Automatic With Manual Option Disable

Disclaimer: I'm not happy about this.....miss my manual option.

So with that said, I know that someone on here is in my same boat. I have been able to hold it in manual on some grades where we have the mandatory stops on the top of the grades. Other than that, is there a particular speed or gear, where I can put it manual. I know before it was 45 mph or under, but it seems to be when it wants to cooperate. Not a figured out science yet. Someone on the general forum was asking about winter drivering, doable on my end...if I can figure out how to drive my newbie. Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated.

I would say to start with contacting whoever is in charge on the shop where you work. They can probably give you insight as to whether there’s an issue or if they’ve disabled the function. I’ve heard of companies disabling it and personally, I find that irresponsible and dangerous. I do know of an alternate way to have that particular parameter reset and turned back on, but many companies will fire you if they find out you had anyone plug into the computer so it’s a bit dicey to go that route.

I’ve heard of companies disabling it and personally, I find that irresponsible and dangerous.

I completely agree with this, on it's face. But the sad fact is that some companies are doing this as a result of some driver's irresponsible misuse of the manual function. The same problem resulted in some companies taking the trailer brake controls out of the cab.

As it was explained to me by a Prime mechanic, they started disabling or eliminating these systems because lease ops would use them to slow the truck instead of actually using the service brakes. The L/Os would save on relatively minor brake replacement costs, while causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs to be passed on to the company fleetwide.

Two wrongs don't make a right, I get it. Disabling the systems is dangerous in my opinion too. Seems to me it would be far safer for the company to simply offset those higher maintenance costs by adjusting the lease arrangement somehow.

I’ve heard of companies disabling it and personally, I find that irresponsible and dangerous.

I completely agree with this, on it's face. But the sad fact is that some companies are doing this as a result of some driver's irresponsible misuse of the manual function. The same problem resulted in some companies taking the trailer brake controls out of the cab.

As it was explained to me by a Prime mechanic, they started disabling or eliminating these systems because lease ops would use them to slow the truck instead of actually using the service brakes. The L/Os would save on relatively minor brake replacement costs, while causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs to be passed on to the company fleetwide.

Two wrongs don't make a right, I get it. Disabling the systems is dangerous in my opinion too. Seems to me it would be far safer for the company to simply offset those higher maintenance costs by adjusting the lease arrangement somehow.

That reasoning has never made sense to me. The transmission is designed to be down shifted, to use the truck for deceleration along with the brakes. It’s still the manual transmission with a control box on it taking care of the shifting duties so their excuse that by putting it in manual mode is damaging it just doesn’t make sense to me. My heavy haul truck had 400k on it when I got out of it and still had the original clutch in it. The brakes on the drives were replaced just before I got out of it and that was only because we had to replace a couple hub seals and went ahead and replaced the other axles while we were at it. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t buy that excuse lol.

I’ve heard of companies disabling it and personally, I find that irresponsible and dangerous.

I completely agree with this, on it's face. But the sad fact is that some companies are doing this as a result of some driver's irresponsible misuse of the manual function. The same problem resulted in some companies taking the trailer brake controls out of the cab.

As it was explained to me by a Prime mechanic, they started disabling or eliminating these systems because lease ops would use them to slow the truck instead of actually using the service brakes. The L/Os would save on relatively minor brake replacement costs, while causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs to be passed on to the company fleetwide.

Two wrongs don't make a right, I get it. Disabling the systems is dangerous in my opinion too. Seems to me it would be far safer for the company to simply offset those higher maintenance costs by adjusting the lease arrangement somehow.

That reasoning has never made sense to me. The transmission is designed to be down shifted, to use the truck for deceleration along with the brakes. It’s still the manual transmission with a control box on it taking care of the shifting duties so their excuse that by putting it in manual mode is damaging it just doesn’t make sense to me. My heavy haul truck had 400k on it when I got out of it and still had the original clutch in it. The brakes on the drives were replaced just before I got out of it and that was only because we had to replace a couple hub seals and went ahead and replaced the other axles while we were at it. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t buy that excuse lol.

I agree 100% I think the mechanic was full of crap 1st off Lease operators have to pay for their own maintenance and repairs so it wouldn't make any sense if they were the ones being blamed for high company truck repair costs.

I'll hop on and agree, I think they shouldn't disable it and I'd talk to the mechanics and/or safety and see if there's anything they can do to re-enable it. Most of the time I was in my mountain driving position I drove a 9 speed manual but we did have 13 speed autos I would drive from time to time and it wasn't bad but I was able to hold it in a particular gear. I know this isn't advised but would often use the jake brake on the first setting with it locked in a particular gear and that keeps it from going into neutral. It would make me nervous to have to do that though and you shouldn't have to resort to tactics like that just to keep it from going into neutral. I think it's a huge safety concern to have an 18 wheeler going down icy mountain grades in neutral all because the shop disabled the manual option.

I’ve heard of companies disabling it and personally, I find that irresponsible and dangerous.

I completely agree with this, on it's face. But the sad fact is that some companies are doing this as a result of some driver's irresponsible misuse of the manual function. The same problem resulted in some companies taking the trailer brake controls out of the cab.

As it was explained to me by a Prime mechanic, they started disabling or eliminating these systems because lease ops would use them to slow the truck instead of actually using the service brakes. The L/Os would save on relatively minor brake replacement costs, while causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs to be passed on to the company fleetwide.

Two wrongs don't make a right, I get it. Disabling the systems is dangerous in my opinion too. Seems to me it would be far safer for the coI mpany to simply offset those higher maintenance costs by adjusting the lease arrangement somehow.

It has been disabled company wide on the newer trucks. I asked 3 different mechanics in 3 different service centers, the explanation I received was to save on fuel. I whole heartedly agree on the taking it away part. But now I'm in it, anyone been able to figure out the when, how, what speed, or rpm I could get the thing to stay in manual? I asked the mechanics about that too..thinking they would know..no one has a clue on that part. I've been told by other managers trying to get answers out of corporate is crazy. I told my FM , who use to be a driver, he couldn't believe it either. I guess just burn up the brakes....how nice on that outcome too...

I’ve heard of companies disabling it and personally, I find that irresponsible and dangerous.

I completely agree with this, on it's face. But the sad fact is that some companies are doing this as a result of some driver's irresponsible misuse of the manual function. The same problem resulted in some companies taking the trailer brake controls out of the cab.

As it was explained to me by a Prime mechanic, they started disabling or eliminating these systems because lease ops would use them to slow the truck instead of actually using the service brakes. The L/Os would save on relatively minor brake replacement costs, while causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs to be passed on to the company fleetwide.

Two wrongs don't make a right, I get it. Disabling the systems is dangerous in my opinion too. Seems to me it would be far safer for the coI mpany to simply offset those higher maintenance costs by adjusting the lease arrangement somehow.

It has been disabled company wide on the newer trucks. I asked 3 different mechanics in 3 different service centers, the explanation I received was to save on fuel. I whole heartedly agree on the taking it away part. But now I'm in it, anyone been able to figure out the when, how, what speed, or rpm I could get the thing to stay in manual? I asked the mechanics about that too..thinking they would know..no one has a clue on that part. I've been told by other managers trying to get answers out of corporate is crazy. I told my FM , who use to be a driver, he couldn't believe it either. I guess just burn up the brakes....how nice on that outcome too...

Haya, MissIncognito . . . !

Ever work this out with Averitt? Got a friend heading there soon, and recalled your post.

Thanks!

~ Anne ~

CRST also disabled the manual option. What griped me the most about auto's is going uphill, some grades the truck barely creep at 27-29 mph if I was lucky. I expected it to have a kick down feature like our cars do, mash the gas,it kicks down a gear to gain a little more speed hahaha....Sometimes I'd push n hold down the lever to try and maintain 10th or 9th gear, up hills, it'd work a little bit, but then do it's own thing....And using 4 way flashers in slow mode, kicked out cruise. Used to be the turn signal switch, or headlights, wipers, would kick out cruise, but they changed em to not do it at least.

Fwiw, the international loaner I was in was a 10 speed automated. Manual mode would only work 35 mph or under. I asked our shop to reprogram it, they said they couldnt get it to override that parameter. I turned down a couple loads in it, because it would have been possibly in conditions that I couldnt use the jake brake (or shouldnt) and didnt feel safe without manual mode functioning above 35. My DM agreed and got me out of that truck asap.

Manual mode on my KW. functions, but has some limitations, it will limit the rpms on upshifts and will limit the shift points on downshifts. its a 12 speed. I simply would not feel safe without being able to manually hold my gears down grades if Im not able to use my jake, say in slippery conditions. Especially given the fact that our fleet trucks are all in fuel economy mode, meaning they default to neutral on any grade after a second or two. Ive asked about them allowing us to change that during winter months and the answer is no.

Applying the service brakes will cause it to return to gear momentarily but not for long. I really havent had to drive in any slippery conditions except for some mild off roading (in which I got the international bobtailing hung up and the guy grading the lot, pushed me out). Long story, but the diffs wouldnt lock on it. I dont know, Im still trying to wrap my head around how to use the automatic the way it is this winter. The primary solution I have is keep requesting home time in the south.