Companies that still have manual transmission vehicles

While I do prefer a manual the bigger question if I was moving is what companies either offer a manual or allow you to run the automated transmissions in manual mode.

I haven't driven a m/iDrive transmissions but the latest UltraShift transmissions aren't too bad if they are configured to allow drivers to override when needed. Trying to get the Eaton cobra shifter into low to hold an appropriate gear for grade when they disable manual mode is a real PITA here in the mountain west.

When it is slick out I really want to keep the truck going down hill with lower RPM to avoid wheel spin and to have overhead to recover from a skid but it seems that most of the automated transmissions will prefer to stay at the high side of the RPM band, probably because they want to maximize engine braking.

The reality is that most drivers today don't put as much effort into gear management either because they don't know how or don't want to. As AMT shipments of class 8 trucks is the norm now I am willing to move to an AMT but not one that doesn't allow the human to override the computers decisions.

While I don't mind a manual I personally don't think that with 13+ gears that losing the clutch loses me much (once again if they have the thing configured to allow me to use the accelerator to control the clutch release)

The fact that fleets can shut off features or do not enable features like urge to move makes it pretty hard to really compare driving experiences between drivers too BTW.

If some poor driver is locked out of manual or isn't allowed to use the skinny pedal to control the clutch their driving experience will greatly differ. Also having the primary mode set up for pure economy and the secondary mode being set up for more aggressive shifts and/or operator control helps make it less of a disadvantage but I bet that a lot of fleets just take the default configuration as it comes from the dealer or disable features.

 

Monson and Sons .

 

Hansen and Sons

 

In & Out Burger

 

Kaiser has (or used to have) all 18 spd manuals

 

Marten still offers

 

I thought Marten was all automatics.

 

You're right , the trucks I saw were older units .. Their new stuff is most likely all Auto

 

That sucks.

 

I think only crete/shaffer and freymiller still offers Manuals.