Are Trucking Companies Switching To Automatic Transmissions?

Right now my company only has one auto but we plan on getting more. We're averaging close to a 3mpg difference between that and the manuals. So over the long term they will end up saving a ton. Of course on the other hand I drive for a very small company who leases the tractors so maintaining them isn't so much a big problem. I couldn't picture the huge national companies going to mostly autos though.

I'm sorry, but give me a thirteen speed any day, I learnt on them and drove them, and loved the tranny, Yes especially in the Northeast. If I remember correctly? If you take your test in an auto you are licensed for an auto and not a Manual.?

I'm sorry, but give me a thirteen speed any day, I learnt on them and drove them, and loved the tranny, Yes especially in the Northeast. If I remember correctly? If you take your test in an auto you are licensed for an auto and not a Manual.?

That is correct as I understand it. If you take your CDL test using an automatic then you can only drive automatics. But if you take it in a manual you can drive both.

I hope you guys are right. I read that between the new volvo auto trans, and the freightliner trans, the volvo is superior. It's supposedly the best auto out there. Can anyone confirm this?

In Europe some drivers complain that they just turn into mere machine operators.

I hope you guys are right. I read that between the new volvo auto trans, and the freightliner trans, the volvo is superior. It's supposedly the best auto out there. Can anyone confirm this?

Volvo auto-shift trans rock - I drove a friends, as smooth as my Honda Pilot.

Only problem is they can only be paired with a Volvo ENGINE. Volvo parts availability has gotten better (but dealers are close on weekends) - but - you will sit far less waiting for a Cummins/Eaton auto-shift parts, than a Volvo/Volvo combination.

I've been driving stick since I've had a drivers license (38 years), and the first time I got into a truck - totally different animal. If you'r still in school - stick with getting double-clutching down, as you can't "float gears" on your road test.

Rick

Talk about the industry moving to autos became all the rage about 10-15 years ago and several companies moved toward them in a big way. US Xpress was one of the first companies to go "all in" and have had an automatic fleet for a very long time. But in recent years even they are switching back to standards because autos have been too expensive to install and maintain, and they've also been too unreliable.

But now there are far more people getting into the game on the building and development side. If someone can figure out how to make them economically feasible it's going to be a rush for every large company to get them because the fuel mileage will be quite a bit better. And that's their number one cost.

So in the short term - maybe the next 5 years - not much will change. Trucking companies will continue to test them and a few will move toward them, a few will move away. If anyone figures out how to make them economically feasible you will see a rush toward them that will take about 5 years to play out as fleets begin to order them in new trucks.

As far as the driving aspect - they're a dream to drive. I drove one for almost 6 years at US Xpress. The only complaint I had was reliability. It would break down and leave you stranded about twice a year and it took a while to fix because not many people were qualified. But as far as driving - no complaints. They're great.

The remark about taking the skill level away from trucking - not true really. I mean, when you look at the endless array of challenges you face out there, shifting is not really one of them. Sure, maybe for a few months.....but then it becomes second nature.

A lot of people feel they don't have the control with an automatic but that's not true either. You can shift it manually anytime you like and you can lock it in a gear anytime you like. So the mountains are no problem. You're not taking control away from the driver. You're simply eliminating some unnecessary work.

I hope you guys are right. I read that between the new volvo auto trans, and the freightliner trans, the volvo is superior. It's supposedly the best auto out there. Can anyone confirm this?

Volvo auto-shift trans rock - I drove a friends, as smooth as my Honda Pilot.

Only problem is they can only be paired with a Volvo ENGINE. Volvo parts availability has gotten better (but dealers are close on weekends) - but - you will sit far less waiting for a Cummins/Eaton auto-shift parts, than a Volvo/Volvo combination.

I've been driving stick since I've had a drivers license (38 years), and the first time I got into a truck - totally different animal. If you'r still in school - stick with getting double-clutching down, as you can't "float gears" on your road test.

Rick

I was told by an instructor that I can float the gears. Regardless, I like to double clutch so I don't really care.

Talk about the industry moving to autos became all the rage about 10-15 years ago and several companies moved toward them in a big way. US Xpress was one of the first companies to go "all in" and have had an automatic fleet for a very long time. But in recent years even they are switching back to standards because autos have been too expensive to install and maintain, and they've also been too unreliable.

But now there are far more people getting into the game on the building and development side. If someone can figure out how to make them economically feasible it's going to be a rush for every large company to get them because the fuel mileage will be quite a bit better. And that's their number one cost.

So in the short term - maybe the next 5 years - not much will change. Trucking companies will continue to test them and a few will move toward them, a few will move away. If anyone figures out how to make them economically feasible you will see a rush toward them that will take about 5 years to play out as fleets begin to order them in new trucks.

As far as the driving aspect - they're a dream to drive. I drove one for almost 6 years at US Xpress. The only complaint I had was reliability. It would break down and leave you stranded about twice a year and it took a while to fix because not many people were qualified. But as far as driving - no complaints. They're great.

The remark about taking the skill level away from trucking - not true really. I mean, when you look at the endless array of challenges you face out there, shifting is not really one of them. Sure, maybe for a few months.....but then it becomes second nature.

A lot of people feel they don't have the control with an automatic but that's not true either. You can shift it manually anytime you like and you can lock it in a gear anytime you like. So the mountains are no problem. You're not taking control away from the driver. You're simply eliminating some unnecessary work.

Good stuff.

One of the things you have to realize about these auto transmissions is that they are not anything comparable to the auto transmissions in an automobile. They are actual gear boxes with a clutching mechanism, but they are controlled by a sophisticated computer program to get the maximum efficiency for things like torque and fuel economy. While a car's automatic tranny is basically fluid being forced under pressure to "transmit" the engines power to the drive wheels, the "automatic" trucks are still using gears, only the computer switches them at precisely the best time for what is needed for the driving needs and conditions at hand.