Deeply concerned about automatic transmissions.

Slowly but surely Automatics will become the norm, it is already so in Europe. Half of the Truck Manufacturers are owned by Europeans, and Navistar may join them soon. Paccar owns DAF over there so to think what happens there will not end up over here is to ignore reality.

The main reason most companies cite for switching is better mpg. Whether that is actually true or not may still be open for debate, but fleets are starting to buy into it.

I have been in an automatic for a month now, first time I have driven in since I got out of the Army 30 years ago. I don't hate it. Love it for in city driving and heavy Traffic, and really, once you get to top gear, where its auto or manual, you are just cruising anyway, no shifting needed. The only real drawback to me is in the mountains, but I just St switch it to manual mode and run with it.

I have an Eaton Fuller Ultrashift in this truck.


I don't see it being a safety issue or a measure of a drivers skill being able to shift a Manual. Stupid and unsafe drivers are going to be stupid and unsafe no matter the transmission. Shifting gears is not often cited as a reason for an accident.

 

Well there goes not shifting across RXR crossings (fail), do you pre-select a splitter or how do you shift a 15 OOD and the all time favorite DC or float.

 

Okaydoekay, my bet would be you would put the transmission in manual then hold that gear across the tracks.

 

I drive an automatic also and with all the construction and big city traffic wouldn't trad it for anything. Also as stated there is so so much more to driving a truck than shifting gears. It's about fuel and eco system issues that they are the go to for a lot of companies now.

 

If you are not accelerating over the tracks its not shifting, keep your rpms steady, no different than you do in a Manual really.

 

I have been at this for over 25 years and I love my new auto trans. The only thing that I don't like is backing up. You can't creep like you want to. Kinda herky jerky.
Also, be honest it's not rocket science learning and mastering driving a manual trans.

 

I agree on the backing it has taken me a while to get the hang of it while docking without getting whiplash.

 

My truck actually has the feauture to switch it to manual if you want.

 

Volvo I shift and dd12 i would take. I had nothing but nightmares in multiple eaton ultra crap transmissions. To boot, I've seen several werner KW n Pete with ultra shift in shops. No thanks.

 

Boston tanker has correctly spoken to the past. from 2013 on the autos have been mostly trouble free. 2009 to 2012 trucks had issues, more so early on. Today's New automatic much more reliable. Big outfits set the tone. Really quick like automatic transmission will be the norm.