I do Tesco work for Stobarts, most of the fleet is made up of 60 plate/12 plate Scania G400 4x2 units with a 4/4 manual 'box. There’s a handful of Scania R440 6x2 units which are automatic. It does make me wonder why they never specced them with auto gearboxes, I would of presumed the auto’s would be more economical across the board (ie, able to make the wide variety of drivers drive to similar rpm limits). I know Iceland in Warrington have Volvo FM 4x2 units which are all auto. To have a large fleet of manual specced trucks seemed a bit odd to me, especially as its mostly local work.
muckles:
Dave55:
Maybe we’re just moving forwards? How many drivers can rope and sheet now or manage a ‘clean’ change on a twin splitter?How many drivers these days need to know how to use these things?
And if they had to, I’m sure there are many young drivers who’d have the right mentality to be taught to do so, the problem would be trying to teach some of the old ones who already know everything.
Exactly things change. Mind you prehaps in the 40s and 50s old timers probaly bemoaned these new young wippersnapers how wouldnt have had a clue how to get a steam wagon up and moving.
kr79:
muckles:
Dave55:
Maybe we’re just moving forwards? How many drivers can rope and sheet now or manage a ‘clean’ change on a twin splitter?How many drivers these days need to know how to use these things?
And if they had to, I’m sure there are many young drivers who’d have the right mentality to be taught to do so, the problem would be trying to teach some of the old ones who already know everything.Exactly things change. Mind you prehaps in the 40s and 50s old timers probaly bemoaned these new young wippersnapers how wouldnt have had a clue how to get a steam wagon up and moving.
And so it goes on. Old time steam wagon drivers probably bemoaned those who “wouldn’t know the arse end of a horse from its mouth”. 
Pimpdaddy:
DrivingMissDaisy:
The Volvo box is the best there is IMHO. Others are just not as good.I think Scania opticruise is just as good if you know how to use it properly…
The fact it’s not intuitive and needs to be learned probably proves it’s not as good at the Volvo system which needs no learning at all
Tipper Tom:
The fact it’s not intuitive and needs to be learned probably proves it’s not as good at the Volvo system which needs no learning at all
Aaaah, are you another lazy driver then…?:lol::lol:
I shift is the best system. I drive a manual Volvo but was out in one of our autos today and prefere it.
Before I get bemoaned as a steering wheel atendent I’ve driven twin splitters 9 13 and 18speed fullers.
The problem is to many people treat a truck auto like a car one and just stick it in drive and treat the pedals as start and stop.
It’s not an automatic gearbox it’s an automated manual gearbox and a little thought and intervention at times reaps rewards learn to use it not fight it and it makes it a lot more relaxing to drive.
Hiya…i was sitting here saying nowt untill someone started slagging off us olduns…its just a very low percentage of lorries have auto boxes.
they have a manual box with a self change mechanisum… autos dont roll backwards on hills these self change things do,
see what you,ve started now.
going on about steam lorries…Criggle feeds in Birkenhead used steamers untill 1968 around the docks…so much for the 40,s and 50,s
John
just read KR,s say i had started typing i just stopped for a snack which has made
my post seem repeated to what KR has wrote.
John
It’s funny… I simply asked a question out of curiosity and about 2 people have answered that question.
ezydriver:
It’s funny… I simply asked a question out of curiosity and about 2 people have answered that question.
This thread had seemed to have gone off on a tangent, but nothing new there.
I seem to remember seeing something a couple of years ago stating the over 80% of FH’s sold were ishift and I’m pretty sure that now all FH’s have ishift as standard. I’ve been looking around for secondhand FH’s 2007 onwards, almost all FH’s have ishift, but quite a lot of FH16’s are manual. I’m not talking about multi axle ones for heavy haulage, but 4x2’s. the only reason I can think is these are bought by owner drivers and small haulage companies where thy are more likely to spec a manual.
Although for me it would be ishift every time.
3300John:
autos dont roll backwards on hills
Yes they do…
muckles:
ezydriver:
It’s funny… I simply asked a question out of curiosity and about 2 people have answered that question.This thread had seemed to have gone off on a tangent, but nothing new there.
I seem to remember seeing something a couple of years ago stating the over 80% of FH’s sold were ishift and I’m pretty sure that now all FH’s have ishift as standard. I’ve been looking around for secondhand FH’s 2007 onwards, almost all FH’s have ishift, but quite a lot of FH16’s are manual. I’m not talking about multi axle ones for heavy haulage, but 4x2’s. the only reason I can think is these are bought by owner drivers and small haulage companies where thy are more likely to spec a manual.
Although for me it would be ishift every time.
I think some of the earlier FH16s were manual as standard as at the time the I shift couldn’t handle the torque.
kr79:
muckles:
ezydriver:
It’s funny… I simply asked a question out of curiosity and about 2 people have answered that question.This thread had seemed to have gone off on a tangent, but nothing new there.
I seem to remember seeing something a couple of years ago stating the over 80% of FH’s sold were ishift and I’m pretty sure that now all FH’s have ishift as standard. I’ve been looking around for secondhand FH’s 2007 onwards, almost all FH’s have ishift, but quite a lot of FH16’s are manual. I’m not talking about multi axle ones for heavy haulage, but 4x2’s. the only reason I can think is these are bought by owner drivers and small haulage companies where thy are more likely to spec a manual.
Although for me it would be ishift every time.I think some of the earlier FH16s were manual as standard as at the time the I shift couldn’t handle the torque.
I seem to remember that especially for the proper heavy haulage ones, but the age of truck I’m looking does seem to have both types of gearbox available. Don’t know if my memory playing tricks, but wasn’t the FH 700 only available with ishift?
Brucewillis:
Well said. Everyone has a first day and everyone has to learn. As for auto boxes, I’m a convert anything to make the job a little easier. I don’t understand the " I hate auto boxes" mob. The same ones probably struggle with computers and smart phones. Cavemen!!
Actually, I did get myself a smartphone, but I abandoned it after a couple of weeks and went back to my old Nokia, which is one step up from an Etch - A - Sketch. The smartphone, while undoubtedly a very clever piece of kit, was extraordinarily difficult to use as a phone, and that’s all I require of a mobile.
kr79:
The problem is to many people treat a truck auto like a car one and just stick it in drive and treat the pedals as start and stop.
It’s not an automatic gearbox it’s an automated manual gearbox and a little thought and intervention at times reaps rewards learn to use it not fight it and it makes it a lot more relaxing to drive.
That’s a good point. I’d sooner have a 4 over 4 with a splitter than my Daf auto any day of the week, but if I use the auto in manual mode it’s just about tolerable. At least I can change down and use the engine braking that way.
Pimpdaddy:
3300John:
autos dont roll backwards on hillsYes they do…
I would have agreed with John but i can’t recall driving a proper automatic (eg Allison) with a torque converter box except for Terberg Tugs and i can’t remember if the box had enough creep to overcome normal inclines.
I usually drive fleet stuff, haven’t seen a manual box on a big fleet built after 2007…small hauliers and some specialists do buy manuals still but i would expect the manual box to feature in less than 10% of heavy weight new lorries.
If ordering new i would only order manual with tbe exception on volvo i shift
Daf auto ■■■■ and so is the dcania one in my personal opinion
We have just changed the majority of our fleet for Scania G series all of which are autos, we still have a few old P series with manual boxes and a couple of R series Semi Autos. We also have a few hire vehicles for xmas which are a mix of boxes. The autos are easy to drive and make life easier, but do sometime have a hissy fit trying to decide what gear to go into, particularly when shunting. Its still nice to get a manual every now and again.
ezydriver:
Just out of pure curiosity, does anybody have a rough idea (percentage, ratio, etc) of the numbers of new tractor units that come with manual boxes these days? It must be fairly marginal now… or is it? I see quite a few 2010 units for sale with manual boxes, and that’s not too long ago.
Every scania at aw jenkinson will be a manual before March 2014. That’s about 350 wagons.
ezydriver:
Just out of pure curiosity, does anybody have a rough idea (percentage, ratio, etc) of the numbers of new tractor units that come with manual boxes these days? It must be fairly marginal now… or is it? I see quite a few 2010 units for sale with manual boxes, and that’s not too long ago.
Tell me if you know a Job with Manuel Box 
Rhythm Thief:
kr79:
The problem is to many people treat a truck auto like a car one and just stick it in drive and treat the pedals as start and stop.
It’s not an automatic gearbox it’s an automated manual gearbox and a little thought and intervention at times reaps rewards learn to use it not fight it and it makes it a lot more relaxing to drive.That’s a good point. I’d sooner have a 4 over 4 with a splitter than my Daf auto any day of the week, but if I use the auto in manual mode it’s just about tolerable. At least I can change down and use the engine braking that way.
Interesting point you make in your last sentence. I am a new driver having passed my tests this year in manual Renault Premiums. Being a long term car driver I naturally used the gearbox to provide engine braking, but was specifically told by the examiner not to use it, “gearbox for going, brakes for stopping” which I thought was odd at the time.
I am now driving a mixture of Volvo FM 420’s & Renault Premium 460’s both autos, and basically the same truck under the cab I am led to believe, at 44t and find them pretty faultless. I still stick them in manual climbing hills and slow manoeuvring to aid traction control but cant complain about their general performance. I would still like the opportunity to run a manual loaded for the experience though as life is always a learning curve.