Nice little DAF 420 . sweep on to the M-way up to speed flick it to M on with the CC and away we go. stops all this faffing about up and down the gears not knowing if it should be in 12 or 11 5od all this other bollards Like predictive lane control stuff it must be like predictive text on a phone … does what it wants not what you want 
Thought I would miss a manual,but drove our 105 daf on Friday,Ishift all day long 
god knows what will happen in 20 years time on the road, will there but robots driving them ? i wouldn’t bet against it the way things are going. cabs will end up fully automatic, i am convinced that’s why cameras are going to be fitted in cabs so they can monitor our driving and try to invent a program for robot drivers. do i sound like a mad man ? maybe i do but who thought we would end up driving automatics for heavy loads ? it was never thought possible hence we had to have many gear boxes with many gear changes to get large loads to move. now flick a switch, sit back and hold on tight. do a little bit of steering and press the brake now and then.
yep i miss manuals i miss the old job to the one were i could pull over and have a brew at a lay by or pop into a cafe etc.
now i am watched and there is a phone to get me if i dare go off route as the planner watches on there computers if i want so much as a ■■■■ there on the phone why have you stopped driver ?
i need a card to insert into the cab monitoring everything i do, cameras will soon be normal in the cab but facing the road ( so i will have to watch out my ciggy doesn’t light up to much, and give me away for smoking in the cab )
come sept i need a new card just to be able to drive these things that i have driven all my life and to put up with all the crap that now goes with the job
or not get one and quit ( which is what i am doing )
leave this new driving game to the new lads who might be hungry for it all and who dont mind kissing planners arses etc
I can’t really see the point of autos where I work.
We have to adhere to ‘Fleetboard’ targets which entails keeping the revs in the green band and to do this you need to make manual upshift changes yourself all the time.
True to a certain degree but some manuals were awful, I know the autos have their faults but they’re smooth enough on the change at least.
I never forgave Scania for changing from 4 over 4 to 3 over 3 so that should tell you I don’t like change! If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Still have fond memories of 3rd button up into 5th. Good times.
no
Driving auto is dull and boring iv only had hgv licence for 5 year and i think manuals are better hands down. Overall better feel for them and I think human brain is better than a computer programme. You know where the truck would struggle and hold a gear rather than change up then lose the power like most autos. I think in time there will be driver out there that have only driven autos and give them a clutch and gear stick and they are screwed. Outlaw autos and bring back manuals.
switchlogic:
If I had my way I’d never drive a manual truck again. And ive driven a wide variety of manuals, my first job was driving busses, many of which dated back to the mid 70s, and twin splitters and most types inbetween. I just don’t like manuals, the iShift in my lorry is a joy to work with. Almost never use it in manual mode, only if I’m in a rush I knock it down a gear quick when hitting a steep hill full weight to keep it on the limiter.
That’s all very well if your driving a ‘couple of’ old 750hp monster truck with an auto transmission that’s had the software tailored to suit the mega torque of a 16L engine Luke, but might you be so enthusiastic in a 15 year old FH460 with 2 million K’s under it’s belt and a gearbox that takes 3 seconds for every change?
Not knocking you in any way shape or form for your preferring ishift, just offering another outlook on it & the relative merits, or otherwise.
Ross.
PS, as a counter point, I mentioned earlier that for many years I have driven automatic cars, and thinking about it, if I had a 1.6 (or smaller) petrol engine car I certainly wouldn’t have it with an automatic box as (in cars) auto transmission definitely works better with a big engine. I remember driving a 1970’s mini auto, what a pile of ■■■ that was.
bigr250:
switchlogic:
If I had my way I’d never drive a manual truck again. And ive driven a wide variety of manuals, my first job was driving busses, many of which dated back to the mid 70s, and twin splitters and most types inbetween. I just don’t like manuals, the iShift in my lorry is a joy to work with. Almost never use it in manual mode, only if I’m in a rush I knock it down a gear quick when hitting a steep hill full weight to keep it on the limiter.That’s all very well if your driving a ‘couple of’ old 750hp monster truck with an auto transmission that’s had the software tailored to suit the mega torque of a 16L engine Luke, but might you be so enthusiastic in a 15 year old FH460 with 2 million K’s under it’s belt and a gearbox that takes 3 seconds for every change?
Not knocking you in any way shape or form for your preferring ishift, just offering another outlook on it & the relative merits, or otherwise.
Ross.
PS, as a counter point, I mentioned earlier that for many years I have driven automatic cars, and thinking about it, if I had a 1.6 (or smaller) petrol engine car I certainly wouldn’t have it with an automatic box as (in cars) auto transmission definitely works better with a big engine. I remember driving a 1970’s mini auto, what a pile of ■■■ that was.
I wasn’t born driving this lorry! Ive driven pretty much every auto out there, and the lorry I had before this was an auto R440. So dont dismiss my comments just because of the lorry I currently drive…
switchlogic:
bigr250:
switchlogic:
If I had my way I’d never drive a manual truck again. And ive driven a wide variety of manuals, my first job was driving busses, many of which dated back to the mid 70s, and twin splitters and most types inbetween. I just don’t like manuals, the iShift in my lorry is a joy to work with. Almost never use it in manual mode, only if I’m in a rush I knock it down a gear quick when hitting a steep hill full weight to keep it on the limiter.That’s all very well if your driving a ‘couple of’ old 750hp monster truck with an auto transmission that’s had the software tailored to suit the mega torque of a 16L engine Luke, but might you be so enthusiastic in a 15 year old FH460 with 2 million K’s under it’s belt and a gearbox that takes 3 seconds for every change?
Not knocking you in any way shape or form for your preferring ishift, just offering another outlook on it & the relative merits, or otherwise.
Ross.
PS, as a counter point, I mentioned earlier that for many years I have driven automatic cars, and thinking about it, if I had a 1.6 (or smaller) petrol engine car I certainly wouldn’t have it with an automatic box as (in cars) auto transmission definitely works better with a big engine. I remember driving a 1970’s mini auto, what a pile of ■■■ that was.
I wasn’t born driving this lorry! Ive driven pretty much every auto out there, and the lorry I had before this was an auto R440. So dont dismiss my comments just because of the lorry I currently drive…
I don’t see the need for sarcasm in your reply, in the ‘quote’ from your post you clearly mention that you started driving busses so I did have some idea of your experience in comparing manual & automated trucks.
Oh well.
Because of course there was no sarcasm in your post was there…chill out, you took that way too seriously. If you had some idea of my experience then you’d know that my comments were based on one than more lorry, I apologise sincerely for writing a reply to your comments, how very rude of me.
switchlogic:
Because of course there was no sarcasm in your post was there…chill out, you took that way too seriously. If you had some idea of my experience then you’d know that my comments were based on one than more lorry, I apologise sincerely for writing a reply to your comments, how very rude of me.
Ok, on re-reading it there might have been just the slightest hint of irony in my post, so ‘I’ll let you off’!! (especially in light of your utterly sincere apology & clear genuflection) 
It’s been a long day!!
Ross.
switchlogic:
Andyroo:
Autoboxes can’t see the road ahead, and flicking at some silly tacky plastic switch to change gear is just stupid.Modern ones can. They use gps and topographical mapping to optimise gearshifting. Others will also learn routes and when to change
So you just even more of a steering wheel attendant then■■? God forbid you actually have to think for yourself and drive the truck
taffytrucker:
switchlogic:
Andyroo:
Autoboxes can’t see the road ahead, and flicking at some silly tacky plastic switch to change gear is just stupid.Modern ones can. They use gps and topographical mapping to optimise gearshifting. Others will also learn routes and when to change
So you just even more of a steering wheel attendant then■■? God forbid you actually have to think for yourself and drive the truck
Yeah, of course Luke has hardly any truck driving experience at all… Having a manual doesn’t make you more of a “Man”.
taffytrucker:
switchlogic:
Andyroo:
Autoboxes can’t see the road ahead, and flicking at some silly tacky plastic switch to change gear is just stupid.Modern ones can. They use gps and topographical mapping to optimise gearshifting. Others will also learn routes and when to change
So you just even more of a steering wheel attendant then■■? God forbid you actually have to think for yourself and drive the truck
Well having been on this forum for a few years Ive seen the result of drivers thinking, and if I were an employer I’d rather trust the truck
Silver_Surfer:
Having a manual doesn’t make you more of a “Man”.
I don’t believe anyone said it does.
The whole idea of automated transmissions in trucks is to help the dross of our industry get something close to a decent fuel return by taking away the decision of when to change gear, my point throughout this is that I can get better fuel from my manual truck than an auto left to it’s own devices.
The other point was about getting stuck in ice & poor surfaces where a manual truck has a big advantage over an ‘auto’!!
Ross.
Switchlogic,
I have,nt driven a high horsepower truck with an auto box fitted. I have driven trucks up to 480 with an auto box and a 620 Scania with a manual box.
I could see that in the wrong hands a big engine could do some damage to a clutch and drive train, do you not think that a full ( Allison type ) auto box would be better able to give the benefits and protect the truck?
Leaving aside the debate that driving an auto is " boring", do you not think that would make a High horsepower truck a better allrounder?
Cheers Bassman
Bassman:
Switchlogic,I have,nt driven a high horsepower truck with an auto box fitted. I have driven trucks up to 480 with an auto box and a 620 Scania with a manual box.
I could see that in the wrong hands a big engine could do some damage to a clutch and drive train, do you not think that a full ( Allison type ) auto box would be better able to give the benefits and protect the truck?
Leaving aside the debate that driving an auto is " boring", do you not think that would make a High horsepower truck a better allrounder?Cheers Bassman[/quote
The trouble with normal ‘torque converter’ type auto boxes is that by their nature (fluid drive) they slip and over the thousands of miles modern trucks cover the fuel consumption penalty would be massive.
Ross.
Bigr250
I have n’t any driving experience of a full auto box but i do have an understanding of the basic’s of such boxes. However ,the factor you have suggested never entered my head, I was considering the “any driver,less abuse” angle.
What I do have to ask though is how much of a consideration to the buyers of these high power trucks is fuel consumption?
Cheers Bassman
Bassman:
Bigr250I have n’t any driving experience of a full auto box but i do have an understanding of the basic’s of such boxes. However ,the factor you have suggested never entered my head, I was considering the “any driver,less abuse” angle.
What I do have to ask though is how much of a consideration to the buyers of these high power trucks is fuel consumption?
Cheers Bassman
Back in the mid 80’s a company that worked out of the same place as me bought 2 Seddon Atkinson tractors that had full auto box’s, they’d been built new for a brewery that thought it might be a good idea, they had E290 ■■■■■■■ engines that in manual form at 28 ton would return 7 (ish) MPG but in these auto’s they were doing 5 or less!!! That was when they were working as they were also ridiculously unreliable!!!
Ross.