In case anyone doesn’t know. That with the automatic freightliners if you want to hold a nice steady speed down big long downgrades. If you set the cruise control for the appropriate speed then set the Jake’s to stage 2 the truck will automatically use the Jake’s as needed to hold that speed. If the truck won’t hold then you’re going to fast for weight to hill grade ratio.
Right! Hill descent control mode. I used it for a while And it did work well but I discovered I could go down the hill much faster with more control if I just manually do it myself. I definitely feel safer doing it manually myself when there is black ice and conditions like that.
@@20plustrucking you wouldn’t happen to know any Walmart drivers that work out of the North East portion of the country? I have 4.5 years experience and interested in Walmart. But have another 8 months left on a lease so just trying to gather as much info as possible from the driver standpoint. Thanks for doing all these videos it’s a lot of help. 👍
@@Pokerhead1776 well I've talked to quite a few in that area but I don't personally know any of them on a friend basis. I probably can't help you much on how it goes out in that area but I can do my best to answer any questions you have. Email me anytime at don@20plustrucking.com
I feel your pain old timer, guess what? When you finally decide to Retire, you’re gonna sit around and wonder 😮 HOW THE HECK DID YOU DO THAT FOR SO LONG, ESPECIALLY THE NEW GENERATION PART….I retired in June’2022 and it literally blows my mind what we’ll put up with just to drive a truck. I hope you have plans for LIFE AFTER TRUCKING; there will come a time when you just can’t take it anymore. 1988 to 2022/ 1996-2022 was OTR. I don’t know how I did it.
Oh yes definitely have plans for after trucking. I'm in the process of working that out now. My goal is not to be with Walmart over 20 years so I got two years to figure it out. Since I'm working five on and five off I'm kind of semi-retired now I guess you could say.
They want us to use cruise control as much as possible. If you use it more than you are comfortable with the better. It will drive for you, to a certain extent. You just have to play with it. Driver out of 7836
I drove some of the first automatics that came out back at the beginning of my career and I can definitely say they've all came a long ways since then. As much as I'd rather drive a manual I can't deny the automatics work pretty darn good.
The transmissions that are commonly being referred to as ‘automatics’ are actually manual transmissions that the computer shifts which are referred to as ‘automated’.. They do not have torque converters and bands like conventional automatics.
Yeah that's the ones we have. It is definitely been convenient but it does have a few flaws. It doesn't always make it into the gear and you have to completely stop the vehicle before it will shift into gear. That's happened about three times now. I don't know if that's a common thing but we'll find out soon when we take it back to the dealer to have them check it out.
@@20plustrucking I have driven 2019 to 2022 Freightliners and I can say that I haven’t had the transmission automatically shift to neutral while moving.
Come to find out, we got a batch that had a flaw and a part that’s easy to change. It’s literally a two minute repair and I haven’t had the issue ever since then.
Performance mode helps a little going uphill or getting up to speed merging on the highway. The most annoying thing on the new freightliners in my opinion is the blindside sensor
When I test the trailer brakes with a Freightliner automatic, I accelerate to no more than 3mph or coast then put the truck in neutral then pull the handbrake down. I think it keeps the truck from rocking back and forth creating that "stalling like feel".
So I drive for OD. We just started getting the auto’s too. My advice is that is to flip to manual mode on longer downgrades so it doesn’t jump all over place. Then once back in flat back to auto. Just play around with it. It won’t stall if you forget either. It will force shift itself eventually.
@@20plustrucking yea same with bad weather. I definitely agree it downshifts too hard for bad weather. I have a hell of a time hooking up without slamming it sometimes. When my truck goes down I end up in a manual then get back into auto once done and I’m trying to push the clutch in it’s funny!!
IN THE OLD DAYS WE CALLED THE HAND TRAILER BRAKE (THE JOHNSON BAR ) I DROVE A PARTIALLY AUTOMATIC IN THE 90!S FOR A WEEK/ THE ONLY GOOD THING IT WAS FOR IS BACKING UP// DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE WILL BE A CHALLENGE/GOOD LUCK
Hi Dans, I’ve been driving in automatic Volvo for three years now I was skeptical at first but I got to say overall I love it only problem is in the winter when it snows when you empty out at a store and now your trailer is empty if you run a little bit of an incline good luck getting out stay safe my friend
I drive a international day cab w/ the 10 speed auto. It is kinda herky-jerky w/ the jake on like you said. And if you’re not on flat ground they tend to lose traction.
@@20plustrucking yup they’re not the greatest in the snow but you’ll get a feel for it over time keep a snow shovel handy with some rock salt that’s what I do when winter rolls around 😂
I could only imagine, most of my 35yr career I drove a 5x4 with a 2 speed box. I think for me it would be just as bad as giving up smoking, what to with your hands, lol. You're doing both, maybe get a yoyo, I'm pulling for you.
Lol yeah I've drove a five and a four before and there's no doubt I would be holding that smoke in my mouth to keep it going. Needless to say there would be a lot of ashes on the floor.
Before Walmart about 18 years ago I drove a couple of automatics for a company I worked for. They didn't have any features and they would always get stuck in neutral and you'd have to sit and mess with them for a while to get it to go lol
Just found your channel. Did you drive the cabovers for WMT back in the day or were you not around that long. I remember seeing those alot in the 90's seemed like. Worked for WMT for 16 years, half that time at homeoffice so ofcourse seen alot of trucks driving around bentonville.
Lol yeah I'm starting to see that. Dropping the airbags and letting it creep works but I'm used to being in a hurry and that doesn't seem to go well with this lol
My experience automatic that was built from ground up to be one. Typically the Allison that was used when I drove trash truck where nice. Get in a tractor trailer that has a ten speed automatic. Supposed to be a manual. Those automatics suck. I do like my manual over most of the automatics at my job
Autoshifts are garbage. You can say whatever you want to try and justify them. The fuel milage argument only applies to people who don't know what they're doing, or don't care. Most drivers now days don't care, and barely know what they're doing. They're the ones who will tell you how great they are. A quality driver wont say the same things about them.
Well I'm sure you realize that I agree with most of what you're saying. I figure you all can read between the lines and also I'm trying to stay off the negative side of it because I need to Make the best of the situation and turn it into something constructive for people that are in the same situation as me. I'm sure if you watched some of my other videos you'll pick up on the fact that I'm dropping hints about how I really feel about the automatic.
@@20plustrucking I understand exactly where you're coming from. My reply wasn't directed toward you. Just a general comment. You had zero choice in the matter, and have to make the very best of the situation or you'll go nuts. An experienced driver, like yourself, will figure out how to make it work. I appreciate you taking the time put out the information. It just verifies my thoughts on autoshifts, and that I will never own one.
@@jcsully if I was an owner operator I would never own one of these. Then again if I was an owner operator I probably wouldn't own a new truck I'd go with one of the older ones. My nature wants to just unload on these automatics and say what I really think but I'm getting older now so I guess I can come at it with a different angle lol I appreciate you saying how it is thanks
If you are a Walmart truck driver, you should be making at least 100 thousand dollars a year. If you aren't, you need to form a union. Walmart owners and shareholders make billions of dollars each year off the backs of their employees. It's well past time that Walmart employees stand up and demand their worth. Otherwise, you're all just a little peon in the minds of your owners.
I'm good! I don't want anything to do with the union. I've had way too many family members in the past get completely ripped off and land up with nothing when it came time to retire. I think the better option is to trust no one and make money while you can where you can and then move on if it's not working out for you.
In case anyone doesn’t know. That with the automatic freightliners if you want to hold a nice steady speed down big long downgrades. If you set the cruise control for the appropriate speed then set the Jake’s to stage 2 the truck will automatically use the Jake’s as needed to hold that speed. If the truck won’t hold then you’re going to fast for weight to hill grade ratio.
Right! Hill descent control mode. I used it for a while And it did work well but I discovered I could go down the hill much faster with more control if I just manually do it myself. I definitely feel safer doing it manually myself when there is black ice and conditions like that.
@@20plustrucking you wouldn’t happen to know any Walmart drivers that work out of the North East portion of the country? I have 4.5 years experience and interested in Walmart. But have another 8 months left on a lease so just trying to gather as much info as possible from the driver standpoint. Thanks for doing all these videos it’s a lot of help. 👍
@@Pokerhead1776 well I've talked to quite a few in that area but I don't personally know any of them on a friend basis. I probably can't help you much on how it goes out in that area but I can do my best to answer any questions you have. Email me anytime at don@20plustrucking.com
P.S. Maybe it was the PREMIUM CIGARS and Jazz music that got me through it!! 😂
@@Solitaryman70 lol maybe
I feel your pain old timer, guess what? When you finally decide to Retire, you’re gonna sit around and wonder 😮 HOW THE HECK DID YOU DO THAT FOR SO LONG, ESPECIALLY THE NEW GENERATION PART….I retired in June’2022 and it literally blows my mind what we’ll put up with just to drive a truck. I hope you have plans for LIFE AFTER TRUCKING; there will come a time when you just can’t take it anymore. 1988 to 2022/ 1996-2022 was OTR. I don’t know how I did it.
Oh yes definitely have plans for after trucking. I'm in the process of working that out now. My goal is not to be with Walmart over 20 years so I got two years to figure it out. Since I'm working five on and five off I'm kind of semi-retired now I guess you could say.
They want us to use cruise control as much as possible. If you use it more than you are comfortable with the better. It will drive for you, to a certain extent. You just have to play with it. Driver out of 7836
That works for me I use it pretty often I guess whatever it takes to get the best fuel mileage but I don't worry about that too much.
I drive a T680 with a 12 speed Ultrashift. Love it, never have any problems. The auto-shifts are better than they were 10 years ago.
I drove some of the first automatics that came out back at the beginning of my career and I can definitely say they've all came a long ways since then. As much as I'd rather drive a manual I can't deny the automatics work pretty darn good.
The transmissions that are commonly being referred to as ‘automatics’ are actually manual transmissions that the computer shifts which are referred to as ‘automated’.. They do not have torque converters and bands like conventional automatics.
Yeah that's the ones we have. It is definitely been convenient but it does have a few flaws. It doesn't always make it into the gear and you have to completely stop the vehicle before it will shift into gear. That's happened about three times now. I don't know if that's a common thing but we'll find out soon when we take it back to the dealer to have them check it out.
@@20plustrucking I have driven 2019 to 2022 Freightliners and I can say that I haven’t had the transmission automatically shift to neutral while moving.
Come to find out, we got a batch that had a flaw and a part that’s easy to change. It’s literally a two minute repair and I haven’t had the issue ever since then.
Performance mode helps a little going uphill or getting up to speed merging on the highway. The most annoying thing on the new freightliners in my opinion is the blindside sensor
Yes that blindside thing is annoying
When I test the trailer brakes with a Freightliner automatic, I accelerate to no more than 3mph or coast then put the truck in neutral then pull the handbrake down. I think it keeps the truck from rocking back and forth creating that "stalling like feel".
Right on! I'm going to try that.
The streakin Beacon 🤣
I've always called it that lol That comes from the days of chicken trucking and the sign on the back of the truck that says show them lol
So I drive for OD. We just started getting the auto’s too. My advice is that is to flip to manual mode on longer downgrades so it doesn’t jump all over place. Then once back in flat back to auto. Just play around with it. It won’t stall if you forget either. It will force shift itself eventually.
Yeah that seems like the best. I appreciate the advice.
@@20plustrucking yea same with bad weather. I definitely agree it downshifts too hard for bad weather. I have a hell of a time hooking up without slamming it sometimes. When my truck goes down I end up in a manual then get back into auto once done and I’m trying to push the clutch in it’s funny!!
When going down a hill, put it in manual mode. Then, select the gear you would’ve normally used with the manual. This has worked well for me.
Yes that does seem to be the best so far.
Put truck in Descent Mode when going downhill
@@brandtgeiger haven't tried it yet but I will.
IN THE OLD DAYS WE CALLED THE HAND TRAILER BRAKE (THE JOHNSON BAR ) I DROVE A PARTIALLY AUTOMATIC IN THE 90!S FOR A WEEK/ THE ONLY GOOD THING IT WAS FOR IS BACKING UP// DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE WILL BE A CHALLENGE/GOOD LUCK
Lol haven't heard that term in years. Yeah I mentioned it was good for snow and people get all upset so I don't mention it anymore lol
Great videos thanks for sharing
Thanks I appreciate that
Hi Dans, I’ve been driving in automatic Volvo for three years now I was skeptical at first but I got to say overall I love it only problem is in the winter when it snows when you empty out at a store and now your trailer is empty if you run a little bit of an incline good luck getting out stay safe my friend
Yep that's what I'm thinking about how that's going to be in the winter.
I drive a international day cab w/ the 10 speed auto. It is kinda herky-jerky w/ the jake on like you said. And if you’re not on flat ground they tend to lose traction.
@@20plustrucking yup they’re not the greatest in the snow but you’ll get a feel for it over time keep a snow shovel handy with some rock salt that’s what I do when winter rolls around 😂
Found your channel by accident, but have now subscribed👍
Thanks for subscribing and welcome to the channel 😁
They should make half of the fleet standard. Some people like to have complete control of their truck.
Yeah that's kind of how I feel too but it's their company so I guess it is what it is.
sounds like you need to own your own truck.
@EazyTheRecon owning my own truck is definitely not for me. This is actually a really awesome deal working here.
I could only imagine, most of my 35yr career I drove a 5x4 with a 2 speed box. I think for me it would be just as bad as giving up smoking, what to with your hands, lol. You're doing both, maybe get a yoyo, I'm pulling for you.
Lol yeah I've drove a five and a four before and there's no doubt I would be holding that smoke in my mouth to keep it going. Needless to say there would be a lot of ashes on the floor.
I own a automatic been driving for 36 years mine is a 2008 and I didn’t know about creeper mode because mine don’t have all that
Before Walmart about 18 years ago I drove a couple of automatics for a company I worked for. They didn't have any features and they would always get stuck in neutral and you'd have to sit and mess with them for a while to get it to go lol
Put it in manual mode when you use 3rd stage on the engin break.
Good point. I'll try that
Just found your channel. Did you drive the cabovers for WMT back in the day or were you not around that long. I remember seeing those alot in the 90's seemed like. Worked for WMT for 16 years, half that time at homeoffice so ofcourse seen alot of trucks driving around bentonville.
I started in 2006 so only been here for about 17 years but I heard all about the good old days.
I drive a automatic also but my company doesn’t have air bag drop mode. So that makes dropping and hooking up to trailers a advantage it’s ridiculous.
Oh wow that's tough. The airbag dump really makes it nice for dropping and hooking.
Im a walmart driver out of sealy 7836. Backing up takes getting used to. U want to use your left foot
Yep that's what I was doing to try to get more control over it. Basically it seemed difficult to do it in a hurry like I'm used to doing.
Yup you keep putting your foot on an imaginary peddle that isnt there
I’m a WM driver I got a 2023, weak engine brake when heavy going downhill, backing up trailers? I just smack it and go.
I guess they figure we'll just figure it out with whatever we got lol
That's why I hate automatics. You can't back under trailers. It's either won't go under or concussion!
Lol yeah I'm starting to see that. Dropping the airbags and letting it creep works but I'm used to being in a hurry and that doesn't seem to go well with this lol
My experience automatic that was built from ground up to be one. Typically the Allison that was used when I drove trash truck where nice. Get in a tractor trailer that has a ten speed automatic. Supposed to be a manual. Those automatics suck. I do like my manual over most of the automatics at my job
I prefer a manual any day of the week but I guess I got to make the best of it.
Hey don what your tshirt company’s name?
Well it was Kidder Creek designs and also Scott Valley apparel but we sold the business
Oh man does that mean know more dc sweet shirts? I have a collector item. Be safe maybe run into you this week.
Actually, we’re starting up again on January 1 with truckerthreads.com
At least the automatic will be easier on your knee
Actually I think this is going to do wonders for my left hip.
Autoshifts are garbage. You can say whatever you want to try and justify them. The fuel milage argument only applies to people who don't know what they're doing, or don't care. Most drivers now days don't care, and barely know what they're doing. They're the ones who will tell you how great they are. A quality driver wont say the same things about them.
Well I'm sure you realize that I agree with most of what you're saying. I figure you all can read between the lines and also I'm trying to stay off the negative side of it because I need to Make the best of the situation and turn it into something constructive for people that are in the same situation as me. I'm sure if you watched some of my other videos you'll pick up on the fact that I'm dropping hints about how I really feel about the automatic.
@@20plustrucking I understand exactly where you're coming from. My reply wasn't directed toward you. Just a general comment. You had zero choice in the matter, and have to make the very best of the situation or you'll go nuts. An experienced driver, like yourself, will figure out how to make it work. I appreciate you taking the time put out the information. It just verifies my thoughts on autoshifts, and that I will never own one.
@@jcsully if I was an owner operator I would never own one of these. Then again if I was an owner operator I probably wouldn't own a new truck I'd go with one of the older ones. My nature wants to just unload on these automatics and say what I really think but I'm getting older now so I guess I can come at it with a different angle lol I appreciate you saying how it is thanks
Are you a cigarette smoker?
Yes have been now for about 38 years
If you are a Walmart truck driver, you should be making at least 100 thousand dollars a year. If you aren't, you need to form a union. Walmart owners and shareholders make billions of dollars each year off the backs of their employees. It's well past time that Walmart employees stand up and demand their worth. Otherwise, you're all just a little peon in the minds of your owners.
I'm good! I don't want anything to do with the union. I've had way too many family members in the past get completely ripped off and land up with nothing when it came time to retire. I think the better option is to trust no one and make money while you can where you can and then move on if it's not working out for you.
They are a pain in the arse when you start using them. You’ll get used to it in a week or so. Just put it in drive and stand on it.
Yeah that's what I was kind of thinking too. I guess I'll see in a couple of weeks how it goes.