Manual vs Automatic Transmissions

I prefer manual. Especially on the down grades. I feel I have more control that way. But then ive never driven an automatic.

 

omg, now that's funny x#1

 

I've driven 6,9,10,and 13 speeds, and a 15 or 18 speed auto (cant remember)........when the day comes that I go to a company that has automatics: I will welcome the opportunity not to have to shift anymore - ya see i don't have anything to prove to anyone, and my paycheck will be the same, not to mention- with today's technology (read: the electronics incorporated into these transmissions) its getting harder and harder for me to justify wanting a manual.

(and NO im not old, fat, lazy, or overweight in case someone was wondering)

 

This is the perfect example of a trucker mentality. "I prefer this way, but I've never done it this other way."
How do you know you wouldn't prefer a auto if you've never used one? The technology in the new autos is amazing- hill hold so you don't roll backwards, it can analyze the grade and auto select the best gear to approach at so you don't lose speed, it can tell the downgrade and auto applies brakes, jakes, and gear detection to keep you at the optimum speed of your choosing.
Can't knock it if you've never tried.

 

Have you ever drove one in the snow? If not then you don't know how it will act. And you would be very surprised what these autos can be programmed to do.......

 

Ok matbnr, I stand corrected. Ive never drivin one before. Didn't know that the Auto's were that advanced. I think of a car when going down a hill. It up shift not down shifts. Ive been out of the truck for 10yrs, so im not really a trucker. And things obviously changed.

 

Well heres an update for anyone still following this thread. Have 2/3's of a trip completed with new auto transmission (Houlton, ME to Baltimore, MD to Toronto, ON) . Going up and down the highway, its shifts smoothly and quietly. In Auto Economy mode ( which is the default ) it will lug way down before up shifting on hills. This works fine on single grade hills, but on multi step hills (upgrade with short, level section before another upgrade , it'll think it's rolled over the top and upshift to higher gear to roll down the other side. This causes it to need to lug hard and need to downshift again to try recover. Switching to Auto Performance mode works better, but the system will automatically return to Econo mode if no power requirements are needed within a couple of minutes necessitating selecting Performance mode again. Not a big deal, but for working hilly sections of highway or general city traffic with traffic lights, I'd prefer the ability to remain in Performance mode until I chose to return to Econo mode.
I'm still learning best settings for heavy stop and go traffic situations; In my old Classic with 13 OD, I'd leave the engine brake on and depending on stopping requirements I would lug the current gear or up/down shift in anticipation of traffic stopping or moving and everything runs smoothly. With the auto in Econo mode, selecting medium or high engine brake will cause it to downshift as quick as it can once you release the fuel and almost put you thru the windshield. In Performance mode, it seems better as it' attempts to remain at higher engine speeds, but because there may not be any "power requests". it auto switches to Econo and upshifts to higher gear when you might prefer to remain in current gear to coast behind traffic. Switching to Manual mode gives a better mix of engine braking and acceleration depending on traffic demands. For those familiar with running the stick in traffic, sometimes gear demands might require jumping 3-4 gears down after a hard deceleration (i.e. car cutting in front of you) and slipping into lower gear to keep moving. In Manual mode, it requires quickly bumping the "shifter paddle" as it runs sequentially, so you run more by guess than you would feel on a normal manual transmission.
I'm still learning, so if I have something to add, I'll post here. Feel free to ask any questions. I'll answer when I can.

 

I've driven both manuals and autos. At the end of the day the truck goes and I make money. A lot of autos now are actually pretty good and you can get decent mileage out of them. I can understand the stigma though, it removes some of the skill of driving and the first autos for trucks were just awful.