I always wondered why paddle shifters aren't an option?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Harvest, Feb 7, 2023.

  1. Harvest

    Harvest Bobtail Member

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    So most trucks are going automatic; I am about to redo schooling to learn in a manual so I am not limited. But I always wondered why automatic trucks do not come with paddle shifters? I feel like it would be the best of both worlds function-wise. Being able to under certain situations select what gear you want, and the rest of the time be automatic. Do any trucks have paddles?
     
  2. Munch75

    Munch75 Light Load Member

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    To a degree they do. At least the Cascadias I know do. You have to put the shifter into manual mode. Push the arm forward to downshift and toward you to up shift. Depending on the year Cascadia.
     
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  3. Dave_in_AZ

    Dave_in_AZ Road Train Member

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    My SS Camaro has paddle shifters
     
  4. Rubber duck kw

    Rubber duck kw Road Train Member

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    Because it's a bad idea. The more you make trucks drive and ride Ike a car, the more people will drive them like a car. Tailgating, cutting people off, will get worse the more you make a truck like a car.
     
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  5. Magoo1968

    Magoo1968 Road Train Member

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    If companies wanted drivers to shift gears they would spec a stick.. most drivers nowadays can’t shift half as good as a auto..
     
  6. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Don't Volvo's have auto transmissions that the driver can also shift like a stick shift?
    I read where some companies were having that disabled because of increased fuel consumption and drivers not learning how to manual shift.
     
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  7. Munch75

    Munch75 Light Load Member

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    Cascadia's keep it usable for being able to better control the truck on graded hills. On the other side of that though they programmed in a safety feature for the drive line that if it exceeds X rpms for too long or too high that could damage the driveline then the computer kicks it back into auto.
     
  8. Dave_in_AZ

    Dave_in_AZ Road Train Member

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    I don't think I could ever trust an auto in a truck.
     
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  9. Mnmover99

    Mnmover99 Light Load Member

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    I have driven about 500,000 miles with an auto, and never had a problem. The only thing I did not like was after some got a lot of miles, they would grab in starting out, but once you were moving it was fine. Exception being KW and Pete at YRC, they would not start smooth, problem with computer program I was told.
     
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  10. blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

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    NHTSA actually did extensive research on this a couple of years ago.

    Factory and closed course testing with engineers produced promising results, both in ergonomics and functionality. However, real world testing proved somewhat problematic due to several fatal crashes when it was found that the participating Bakersfield,CA and Chicago,IL test drivers discovered a mysterious stick attached to the steering wheel column.

    The problem occurred when drivers were startled and then fixated upon the green flashing arrows that appeared on the instrument cluster, leading to long periods of inattention with their feet on the dash, resulting in the collisions.

    Further research and development was thus discontinued.