Schneider is going Automatic.

Automated Manual Transmissions(AMT's) and Automatics are the only way to go, like one of the other posters said, it will be difficult to find a manual in about 5 years or so. Heck, my uncle(41 years driving) has been testing out a truck that drives itself( for the most part) for about 5 years now under wraps. No doubt that 20 years from now it won't be a matter of Auto's but as to what the drivers will do while the truck drives itself.

Some benefits of autos:
Less time and money spent on training, gives more time to focus on backing and safety.
Less driver fatigue.
More attention to road with both hands freed and no rpm glancing.
Less driver physical impairments( i.e. knee and shoulder joints) due to long term shifting and clutching
Greater fuel economy across the board, whether new driver or experienced, each gets same fuel economy (level playing field)
Lower maintenance in the long term

 

I really hope when I get started at my first company that they can issue an automatic (looking at Schneider or May) They say it's important to know how to drive stick (which I can but need practice) but it makes the most sense to concentrate on driving safely than worrying if you're in the right gear. I think it's great they are making the transition.

 

if any of you were old enough you heard the same tired rhetoric in the 70's that real truck drivers wouldn't have power streeing they couldn't feel the road
unless you have driven a DD!2 mercedes transmission every other autoshift is old news
and if you can't drive a 2 stick your already not a REAL truck driver lol

 

How about a triplex... Does that count?

 

only without power steering and only one fan

 

.......and make sure when your shifting a 2 stick or tri plex to hook your arm thru the non power steering wheel. Just don't hit a curb when your doing it................

 

plowing with a 10 foot blade and a set of sticks was fun until you hit a bridge expansion joint
those plows in 1975 didn't have all those fancy springs so the plow blade would just lay over

 

My truck feels like it's going to do that on every bridge tradition in Louisiana

 

The biggest issue for me is that they do not warranty the DT12 for the weight that an 18 speed is guaranteed for. I pull heavy and the 18 speed is rated for more weight than any other transmission. Although lots of good it will do when it is rated for 140k but I am grossing 160+. Even the 13 speed is not rated/guaranteed for 140k.

As for the guy that said you do not need an 18 speed when pulling heavy, REALLY? Pulling out and immediately starting an up hill climb weighing 150k+ and you think a 13 speed will do?

 

I'm pretty sure he was talking about normal van freight. I'm pretty sure schneider doesn't haul anything over 80k gross, at least I've never seen or heard of any trucks or trailers spec'd for it. In our world we call anything close to 80k heavy. A 10 speed works fine but imo a 13 is ideal.

Now if your doing actual heavy haul, an 18 takes the cake. I've done 120k gross pulling end dumps and lowboys with a 13 speed but nothing beats an 18 for heavy haul.