Posted: 8 years, 11 months ago
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Hi Attila.....you had me worried for a minute there. I've just watched the Swift video again......please watch it again and take in more of the detail. The camera's......both inside and out.....only switch on and monitor an event......around twenty seconds at a time. Which means that the camera is not on all the time. Good news eh.......nobody will be watching you full time.......and I agree with what has been written earlier......what a boring job that would be.
The camera has a green light and a red one, which lets the driver know when it has been switched on and its recording. All in all its a good tool if they want to show this as evidence in a court case. Give Swift a chance to explain all of this too you by your DM and then give it a month with it before you make any decisions on Swift or if you wanted to give up trucking.
Take care my friend.
Mick
Posted: 8 years, 12 months ago
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We had a recruiter from werner come to class a couple weeks back. He said a lot of their newer trucks were automatic, and if you get your license with an automatic you'll have a restriction.
I did my training with guys that only knew automatic trucks and they had to re-train on trucks with gears......that could be a further problem for guys coming into the industry.
Mick
Posted: 8 years, 12 months ago
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I drove a KW 600, 680 and T-700 all with Eaton Autos for TransAm trucking. I have been all up and down steep grades, with all kinds of loads, the auto can handle it. An auto trans is like any piece of equipment, you just need to learn how to use it, how to use the accelerator to trigger the auto to shift for the smoothest performance. IMHO, it is the right tool for the job of OTR trucking.
Thanks Mike, its good to know.....beginning to warm to the idea after reading these positive responses.
Mick
Posted: 8 years, 12 months ago
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It had a Paddle shifter on the right side of the steering wheel with a slide switch to select auto or manual (which you still would use crossing RR tracks) when I was anticipating climbing hills/mountians I'd put in manual, that way the computer would let me cheat an extra 200 to 300 rpm higher on the shifts. Also you can just leave it in Auto and paddle shift up or down in anticipation of a down grade, it would just beep at me if it was too far out of range (RPM) for for the gear I selected ( I would be slowing and put in a down shift, but the trans was already downshifting, so it wouldn't double shift). The computer liked the 1100 to 1400 rpm range, and would auto shift up or down to maintain that range.
The transmission was a basic Eaton Fuller 10 speed with the gearshift tower removed and replaced by a Top cover with X and Y Servo's, plus an added speed sensor on the imput shaft. A standard clutch with the clutch Cable removed and a Servo motor used to engage and disingage the clutch. At Idle, the clutch stays disingaged untill you step on the accelerator, the the clutch engages, and stays engaged thru all the shifts untill you come to a stop.
It Floats the gears, once you get the truck rolling you can just put the peddle to the metal and watch the Majic happen. without lifting the accelerator, when you get to 1400 it brakes torque and drops rpm to 1100 rpm and Float shifts to the next higher gear including the splitter and automatically reapplies full power. When you're slowing down, it's the reverse process.
As I topped a hill, I'd slow down to my safe speed and paddle a down shift for the proper gear, if the trans has'nt done it yet. Also if it was dry out, I'd have the engine brake on ( pre armed as it did'nt come on till you come all the way off the go peddle) . It has 3 levels, and if I noticed it was'nt holding speed, I'd give the Brakes a wake up stab to engage max engine brake,,, the system would drop another gear so the RPMs would be in the 1800 to 1900 rpm range for Max engine braking.
I delivered to one Oil well by West Virginia that had a 1 mile 15% grade !!! 80,000 lbs up and 35,000 lbs down ! And it was twisty 2 lane Narrow, without guard rails. (Yes it was Scarry) I did'nt know the grade was coming up, when I hit it, I was paddle down shifting as fast as I could, almost killed the engine. Ended up pulling up in 1st gear, and the same going back down, truck wanted to run a way until I paddled down far enough for the Max engine brake to engage, I didn't need to use the brakes again until the stop sign at the bottom of the Hill.
Winter/snow, How about the MN and ND Blizzards I drove all last winter, snow, ice and a 100 miles of Frost covered road one early morning (Ya that was Scarry To).. As I think about it now I feel it shifts Safer on bad roads (assuming you back off the power some) The shifts were always exact and smooth and if you worked the accelerator right, it shifted without big torque differences to the Drives.. I think I have pictures of the snow last year in ND on the picture gallery here,, To bad I didn't get a Video of the WV trip,, I'm still taking that one off my Bucket list,, Turbo Dan
Thanks Dan........and the rest of you guys for filling in the gaps.......I really don't know what to expect. I might not get an automatic for a while yet, but at least your giving me the confidence to see that you guys are dealing and getting along with the new technology ok. Might just be a winner by the looks of it.
Mick
Posted: 8 years, 12 months ago
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Drove an Auto Shift Tanker for 6 months last year (2014 Freight Shaker), It was a Dream not having to Double Clutch, having just gotten out of Truck Driving school, sure made it easier to concentrate on Not hitting anything. As a truck mechanic, I can see the companies side of things by not having rookie Drivers breaking transmissions, But the real reason is Fuel economy because the computer now controls what gear your in for the best Milage $$$
What about going down steep mountains with a heavy load Dan....is it any good? Snow and Ice is something else to consider if you get stuck.
Mick
Posted: 8 years, 12 months ago
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I know this was just a rumor when I first heard it on here.......but now its official. Swift are changing their fleet to automatics with front sensors that automatically slow you down if your too close to the vehicle in front. The reaction at work has been mixed to say the least. Personally I like working with a stick truck, but they say that the new automatics have vastly improved over the past couple of years. If Swift are going for it I would imagine allot more company's will be looking at it and possibly doing the same.
What say the forum to this new development within our industry.....and do we have a choice?
Mick
Posted: 8 years, 12 months ago
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Swift experienced driver road test
Hi Josh....I tested out nearly two years ago with Swift after my six weeks training with a mentor. I did go on the highway for a few miles then turned around and came back to the terminal.....had to back the trailer between two other trailers....both driver side and blind side. I failed the blind side. With that I got sent back out with another mentor for a further two weeks to practice my blind side backing. Came back and passed. Then I got my own truck. Swift need drivers Josh......they won't let you go unless your a danger to others on the road......a few problems on gear changing can be sorted out over time. Hope it all goes well. I'm happy at Swift.
Mick
Posted: 9 years ago
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What did you do before becoming a truck driver?
I left school and went straight into an engineering apprenticeship which lasted seven years.....then in my early twenties I went into technical sales (engineering) for an American company working all over Europe......company car, company credit card and loads.....and loads.....and loads of stress.
I got used to packing my bags on Monday morning and unpacking them on a Friday night.....which ended up costing me my first marriage. Great money and life style and you get to see places you wouldn't normally get to see.....does this sound familiar. I loved that part of it and did it for thirty five years. I met my American wife in England (where I'm from).....cut a long story short we moved over here. I tried selling cars for a living when I got here....but then I seen that the trucking industry said it was desperate for drivers and would accept you at any age (I was 56 at the time) I jumped at it. I've been working for Swift now for almost two years.....not as much money as I used to earn....but allot less stress.....which I'm more than happy with. Loving this link by the way.
Posted: 9 years ago
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Hi Toby, I don't haul sod on a regular basis, but I do get the odd load of sod from over in Canada and have to bring it back to Michigan to deliver to the local garden centers. Always right up there on the weight......we weigh out before we leave their yard.
I've met a few guys that do nothing else but haul sod and they seem quite happy doing the job.....its a regular run for them.
Mick
we don't have any scales been caught overweight many times
Hi Toby, the suppliers do try and push me to the limit......even loading more on if I'm under weight.....or taking some off if I'm over. The times that their scales where not working....which can happen allot......I headed for the nearest scales I could find.....not worth the hassle or the fine if I can get caught over weight. And the other thing is I now know by looking at how much should be in there for me to be around the legal limit. Hope you can find away to stop being over weight as it gets expensive.
Mick
Posted: 8 years, 11 months ago
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How to get a truck driver job in USA for a foreigner
Hi MaÅžvydas, I'm also from the European Union (England) and I've been working over here in the US for four years now and for the last two years truck driving. Daniel is right, you have to be able to drive for one year on a normal drivers license before you can get your CDL. But before that you will need to get your Green Card. I got mine through being married to an American whom I met in the UK.....allot of years ago now.
Gerrit......I think I might be right in thinking that America and Germany have an agreement on the normal drivers license. You just trade yours for an American one. You would have to pass your CDL again if you wanted to come back and drive the rigs over here.
Wish you both luck with it all guys......it is worth it when you get here.
Mick