Manual Or Automatic?

Rainy, I was happy you addressed the Trans Air situation. I was thinking there was something wrong with my truck because that happens to me occasionally just as you described it. Still being a relative newbie when something happens I'm thinking it's just something I did or am not doing? I read a lot of the stuff on here from the veterans and it saves me from asking dumb questions...

Automated manual is what is in my Focus.... its a blessing and a curse. Hope these trucks have a better version. Anyone see improvements for gas mileage? Or lower? I know Rainy said hers was lower, anyone else?

I do not have any experience yet with trucks, as my class starts the 25th. But, I love info.

Rainy, I was happy you addressed the Trans Air situation. I was thinking there was something wrong with my truck because that happens to me occasionally just as you described it. Still being a relative newbie when something happens I'm thinking it's just something I did or am not doing? I read a lot of the stuff on here from the veterans and it saves me from asking dumb questions...

Translation: Thank you Rainy for embarrassing yourself for the better good.

i told the shop about the trans air warning. they said "its normal" instead of explaining. Smdh

In these auto shift trannys, at least in the Frightliners, the service brake has to be applied for the starter to engage. It’s important to get off the service brake right away so it doesn’t bleed air and cause the low transmission air to come on and delay shifting. The parking brakes are on so the truck isn’t going to move. But the service brake has to be applied every time the tranny is shifted into drive or reverse. Every time this is done it bleeds air so full air pressure should be achieved before shifting is done, especially in back and forth situations. At least this has been my experience.

In these auto shift trannys, at least in the Frightliners, the service brake has to be applied for the starter to engage. It’s important to get off the service brake right away so it doesn’t bleed air and cause the low transmission air to come on and delay shifting. The parking brakes are on so the truck isn’t going to move. But the service brake has to be applied every time the tranny is shifted into drive or reverse. Every time this is done it bleeds air so full air pressure should be achieved before shifting is done, especially in back and forth situations. At least this has been my experience.

My Pete oddly doesn't require any brake application to get the truck running.

That being said, after 2 weeks in this 2019 Automatic, if they offered me a 2019 Manual, I would take it. The other day it came to a complete stop to figure out which gear it needed to be in for my given steering, fuel, turn attack angle, incline, and it just left me exposed to oncoming traffic. Quite unsettling.

Old Dominion is not buying autos for the foreseeable future, the 2020s that are coming in are still manual. I guess they tried Autos awhile ago and had nothing but problems and worse fuel mileage with them so they refuse to get more.

99% manual here with otr being 13 speed and the heavy haul being 18. We have maybe half a dozen auto shift but the driving test for orientation is in a 13.

Ive driven mostly 10-13 speed cascadias since ive been driving im now in a brand new auto shify international while i love the brand new truck id take it in manual anyday of the week that being said im adjusting and have figured out my manual downshifts for ascending and descending. Oh yea fuel mileage sucks lucky for me that has no effect on me as we dont have fuel bonus. It is getting better as it breaks in i guess my first 15,000 miles i averaged 5.8 mpg so far my last 8000 miles im up to 6.2 still much worse than i averaged with my cascadias

Not trying to split hairs, but in their literature, Detroit refers to their DD12 as an AMT. Automated Manual Transmission. (Because that is exactly what it is.) I also think that regardless of the mechanics of various automatic transmission types, they should be refered to as "Automatics". Practically every person alive understands the words automatic and manual when it comes to transmissions in vehicles of any type. Just my .02

In these auto shift trannys, at least in the Frightliners, the service brake has to be applied for the starter to engage.

Not so in my Cascadia. Maybe the newest ones are that way, but I can start my 2018 while standing outside.

It’s important to get off the service brake right away so it doesn’t bleed air

Simply holding the service brake will not bleed enough air to cause an issue. It fact it shouldn't bleed any air whatsoever. If it bleeds enough to affect your transmission, you have a major leak that should have been caught during pre trip.

Fanning the brakes on/off, however, will certainly bleed more air than the compressor can replace.