What are your thoughts on automatic vs manual transmissions?

The autos like to slam stuff. Like if you are backing under a trailer, you'll hit the skid plate and then it will stop. So you ease on to the throttle, more.. more... more... then finally it gives and you go flying underneath the trailer, giving yourself whiplash.

Also it's kind of funny watching those auto freightliner back up. You can see the whole rig bouncing side to side... driver sitting there getting tossed all over the place. Lol

I started with the manuals here recently and learning the shifting has been extremely frustrating. It's like the #### thing has a mind of its own. One time it's good, it shifts; next time, same situation it just doesn't go in.

Even small hills like pulling into a truck stop, if my gear isn't right, truck just stops. Driving autos you just don't ever think about that stuff. You give it throttle and it magically goes.

If you ask me right now, I'd probably take an auto. That's my comfort zone. But the place I'm at doesn't have any I guess. My opinion may change once I get everything figured out... if I am still alive.

 

Both have their pros and cons. I like automatics, but I HATE the stupid e-Coast feature. I always turn it off. I don’t trust it in slippery conditions.

 

Well now you went and done it.
Another Manual vs Auto thread.

LOL

Pepsi vs Coke
Chevy vs Ford
PC vs Mac

Me? Coke, Ford, Mac…
… and Automatic

I get why some Drivers prefer Manual and they have many valid points.

And while I did get my CDL in a Manual, I have no practical time in one and no desire to be shifting or floating or anything. Sure, sometimes I flip it to “M” and control the gear I’m in, mostly climbing hills to keep up my momentum. But 95% of the time I’m rolling on clear roads at 68 mph so it really doesn’t matter at that point. And like others have mentioned, I don’t even want to deal with shifting in city traffic or other stop n go traffic.

sometimes I might bump a kingpin or dock a bit hard but I’m sure I’d do that with a stick too.

I will say I do prefer the Volvo Auto to my current KW Auto but I’d take either over a Manual.

Just my Two Cents worth.

Enjoy what you Drive
And get home safely

 

Not to mention freeze up problems in the winter. We had to a of problems at R&L Norwalk yard with the auto shifts and cold weather. They’d freeze up and not shift out of neutral or only shift into reverse. They only solution was to drag them to the garage to warm them. Shop claimed it was from drivers not draining air tanks daily. Never made sense to me, these were almost brand new trucks with functioning air driers. It was ironic, as R&l updated from the old Mack’s to the Petes and Cornbinders we finally had trucks that would hold air all night while parked but then had to drain the tanks off and wait for them to build air in the morning

 

Ha ha it's very simple. Someone could just set engine brake to stage 3 to slow down to the speed they want. Then SET the cruise control. Only problem is the computer won't switch to stage 2 or 1 automatically if stage 3 is to strong. Plus truck will just keep slowing and downshifting gears if in at stage 3 engine brake all the time. Drivers have to learn a little bit how to run the new transmission. They won't be happy if they run it like manual.

 

Coke.
Ford.
PC.
Manual.

 

That must just be the DT-12's, because the Eaton's with the DD-13 work just like the manuals. Set the cruise at the top, the Jake stages kick in at whatever you have programmed (I've got mine at 3,4&5 mph over set speed.)

That's largely a function of the target market, most DT's go in fleet trucks, and the nanny-state programming in those fleets.

 

The programming has much to do with it. Regardless, they still suck at feathering the clutch on an uphill back to a dock, they downshift inappropriately in tanker applications, especially smoothebore and they don’t rock to extricate yourself from snow

 

Not all autos are equal. I had fighting words with Schneider's Freightliner DT12 but I love my Mack mDrive. It holds the service brakes while you throttle up then gently releases. You can gently barely click a kingpin or bump a dock without losing freight that's about to fall out.