Manual vs Automatic Transmissions

^ Completely agree.

I've heard people gripe about Volvos w/ auto trans not having power on hills, but I had no trouble getting up hills fully loaded in my 12 spd auto, and I would down shift to 8th and idle going down most hills.

 

My Volvo had that functionality. It depends on the tranny, not the truck.

 

Dude I got to tell you that no matter what, you should be able to learn how to drive anything they put you in. 9/13/18 or super 10 or twin stick with reduction gears on the rear - it doesn't matter.

The important thing is to learn how to adapt because this is one of a long list of things you will have to deal with and it is by far the simplest to deal with. However if you worry about this, then I would think you are missing important things to worry about like learning how not to drive in bad weather but parking your butt in a safe place.

That said my pet peeve is the use of the word automatic instead of proper terms because there are not a lot of automatic transmissions in trucks (those are Allison built true automatics), they are gaining popularity and pretty much suk to drive (I drive one right now and it is not the fastest thing on the road - 2014 Freightliner with a DD and allison ... why God did you create such a thing?). What are in many trucks are called autoshifts or ultrashifts (which I forget what volvo's version is called idrive or something like that) and these come in two varieties - autoshift is a three pedal deal and the ultrashift is a two pedal deal. These are manual transmissions with air actuators to shift and controlled by a computer. I drove an autoshift for a few days and it wasn't bad at all, I would say it is useful for people like me who have knee problems and have issues with heavy clutches. When people banter back and forth about being super truckers and such because of their tranny, I wonder how they would do driving a 1963 Mack B or a 1959 Autocar?

 

Really? I'm kinda wondering how long a clutch and tranny goes (with proper maintanence) before it needs replaced? I've gotten around 450,000 out of a clutch and never had so much as a rebuild on a tranny with as many as 750,000 (the company sold the truck at that point). I don't see computers doing much better since they use the clutch every shift. Add in the fact that your clutch screws up and I'd almost guarantee you'll be calling a hook and spending money in the shop even if it just needs adjusted, I just don't see these things being truly cost effective over the long term.

 

My truck (company truck) is a auto. freightliner super shift. I love it. I drove manuals for 5 years before this. It gets kinda confused on hills but I pull tankers so the surge plus a shift equals confused computer. But for towns it's a godsend. No more tire legs from constant clutching from stop and go traffic. Don't let these guys that say "a real trucker has a shifter" confuse you. They just have inflated egos. Being in a automatic truck doesn't make you less of a trucker. Your still controlling a 80k lb machine at 65 mph down the road for 11 hours a day. As long as you do it safely and professionally THATS what makes you a trucker. Not the ability to shift.

Oh yeah my truck has over 1 million miles on it too. So them autos are pretty good in my book. No Mia shifts destroying a tranny. So burning clutches out from keeping them partially engaged at stop signs and traffic. And I know these guys are gonna say "if you do that you should t be driving." I call bs. Everyone did it when they first started driving and if they try and tell you different they are just lying to themselves. No one is born a super trucker. It takes a big cb and lots of chrome to become one. Hahah

 

so by your standards,drivers that pull at or near gross and do 70 mph in a 70 mph zone or 75 mph in a 75 mph zone or whatever traffic is doing,i keep up with traffic,is not operating safely and professionally?

one can not be professional unless the truck you are in is an automatic that can only run 65.I am sure that you stay in the middle lane and make faster traffic pass you on the right as well since that is what your trainer taught you to do.

no thanks.I'll simply pass you in the far left and be done with it and then use my turn signal to indicate that i am moving back over and will now be in front of your traffic impeding,professionally driven automatic transmission truck. I will then flash my left turn signal a couple of times indicating "thank you" for being courteous and allowing me over as you watch my taillights become smaller.I will also tell you "thanks" over the cb although you'll probably not hear me as you don't run one-

 

Wow so defensive. You need a hug or what?
Let's see where do I begin... Yes I do ride in The middle lane as long as I can do the speed limit. My truck does 65. If the speed limit is 65 I ride in the middle especially through cities because it's a lot easier not trying to merge over every 30 seconds to let cars and truck on.
I do run a cb but most of the time it's off due to idiots just arguing about stupid stuff and playing Rambo.
If at night I turn my headlights off to let the other guy know it's safe to get over. During the day I figure they should be able to see.
As far as the speed I only said 65 cause most places are 65 and most company trucks are limited to 65.
Guys like you that get all worked up annoy me. You need to relax buddy. It wasn't a personal attack on how you drive. I don't care what lane you drive in or if you talk to me on the cb or flash your signals at me or anything else. I drive how I feel is safer and easier for everyone around me. If ya don't like it then feel free to pass me and keep on going. Don't bother me in the least. Roll on driver.

 

It's worth having a CB for shippers/receivers if nothing else.