an know my trucks shift pattern. No need to take eyes off road. If one needs to look at gear shift to be able to shift, maybe a change of careers is needed. None of my trucks poses a steering wheel with controls in them.

 

You havent figured out that you can count the dotted lines and be pretty close on speed yet? I was taught to do that at 14 with my old man. You ought to be to able to feel and hear about where your speed is in every gear. I'm guessing you can't shift without staring down the tach either.

 

Yeah, you got me there. Shift... that has something to do with the thing sticking up out of the floor, right?

 

That's about the response I figured I would get. They should just quit putting automatic/automated trannys in anything, that'd cut down a lot on the texting and driving fascination we have, but I'm sure that just makes me somebody opposed to technology advancing doesn't it. What would most drivers do if they're speedometer quit on them, just hold the pedal down until they got pulled over?

 

Well I'm seeing responses I could almost predict, too.

Over here we've got 30 year super truckers who cannot figure out how to shift an auto trans that are fine with telling people that trucking ain't the right job for them.

Wtfe.

 

I classify automatic trannys in the same garbage heap as fifth wheel cameras, a nuisance some moron came up with.

 

I am not a super trucker, just an intelligent, well experienced,well educated with Masters Degrees driver with probably more miles going in reverse, than you have in forward. I have common sense, morals, values, respect, courtesy, and a love for the industry. I realize i have just used words the new breed generation of driver may have to google the definition of, to comprehend (understand). Go drive a 50's or 60's two stick 5&4, 6&4 or anything without technology, automatic truck, no power steering (armstrong only), A/C is a block of dried ice with a fan blowing to keep you somewhat cool. Than come tell us your a truck driver, and have paid your dues. These new breed trucks with all the technology, safety devices (cameras, lane change warnings, electronic engines, power steering, and all the extra little amenities you are afforded in your luxury trucks today.

 

The people that say they dont want a automatic because of lack of control are very uneducated on the matter . I have experience with 9, 10(straight and super), 13, and 18 speed manuals .Also have experience with eaton fuller automated 10(eaton advantage), dt12's, and volvo's i-shift.

The i-shift by far is the best automatic but I have never not felt in control of any of the automatic transmissions. I have right around 1 million safe miles driven, around 700,000 of those were with manual transmissions and I will not go back to them if I dont have to.

The automatic saves on fuel cost, saves your left leg, lets you pay more attention to other aspects of driving so they are an asset to even a veteran of the game IMO.

 

For me it's not a lack of control. I just don't like the decision-making process that these transmissions make most of the time.

I regards to fuel economy, it's been proven that the automatics are only more efficient when paired with a driver who doesn't give a #### or when going up against anything lower than 13 speed.

Me personally and with a couple other drivers I know and work with. We get better mpgs when we are driving our trucks that have 13+ manuals. All the trucks are nearly identical, some have 18s, 13s, and ishifts. All Volvo are vnls with same engine specs. Just different tranny's.

 

Bet fleet-wide the automatic transmissions have brought the average up. And how do you not like what the ishift does? I am in a 2017 vnl right now and it does great, skips the gears I would, etc. Only "problem" is it like to try and hang on in top gear a tad to long but if I hit the "performance" button vs the "economy" button it fixes that .I am averaging 7.8 to 8.2mpg and do nothing but nashville to the northeast and back and that includes the five boroughs/north Jersey, Hartford arear of CT. So I am either in mountains or traffic lol.