What I learned two days ago

How is a manual transmission more work?

 

Company probably knows they'll have to listen for a demand for accessorial pay to shift if they have the audacity to require them to drive trucks....

 

The stick doesn't make me feel like more of a man. But it lets me keep more of my money in my pocket. If i was a company driver i wouldn't care if the truck has a manual or auto, but since I'm the one writing the checks i will stick with the proven dependability and cost efficiency of a 13.

 

dunno, definitely more fun.. a couple days ago in over 10 miles of rush hour traffic i never touched the breaks once using downshifting and up shifting in an 18 speed
how do you not fall asleep driving an auto?

 

Just the opposite. The computer runs the throttle. When you take off, especially on a grade it holds you with a grade gripper (which is just the computer holding the brake)and puts more power into the driveline than necessary, then it doesn't feather the throttle when it shifts, it's hard on the throttle, off the throttle, shift, hard back on the throttle...it doesn't ease into anything. So u-joints, motor mounts, everything takes a beating. Then slowing down, it downshift thru every gear unless you're slowing down fast enough that it thinks you're coming to a full stop. So if you are in bungee cord traffic, but don't come to a 100% full stop, try as you may to keep a pace to keep moving and keep a gap...it shifts up, then down, then up...you can't just leave it in one or two gears and just use the engine to keep pace...it's maddening.

 

the guys I know that have them run their own programming that took years to develop. once they are properly programmed these guys swear by them. seamless up and downshifts, no jerking or twisted off drivelines or chewed up diffs like a bad shift with a manual.

 

i noticed, in the unfortunate event that i do have to take an auto truck for the night, i catch myself entering corners and off ramps etc going too fast. apparently i read those things on gear (10 speed) and the 12 speed autos throw me off. i don’t like the autos, at all. i’ve driven all of them. it feels strange riding the brakes so much and i don’t like how the engine brakes make the truck lunge. got some snow/wintery weather on the ground? good luck taking off and/or maintaining speed and control.

it seems like the automatics do exactly what i don’t want them to do, exactly when i don’t want them to do it.

last one i drove was a 2019 pete. set cruise on 67 - truck does whatever tf it wants floating between 64-66 mph. climb a hill? nope. floor it to make a pass - it laughs and refuses to comply. i drove my 566 miles that night in 11th gear / manual mode. oh and using manual mode to upshift? no you’re not. the truck is limited to 1400 rpm when in manual mode, below 11th gear.

edit: i’m biding my time until my 850k mile 10 speed shows back up.

 

You shift all day and 20 years of wear and tear on you knee. Yes you slip the gears but Driving in rush hour stop and go day after day adds up. The added bonus of the extra room in the truck from no gear shifter in the way is nice also.

 

Not true, Freightliner is now putting autos in as standard. If you want a manual transmission, it will be a minimum of $3200 charge for it.

 

If you keep a safe distance in traffic and crawl along you don't have to shift or brake unless some A-hole feels he needs to jump in an open hole. Also if you put a lighter return spring on the clutch it's not that hard on your knee.I think I've done more damage to my knees from jumping in and out and up and down and from lifting heavy freight.