Truck buying experience at Ritchie Bros. good/bad?

18 speeds were initially introduced when engines had very narrow power bands. With this many gears you could be assured of always being able to keep it pulling good.
Modern engines have very broad and flat torque curves and are able to pull longer steps in the tranny and still have good pulling power.
80,000 lbs even in the mountains, you’ll be fine.
I use to have a 15 speed, other than the bottom 5 deep reduction gears, is the same as a ten speed and it went all over Canada and USA and pulled fine.