Truck driver b.s.

Are you driving a new Mack also? If so does it have the lean automatic breaking?

 

I drive both, newer 2020 389 18 speed manual heavy wrecker, 1993 379 9 speed manual dump truck , and a 07 Volvo VHD 13 speed Eaton auto heavy haul truck. And of the 3 I prefer the old 9 speed, the auto struggles to downshift for hills and has to hit each gear in order. I haven’t driven it in snow but I’m not sure it will do any better. I’ve heard some good about the new heavy duty autos but haven’t gotten lucky enough to drive one yet.

 

The new Mack pinnacle we have has the m drive 12 speed. It’s a weird shifting tranny, it don’t hold the Jake very well when really slowing down. I’m running dump trailer so we’re running heavy, I don’t think it’s the best option for heavy haul trucks.

 

We occasionally run an end dump with our truck, if the shift logic had a heavy and light setup I think it would be such an improvement. The clutch release is something to get used to.

 

I had the misfortune very very long ago to drive one of the experimental first Allison automatics in a Twin screw truck. Everything was recorded every detail. I hated driving that truck,.

Granted it was long ago . I can only hope things had to improve.

Any slippery conditions when it down shifted it would break traction even when loaded.

Funny how a failed transmission cooler line stops you within feet.

I had my clutch linkage fall apart . Pulling out of the toll booth at the 218mm exit in Ohio onto route I 80 drove most of the way across Pa then put it back together.

Sadly Automatics are here to stay just allows even more inexperienced drivers to be on the road.

 

My previous employer was told by Mack in '21 that they were no longer selling manuals, auto or buy somewhere else.

 

It is a shame, just like the split window 389’s going away. Not many vocational cab styles left, although I do really have a love for the new international hx trucks.

 

Yeah, it does suck. The windshield in the Mack is split, it’s about 12ft tall though.. We had Pete’s for a long time, The deal on the Mack’s must of been better on a fleet discount.

 

Happy 4th drivers!

 

I've driven all of them. I'm a local city driver now and mostly drive 10 and 13 speeds but occasionally drive an auto if it's a rental or something. For a city driver and getting stuck in traffic etc I like the auto. There definitely is a learning curve to the autos. Allison autos are like driving a car, very smooth but also really slow as ther isnt as many gears. Automated Eaton's take time to get up to speed also because the run through every gear. I did drive a kenworth with a 13 speed Eaton auto and if you weren't loaded heavy it would skip gears when accelerating. I really dont have a preference for manual or auto, it's just a job, 3rd pedal doesnt make my job easier or make me any more money. My ego doesnt demand a manual shift. It's all the same to me.

 

My ego doesn’t demand a manual transmission either. My job going offroad most of the time the auto hinders the trucks ability I find. I’m glad I’m getting other peoples input on this. It definitely has its advantage and disadvantages.

 

Happy 4th!

 

Happy 4th boys

 

Back to work, short week, 3 days.
Be safe drivers!

 

Started my day with dead batteries and a no start. Maintenance jumped it and we got it going. Fuel stop is also the repair facility. They put 3 new batteries in her, they where dated 2019 so about due I guess, if they failed now they definitely wouldn't make it through the winter.

 

It sure seems you have more then your share of problems!!

 

You have no idea, lol. 17 year old truck.......

 

As long as there is profit at the end of the year.

At onetime you could only show a loss for 5 years then change the name to protect the guilty.

 

I'm an hourly driver so that's not my concern, lol. We've tried to get them to lease new trucks but it falls on deaf ears.

 

At the least it happened at the shop. Better then at a stop or something.