Question:
All I can say is ...........WOW
That was different.
After many years of hanging onto a shifter, this was much a departure. It took some time to make yourself NOT want to reach for a handle. And, for that matter, REMEMBER that you have to push the clutch when you stop . Ya, after 4 hrs on the road, I made it down the ramp, around the corner, into the fuel stop and plop....stalled it at the pumps . Friend hounded me pretty hard
It is kinda jerky without a load, but once we had a trailer hooked up it works effortlessly and smoothly.
It's just kinda strange to lift off the throttle, have the jake kick on AND it start to downshift all by itself . That 430 CAT sure did pull like a king though. I was pretty impressed with the overall power.
Times sure do change....but I think I will stay with my hand-shaker's
Larry
1959 B Model Mack

Answer:
I take it that means that you LIKED the Auto-Shift...BUT...
...NOT enough to be "Converted".(to drv one full time)

Answer:
First day at Evergreen Transportation when assigned my truck I walked out to find it on the lot and when I climbed in first thing I noticed was it was an automatic. I went back into office and ask for another truck or a manual on how to use this thing. First day I hated that dang truck. By end of week I was hooked. Kept it for 18 months
Six months ago I was told to come to terminal and turn truck/trailer in for a new tuck/trailer. First thing I said when I walked into office was if its not autoshift I don't want it. I was told I had no choice but take new rig. If I could change tomorrow back to old truck would in a heartbeat. I sure hate fighting that manual in Atlanta Traffic.

Answer:
If I could change tomorrow back to old truck would in a heartbeat.
So much for what everyone here keeps saying about not being able to drive a manual again! I just knew it was a macho-conacho thing.
Mack, forgetting about the clutch got me a couple times, too. Btw, when you go between an MT and loaded, or vice-versa, it takes a few minutes for the transmission to adjust itself to the new payload dynamics. Mines just as smooth, loaded or empty.
Answer:
Ya, I guess it did seem to ease itself a bit after awhile. Course with the driving we were doing, it did not shift alot. We got on the big road and went. It was definitely smoother with the trailer while we were driving. It does take some getting used to.
You learn you don't have to push the clutch down much, it will downshift to basically a crawl it you slow down quick enough, or give it enough time to downshift to the basement again. You can basically drive it without pushing the clutch at all if you time it right.
Me being used to moving the handles I was pushing it a bit much to give it time to downshift. I found myself pushing the clutch in sooner and letting it downshift under no load. Force of habit I guess.
I guess I could put up with driving one, I suppose I could get really spoiled with it. That is why I would NOT want one.
1959 B Model Mack

Answer:
So much for what everyone here keeps saying about not being able to drive a manual again!
You must remember that 59Mack, has Several Yrs Exp drving under his belt.
Most of the newbies that we tell this to have NEVER drvn Any kind of a stick.(Not even in a car)
They Learn to drv a stick of Any kind in Trking School.

Answer:
..ok, personally I liked driving a manual.
But, lets's say that Eaton's Vorad becomes widely used - would it not be easier to just let the truck slow down by itself when sensing traffic ?
And, following that line of thought, would it not be easier if the truck just "drove itself" and the driver would just monitor the perfromance ?
Where would it end ?
What pleasure would there be in driving ?

Answer:
From the sound of things, the auto sticks are going over pretty good with the experienced drivers. But being a newbie as I am; it has made me really think twice about my first driving job being with US Xpress. The thought of maybe changing jobs somewhere down the road and only having the short time in CDL class with a manual scares the heck outta me to say the least... Guess its either jump in and swim or jump in and be another statistic.

Answer:
If you want to throw a newbie a loop.....
Have them hop in an "older" truck with TWO HANDLES
Now that's drivin'
I'm restoring my '59 for a toy/hobby and when I take friends for a drive that have not been around stuff like that.....it marvels them . Flip/floppin' them handles around in strange patterns....
Better than ANY Bowflex for getting some exercise...
1959 B Model Mack

Answer:
for what it's worth......
I think ALL drivers Ed classes(like back when your 16) should have standard shift cars in them. Until they don't make them, you should know how to drive them.
Of course these days, standards are the minority . I've had to special order both of my new Ford F350's to get a stick. You won't find one on a lot anywhere.
Don't know....maybe I'm just a control freak..
1959 B Model Mack

Answer:
And, following that line of thought, would it not be easier if the truck just "drove itself" and the driver would just monitor the perfromance ?
Oh, please!
If you're afraid to drive an autoshift, THEN DON'T. I suggest you stay far away from USX, TransAM, CFI, DeBoer, or any other companies that are going that route. Some people won't be able to handle it, especially job-hoppers. (Why you people keep ignoring what I say about beginners being beginners, regardless -especially if they only stay for a couple months, is beyond me. It won't take longer than that to decide whether you like a company or not. They're still going to have to start out on a manual at some point, if that's what they want.)
On the downshift, Mack, I let it slow down and look at the shift display. To engage for slow-moving traffic or something, I just tap the accelerator and it downshifts very smoothly to the lower gear, without having to come to a stop. Works great.
Oink! Oink! Oink! Grunt! Grunt!
Answer:
F-T, for the amount of time I had to "learn" the sequence I faired okay. I guess after a month of driving it things would work better. I had two days and NO instructions besides mash the throttle
I would hate to see the day when a driver "just monitors the performance" . Jeez, might as well hire MONKEYS Load up a stalk of bananas and head'r down the highway
The days of non-driving are a long ways away. It makes for neat TV shows, but I think the reality is far from comprehension. We've come along way in the last 50yrs, and it just seems to multiply four fold as we go. I just don't see it in our lifetime.
Time will tell.
1959 B Model Mack

Answer:
Take it easy there, Mr Turnbuckle !
No one said anything about being " afraid ".
Just some 'food for thought', that's all.
[This message was edited by Paulie on February 13, 2004 at 23:37.]

Answer:
"So much for what everyone here keeps saying about not being able to drive a manual again! I just knew it was a macho-conacho thing."
It is more of a common sense thing.
If your only manual experience is in school and then you drive an autoshift for a few years... you will have trouble switching back.
Fortunately, the autoshift is easy enough that those with years of manual experience can switch to them with little difficulty.

Answer:
"If you're afraid to drive an autoshift, THEN DON'T."
I suspect in the real world there is more fear of driving the manual.
Numerous reports have suggested there would be a flood of new students if autoshift was the norm rather than the exception in company tractors.
"Some people won't be able to handle it, especially job-hoppers. (Why you people keep ignoring what I say about beginners being beginners, regardless -especially if they only stay for a couple months, is beyond me. It won't take longer than that to decide whether you like a company or not. They're still going to have to start out on a manual at some point, if that's what they want.)"
Yes, generally one can learn in a few months if they are going to like the company... at that point in time. Everyone needs to keep in mind, and I suspect most of us do, that working conditions can change.
This is only one of the reasons there are a lot of job-hoppers in the truck driving career.
When that does happen it is really nice to have options... such as having the ability and experience with operating a manual.
Driver A: 5 years experience, learned manual in school, operated autoshift for 5 years with same carrier.
Driver B: 5 years experience, learned manual in school, operated manual for 5 years with same carrier.
Driver B has more options, at least at this point in the state of the industry with regards to autoshifts. Give him/her the manual or a few simple instructions and they will be down the road with an autoshift.