Automatics

Yea I guess I just see that computer deciding Georgia overdrive would be fun go in down a little bigger hill with a little more weight and you're rolling downhill out of control, not my idea of fun at all.

 

Well I guess my response to that is... if you're running downhill out of control, then you are simply not doing your job. Period.

I drove that DT12 all over the western US, all winter. I had no problems , other than what I described, and I drove on all road conditions including fresh snow, snow pack/icy, black ice, slush, drifted snow. Not once was I not in control. (And I just started driving these sissy trucks in August.)

Resistance to technological advances is common, especially among those who define their masculinity by how well they operate a machine.

It's frightening to think that a machine might do this task, or that one, better. Kinda hard on the fragile little tiny man ego, if one is so afflicted.

But it's also a fact of life in the modern world. Nostalgia for the 1950's is quaint, but this ain't Happy Days. Besides, The Fonz didn't drive trucks, IIRC.

 

I'm pretty sure ecoCoast only engages or becomes active or whatever while cruise control is engaged.

 

They're not really automatics, it's just an auto clutch. That's it! All this throwing toys out of the pram for an auto clutch! They are getting very sophisticated now, and soon they'll be standard fitment but old school types can fool them to drive almost like a real manual if you feel you need to. They're not so popular because they are expensive rubbish that no one wants, it's the other pole.
An Allison is different, and a true auto so any garbage truck drivers reading this, thanks for your service.

 

Well I guess I'm just not going to put a computer in charge of keeping my transmission in gear going down hill. I don't have complete trust in computers, I don't have anything important on computers, I don't even have a credit card probably the only 22 year old you've ever met who is proud of not having a credit card either. Automatic trannys just make distracted driving that much easier.

 

Good on you for avoiding credit cards.

I agree about the distracted driving. I do everything I can do to avoid distraction. Managing the space around a big rig is a full time job, and that's no joke.

I can drive a manual tranny. I can double clutch, although not very well, due to very limited time doing it (only in training). So take my man card.

Can I drive a manual transmission? Definitely. I've pushed a lot of clutch pedals.

Do I feel that automated transmissions are more efficient and safer? I do.

 

If your like me i think were both thinking the trucking industry's getting to lazy, we love to change those gears it gives us something to do while driving huh? The company i'm with was a whole fleet of KW's with 18 speed auto's you can flick the gear stick down and go manual and just click a button to change gears no double clutching brilliant i guess the best part is no worries about missing a gear going up hill the "down side" is getting used to doing nothing while driving, thank goodness our spare truck is a Western star 18 speed manual and when any one our trucks is getting serviced we get to take it out for a spin.

 

Yea I mostly don't have a credit card because I'd be broker than, I don't know something broke.

 

AMT and fully automatic transmissions all have there place and vocation to use them in. AMT are good for cookie cutter white fleet trucks hauling linehaul. Take an I shift off road and you can smell clutch! AMT with a failed sensor or chaffed harness and there you sit on the side of the road. Manual to me makes more sense to an owner-operator. Just my opinion.