Schneider Likely to Shift Fleet to Automatic Transmissions

[-FlyByNight-]

I just read this on http://www.ttnews.com

Schneider National’s safety director said he was “99% certain” the firm would convert its entire 12,000-truck fleet to automatic transmissions beginning in 2007, part of a growing trend among carriers of all sizes.

Fleet operators said they are converting to automatic transmissions, primarily because the trucks are safer.

“Automatic transmissions are the No. 1 safety device at Schneider National,” Don Osterberg, director of driver safety, told Transport Topics Oct. 30.

Schneider, which already operates 800 automatics, ranks No. 8 on the Transport Topics 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.

Things that make you go Hmmm?
Not only do I think we're going to see a lot more companies going to automatics, but I think they will be the rule rather than the exception in the not so distant future.

[Sizzle]

I agree with Fly By Night. However, as a former Driveaway driver [hauled new trucks as opposed to trailers] I can tell you the automatics are not fun to drive. The transmissions that the Volvos had were clutch less and not user friendly. They only can go backwards or forwards and would "freeze up" quite often and not go in either direction.

I hauled at least 20-25 loads of automatic Volvos to Canada while doing driveaway. I asked the dealerships why they get so many automatics because we weren't delivering much in the U.S. with the exception of U.S. Express and Interstate. He proceeded to explain to me that most of the Owner Ops in Canada were Pakistani and Indian and they didn't like to shift. They are definitely not as nice to drive as the manuals. So frankly, I'm not looking forward to that day!!!

[Malaki86]

My God - 12,000 trucks and they're ranked as number 8????

As for the auto's, as I've said before - it's going to go past the being a fad part to being the norm in trucks.

[Sizzle]

I neglected to mention that automatics don't shift well into the right direction in the winter time. This primarily is due to the fact that the transmission fluid gets thicker in the colder weather. Oh the automatics are not FUN!!!

[Deus]

Meh, our company has a few straight trucks with smaller engines and they aren't even automatic. It might become the norm for large fleets being they have to employ people that just don't get how to shift. I think most companies will probably stick with manual though. Cheaper, and I've heard from so many people that automatics suck!

One driver was telling me that the company he works for started buying autos, and they had something like 4 or 5 of them in with more on order but they had the tendence to miss gears and all sorts of problems so they canceled the order on the rest of them and went back to manuals.

I can't speak on experience I've never driven an auto, but I just don't like the idea of not being in control of the gear I'm in.

[classicxl]

the auto I looked at had the option to shift by itself or you could do it manually

[Deus]

the auto I looked at had the option to shift by itself or you could do it manually

Would take some getting used to. My car is a manual too so whenever I'm in an automatic anything when the light turns red I nearly break my foot when I go for the invisible clutch.

[BanditsCousin]

When I get off the road and into my suv I always grab at the center shifter when coming to lights out of habit....and my GMC is an auto :shock:

[Malaki86]

I neglected to mention that automatics don't shift well into the right direction in the winter time. This primarily is due to the fact that the transmission fluid gets thicker in the colder weather. Oh the automatics are not FUN!!!

The auto's in trucks 'transmission fluid' is gear oil - the exact same gear oil that's in your manual tranny.

They only can go backwards or forwards and would "freeze up" quite often and not go in either direction.

Does this imply that your manual transmission can go in forward and reverse at the exact same time?

As far as the clutch/clutchless, I do prefer the trucks with the manual clutch pedal. Getting the revs up in order to engage the clutch in the full auto is a pain, especially when you're bobtail - hit the throttle a tad too hard and when the clutch engages it just about throws you out of the seat.

In my pov, i've never about ripped the floor shifter out, but I have slammed on the brake by accident (automatic) when I went to hit the clutch in a quick stop (stopped a lot faster than I had planned).

The debate over auto vs manuals is going to be one that goes on forever. Heck, I could almost say our great-grandkids (I'm 38) will be having the exact same arguments long after we're all dead and gone. People have their own personal preferences. Me, ya, I can shift. But I'd prefer to not have to.

[shahan]

They only can go backwards or forwards and would "freeze up" quite often and not go in either direction.

The manuals go sideways?

[Malaki86]

The manuals go sideways?

See, now I didn't even think of that possibility...

What about diagonal? Is that for a full hydraulic tranny?
Up and down? hrmmmm....

[shahan]

it would make parallel parking a helluvalot easier.

[Ian Williams]

It makes sense for the mega-carriers with 100%+ annual turnover. They are going to have a steady stream of rookies grinding the crap out of their transmissions.

I'm sure they crunched the numbers, but what about the weight penalty and fuel economy difference?

[Malaki86]

what about the weight penalty and fuel economy difference?

As for the weight, I have no idea as to the difference.
Fuel economy? My last automatic was a '03 Volvo 780 with the Cummins ISX. My average load was in the range of 35k - some light, most heavy. I usually ran in the northeast. Also, I *never* shut down, except when fueling. If I was in the truck, it was running. My average mpg was 6.9.

My current truck (10spd manual) is an '07 International mid-roof (small sleeper). It has the Cummins ISX. My average load is in the range of 20-25k - some heavy, most light. I usually run in the south, southeast and midwest. I only idle now when I have to. Unless it's too hot/cold, I'm shut down. My average mpg is 6.2.

[stinkyfinger]

My God - 12,000 trucks and they're ranked as number 8????

As for the auto's, as I've said before - it's going to go past the being a fad part to being the norm in trucks.

That rating is Transport Topics rating.I think it just depends on what "area" you'r checking into and who's list it is and how "they" figure it.Example; is it by # of trucks,#of drivers,money taken in or what.Here is a link and on "their" list, the pumkin is # 3 in "revenue".It all depends in my opinion anyway,on whose list it is and under what "classification" (for lack of a better word) I may be wrong but whatever
truckinjuries.com/truck_companies_revenue.html
I jus checked the list out on this site so far. But the site is devoted to how to sue trucking companies. :shock:

[driverboy]

Our fleet runs a few autos in Freightliners and not many drivers like to run them, I personally do not enjoy driving them at all. Even in the manual shift mode the paddle shifter is slow to respond and during a days work completely ignores your command to shift dozens of times. Being slow to respond if it does shift takes a few seconds regardless so you can be out 4 seconds or more when it does not go the 1st time, not safe at all.

Backing into trailers and into holes in general with an auto is a mess as well, the modulation of easing into movement based on weight, angle of ground, how hard the tractor is cocked is all something the driver can make input into with a clutch for a smooth fluid movement. The auto knows nothing but hit X rpm and away she goes. Very jerky and hard on the componets.

That's my experience with them, I didn't monitor fuel mileage much, doubt they would be too far either way off a stick shift.

Love my 6 speed manual in my sports car in the summer, not in a big truck!

[BigDawg]

Schneider National’s safety director said he was “99% certain” the firm would convert its entire 12,000-truck fleet to automatic transmissions beginning in 2007, part of a growing trend among carriers of all sizes.

Fleet operators said they are converting to automatic transmissions, primarily because the trucks are safer.

“Automatic transmissions are the No. 1 safety device at Schneider National,” Don Osterberg, director of driver safety, told Transport Topics Oct. 30.

Schneider, which already operates 800 automatics, ranks No. 8 on the Transport Topics 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.

here ya go just found this a bit ago.

[toostep]

I drove a Pete 387 with a 12 speed auto in it, and I had no problems with it.
It shifted flawlessly, the company safety man trained me on what it could and could not do, and the rest was a piece of cake.

In the winter, you do have let the tranny warm up a bit depending on how cold it is, but other than that, put in the go gear, sit back, relax. Let the truck do the work, while you focus on safe driving.

[stinkyfinger]

I drove a Pete 387 with a 12 speed auto in it, and I had no problems with it.
It shifted flawlessly, the company safety man trained me on what it could and could not do, and the rest was a piece of cake.

In the winter, you do have let the tranny warm up a bit depending on how cold it is, but other than that, put in the go gear, sit back, relax. Let the truck do the work, while you focus on safe driving.

Well yea,...... wouldn"t that just be kinda natural or somethin' to let not only the tranny to warm up but the engine to warm up b4 goin' anywhere

[Useless]

Not wanting to hijack the thread here, but "STINKYFINGER"!!

That handle is so CRUDE!! so GROSS!! so DISGUSTING!!!

What bothers me the most is that I didn't think of it FIRST!!
:moose: