They are against mine to but I don't have much of a choice. The lease is up and that is what we are getting(short version, we are getting them from a customer that went belly-up, less then 60k on the OD).

The only other options I have are:
1)Take a sleeper route if we get another one.
2)Take the new tandem axle '10 and new 38' trailer everyday(doesn't fit into a lot of my stops though)

Guess we will see how good they are in a few months.

 

the company I used to work for has some automatic dump trucks.. REAL automatics, no clutch, I loved them, I could haul local all day and wasnt 1/2 as tired as when driving a 9 or 10 speed

 

See, that's the thing, with a manual, you can change the shift points anytime you want by shifting it different, no need for $5000.00 software and computers. With a manual, you create the "shift profile" to your own liking, and, it's infinitely variable within the limits of RPM and road speed.

Wouldn't that be just great on a long downhill if you just happened to let the RPM get a bit too high and the trans starts automatically upshifting leaving you to rely on the service brakes to control the truck.

Lots of expensive sh*t added, for little or no benefit, and possibly detriment.

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If you're at or over 2,000RPM, you're already out of control. The engine brake (if the truck has one) has a range in which it's beneficial, and over 2k is out of it's range. Also, the engine itself isn't designed for those speeds. What would happen if you let the rpm's get out of control and throw a rod through the block or bend a valve? It'll kill the engine completely and you'll not only have to rely on the trucks brakes (only) and the air supply that's available before it's drained.

 

Most class 8 truck engines "govern out" at 2100 RPM, and it probably wouldn't come apart unless it was pushed over 2500 RPM. I certainly wouldn't suggest overspeeding an engine, but the point I'm trying to make is that the computer is too "dumb" to realize that it could be causing a dangerous situation by upshifting in that scenario.

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I drove an autoshift freightliner for a few weeks one time.

I did like the "set it forget it" mentality. and no stick in the way to go to the sleeper. lol, but it was slow as heck... it took a lot of time between shifts, that i know i could outdo with a manual, say hipothetcally in a drag race... lol

also i had one instance, where i was unloading on a sloped dock ramp, and once empty for the life of the truck i couldn't get it out of there, b/c of some snow/ice underneath... no rocking in 3rd available in the auto, even in manual mode it didn't work... had to be pulled out with a chain and a backhoe (luckily they had one on the yard...

conclusion: i'll stick to my 13 sp.

I did like the lazy factor in traffic though, not having to worry about shifting in nyc was nice...

 

They burn a good amount more fuel over a stick. Im talking full autos. I drove one for 1 day. It was alright but i like the stick overall.

 

I personally think the take the fun out of driving a truck... i mean yeah you do get to relax more and they work GREAT as hell in Traffic but i'll pass and keep shift gears.. If it works for you keep on trucking my friend (AUTOMATICALLY)

 

I had 2 new Kenworth T-2000's in a row with auto. It took a little getting used to as at first i automatically tried to put my left foot through the floor and grabbed empty air with my right hand when I was slowing down. When I got used to them I loved them. I was much less fatigued at the end of the day especially when driving in traffic. The mileage was spectacular. I got 7.2 - 7.4 in the summer and 6.4 - 6.8 in the winter hauling 40,000lbs+ of paper through Canada. I ran winter across the top of the great lakes and never had a problem in the snow and ice of the Sault with it. If I was an o/o i would strongly consider them from the mileage standpoint alone and to heck with people that didnt think I was a 'real truck driver"

 

someone was telling me about a full auto its a pita to back up. especially if you have to back up a slight grade. never drove one but thats what the person said to me.