Did freightliner intentionally set out to make a crappy automatic transmission?

I don't know what you guys are talking about with the new Freightliners. I'm in a 2018 with DT12 and 550 HP engine. Out pulls most trucks except the biggest owner ops trucks. All of the well-seasoned drivers in out fleet far prefer them over the older 10 speed sticks.

Sound like your issue is with your company and they have the engine and trans parameters set, not Detroit.

WTH do you mean "constant buzzing in morse code"?

 

An issue with my company? I set this truck up not The Comoany.
People are ragging on the origanal poster like hes some nube idiot.
Here I have the same problem right from undocking at stealership.
All I want to hear back is maybe something like , a parameter setting is incorrect or a recall ...
Or God forbid too many parameters working against each other.
That's all.
As far as the noise? I hear it in others at the docks now . A load buzz radiating down under the drivers side . In town its constant ...

 

It starts the second you switch into drive . Then when you park and get out about 20 seconds it starts belting it out after the truck is already shut off.

 

The leaky cab doesn't bother me, especially on busy weeks when i cant find time for a shower.

 

The biggest problem with these transmissions is fleets handing drivers the keys and saying here you go. There needs to be a bit of training beforehand then I think a large percentage of guys would learn to like them. I own a 17 model with the Dt 12 transmission and it is a pleasure to drive. It truly is an engineering marvel. It took me about a week to relax and admit that I sorta like it but I had someone take time and educate me. There is no doubt in my mind that your transmission does what you say, however it's because you (without knowing) told it to do exactly that. Look at it like a new relationship, it takes time to learn this truck. I would recommend like others said to watch you tube training videos especially demand Detroit videos. I think you'll find them very helpful. Good luck.

 

Good first post, I must say.

I also have the DD15/DT12 combo and I love it.
It does take getting used to, however. There are some little quirks, but after learning how to deal with them it is seldom a problem.

I especially like down hill grades with that combo. I set it 2 mph below what I want to stay at, and it keeps me there. If I am really heavy I need to manually control it, but even that is so much easier and better than any manual trans I have driven. I can maintain any chosen speed, not one which is strictly determined by the gear I choose.
The engine is designed to operate at high speeds in that situation. Maintaining 2200 RPM while on the engine brake keeps the best possible braking effect, and sometimes just a little service brake is required. But that is pretty rare.

People freak out with the high engine speeds. But a couple years ago I was picking up some DD15's at Detroit and I had the chance to speak with one of the techs there. He said that the combo was designed as a single unit, along with the computer that controls it. (I don't think any other combo can claim that.)
The engine is designed to handle much higher RPMs while braking down, but not while accelerating, so maximum braking effect is available.
I don't advise having the engine brake at max while empty, and especially bobtail. It gets a bit violent.

 

Paccar now has a packaged engine with a custom built for them Eaton trans.
PACCAR introduces automated transmission, offers complete proprietary powertrain

Cummins has had a custom tuned Eaton produced auto shift for a couple of years.
https://www.trucks.com/2017/09/25/eaton-cummins-collaborates-automated-transmission/

 

So some others are catching up.
Good for them.

But custom built for and tuned to work with may not be as good as a combination that was designed to work as a single unit from start to finish.

 

If you read the PACCAR links....... The transmission is a complete new design to work with the PACCAR engine. The engineers from both companies worked together to make it right. So yes they were designed to work as an integrated unit.

 

You're debating with a guy who takes barefoot showers at the Loves LOL