Schneider is going Automatic.

Hope that works out for SNI. No matter what though I don't think it's good for new drivers. If they make a change in their career later on down the road and have zero experience driving a truck with a manual transmission it will probably limit their options. Imagine being a driver with 1-2 years of experience and showing up for a road test at the new job and the truck has a 10spd, or worse a 13/18. "Uhh sorry I only drive automatics".

I fricking love shifting gears. That's just me.

 

I love shifting too. Gives me a feeling of control. It's human nature to want the feeling of having skills in what they do. But I'm in business to work efficiently and make profit.
How does an automatic help with fuel economy? Is it significant if at all?

 

The Autos are supposed to be more efficient as the day goes on due to the fact it shifts the exact same at beginning of the day as it does at the end of the day.

A driver gets fatigued as the day goes on so theoretically he or she shifts differently at end of the day.

I'd say for OTR it's not much but a local driver probably better.

As on OTR driver I don't feel I shift alot to start with.

 

I drive local now and LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOOVE an automatic. It's a blessing when having to drive in Baton Rouge traffic all day five days a week.
I don't know how much I'd trust it going up and down mountains though - it would bother me immensely if I couldn't keep the truck from shifting going down a big grade.

 

I'm sure there are controls to hold the truck back in the downgrades.
I guess one can't knock it till they try it. Before I had an e-log, I thought it was a curse. Now I would never want to go back to paper logs.

 

That kinda crossed my mind too. Going to school now and I was thinking of applying at SNI. I've never driven a manual anything in my life. Would suck to learn all about shifting in school, get my CDL using a manual truck, then apply to SNI and forget how to shift because of the auto trucks.

 

For years the BIGGEST MINING and LOGGING trucks were AUTOMATICS and they do not exactly work only on FLAT GROUND so no need to fear them on downgrades

 

I love reading all these replies on the AMT. Its still a manual transmission with a clutch u can abuse, just no pedal and no long shifter arm. I know my next 20 years I'll be loving the AMT. Then hopefully my final 10 years the tractor be driving its self all I need to do is open doors. But back to AMT my dad retired after 30 years of trucking 2 years ago. Oo whole time 13 and 18 felt same way you all do about not having control. My dad hates technology won't by a new pickup because of all the computers in it. Well any way 6months after he retired he got bored called his old company up asked to come back as part time company. They agreed but he would have to do elogs and the AMT. well a week into I get a call he sounded like a kid in candy store. Says his shoulder n fingers don't hurt his knee isn't sore anymore. And loves that the elogs knows where's he at and how many miles he drives. 2 years later still consider part time but is having to much fun driving again. I've heard this from other old timers also, new amt just makes life easier.

 

That is darn stupid of the companies to do. Driver leaves and goes to work for a company that has only 13 speeds. Going to be Houston we have a problem. And the exuse of oh it so much easier in traffic. So what good work out of the clutch leg. 2 to third 3rd to second for a few miles. Great work out.😜

 

I'll say that in 10 years there will only be Automatics. Secondly as you drive longer and get more experience you will realize the clutch doesn't work your leg as you think but it does put your knee in stressful angles. Third as you drive longer you will also learn to float gears and hardly ever use your left leg and will realize how your shoulder and elbow and even wrists can develop an ache from the shifting. Now I like to shift but if I could get into the new Volvo I shift I would take it instead of the 680 with 13 speed.

The Automatics are strictly a cost saving measure for the company that believe it or not also has an advantage to the driver.