What are your thoughts on automatic vs manual transmissions?

It was done purposely to widen the appeal of trucking. Have to make it like driving a Honda. Fleets want meat in the seat they could care less. When they can replace you they will in a split second and not give 2 shots about it

 

I’ve enjoyed my DT12. Saves my rotator-cuff-impaired right shoulder and the patella-tendon-whispering of my left knee. Every once in a while I’ll switch to manual mode for cause, but overall I’ve found the new generation of automatic transmissions to be very intuitive.

 

A machine can’t be intuitive. That’s the problem. Everybody thinks these machines/computers are smart. They’re dumb binary systems that can only react to input. Granted they can and do react faster than humans but it is the nub of the problem that is leading us to too great of a dependence on technology and when the technology goes kerblooie you’re screwed. Many times simpler is better

 

As experienced as I am I have two view points.

OTR - Auto
Logging, oilfield, construction- manual

 

Agree with what you wrote. Automatics are good for city, handicaps, or the ATA drivers.

 

I tried that performance mode and thought it was a joke (my opinion only). The operating range on my MP8 445 is 1250-1800. Any less than 1250 you lose boost and the pyrometer climbs. Any more than 1800 you're out of the power range and are just making noise. The mDrive wanted to keep the engine between 11-1400. It was upshifting right in the middle of the torque curve. In performance mode it would run the truck all the way up to 1950! Pointless in my opinion. It's low shift points made the engine brake performance very poor, and when you pushed the engine brake button on the shift pad it would put the trans in the lowest gear possible, darn near the redline. That whole setup either under-worked or over-worked the engine.

 

I fundamentally agree with you here. I’ve often said we’re going to “technology ourselves right out of existence”.

 

Driving in local traffic all the time I prefer automatics without hesitation. The older drivers who are running manuals are always complaining that their leg hurts at the end of the day.

But nothing beats the feel of shifting gears, I feel "one with the truck". Automatic sucks too if your stuck in snow or ice. Sometimes when I'm hooking to a trailer I'll hit the gas a little and it'll hit the kingpin so hard I'd think that my fifth wheel broke.

To each their own. I believe we would have a better breed of drivers if everyone was driving manuals.

 

I learned on a manual 10 speed in school, but I’m happy to be driving the DT12 on my company truck, even with the previously mentioned slow speed maneuvering issues. If I bought my own truck I’d go manual for the durability and simplified maintenance, not because I actually enjoy driving it more.

 

I'm driving a 10 speed in school but was hoping to go automatic when I hit the road. The company I'm going to still has manuals so you have the choice. When I started reading this thread, I started to think about the point your making. Now I'm starting to lean towards starting with a manual. I can definitely see how it would keep you more alert and focused on the task at hand.... keeps you honest, no chance to tune things out.