Melton Truck Lines Going Full Auto?
Topic 15145 | Page 2
David S wrote:
I'm currently prepareing for school and I hope to gain a lot of experience using a manual transmission before moving to an automatic.........and not the other way around. LOL
David most schools; Company-Sponsored or Private Schools use 8 or 10 speed manual transmissions. Beyond that, it's a toss up on road training with an automatic shift or manual shift transmission truck. Most of the larger carriers are moving away from manual transmissions.
I have to say yes they are going to autos eventually, I talked with one of their drivers Saturday and he said they was going to auto's cause most of the new drivers these days can't figureout how to work manuals. Again I'm telling you this from a driver with Melton!!
If that's 100% correct then that's a bit of a bummer but it's ok there's hope! Seems like the industry is taking that turn and that's ok with me! And do they teach students how to float at all? It's alot easier. I like to double clutch and float. Mostly float and I double clutch when I'm under 40,000+ it's smoother for the moment lol but floating seems to be so much more stress free! Does that mess with the transmission at all?? Or the synchronizers as I've heard before!?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Double Clutch:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
Exact opposite for my company. We have been ordering auto's and have been having issues with them so now we're going back to manuals.
I talked with one of their drivers Saturday and he said they was going to auto's cause most of the new drivers these days can't figure out how to work manuals
That of course is total baloney. It's simply for better fuel mileage.
I talked with one of their drivers Saturday and he said they was going to auto's cause most of the new drivers these days can't figure out how to work manuals
That of course is total baloney. It's simply for better fuel mileage.
Brett, for one I'm not into lying about something I was told, and two I was told those exact words from the driver at the Melton Terminal. I got no reason to lie or pull anyones leg!!!!
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
That of course is total baloney. It's simply for better fuel mileage.
Brett, for one I'm not into lying about something I was told, and two I was told those exact words from the driver at the Melton Terminal. I got no reason to lie or pull anyones leg!!!!
Airborne, I think you are misunderstanding Brett's point. He was suggesting the reason the Melton driver offered supporting the auto-shift transition, is baloney. Not the fact that you heard it.
The primary reason most of the carriers are going this route is better fuel mileage. Period. If the Melton driver you spoke with was totally correct than why are the majority of fleets moving in this direction? Carriers that only hire experienced drivers are making the same transition. It's about the numbers game and cost savings of better fuel economy. Even at $2.75 per gallon, a half mpg increase could annually save about $2450.00 per truck. A large carrier's fleet exceeds 5000 trucks...see where this is going? The cost reduction with half a mile per gallon is into the multi-millions of dollars. That savings goes right to the bottom line.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
He was suggesting the reason the Melton driver offered supporting the auto-shift transition, is baloney. Not the fact that you heard it.
That is correct.
Airborne, a "driver at the Melton Terminal" is not a good source of information. Yes, Melton is switching to automatics.
BUT after fifty or more years of using manual transmissions, no company is going to simply throw up their hands because the new crop of students can't use a shifter, accelerator and clutch at the same time. The reasons are as G-Town explained. No one is accusing you of either lying or being gullible.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Thanks again guys for all of your input! I really appreciate it! And that's a great point Errol after 50+ years of using manuals I'm pretty sure they are testing the waters and seeing that there are more savings with the autos as opposed to the manuals. I also see where the "new guys can't shift" theory is unnecessary. The whole truth is always best.!
Exact opposite for my company. We have been ordering auto's and have been having issues with them so now we're going back to manuals.
Just curious, what kind of issues? Is it because you're pulling tankers?
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I have to say yes they are going to autos eventually, I talked with one of their drivers Saturday and he said they was going to auto's cause most of the new drivers these days can't figureout how to work manuals. Again I'm telling you this from a driver with Melton!!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: