New Model Cascadia Shift Lever???

[mwilson]

Further dumbing down of truck driving....trucking industry can't find cheap help that can shift a manual transmission anymore so this is the DT-12 Detroit Diesel Auto transmission shift lever(?) in the new model Cascadia...

Some pretty neat features in the new model just the same...

Shifter....

Shift Instructions....

Accessory Dash Panel, this is kind of a stripped model. I don't know what kind of optional display would occupy that big blank area...I'll research that later on...

 

[mwilson]

Interior Brochure, looks like space for Telemantics in the dash....

https://freightlinerads.azureedge.net/NewCascadia-Product-Brochure-Interior.pdf

 

[RVTRKN]

I imagine that the ability of the modern automatic transmissions are going to eventually replace standard trans for all vehicles in the near future.

 

[Nigel]

Did I see an integrated brake controller? The rest of the switch gear and the hvac controls look like they were lifted from a Ram pickup.

Nigel

 

[mwilson]

Did I see an integrated brake controller? The rest of the switch gear and the hvac controls look like they were lifted from a Ram pickup.

Nigel

That's the old tried and true air brake trolley hand re-invented and placed on the dash instead of the steering column back in the day..

 

[mwilson]

I imagine that the ability of the modern automatic transmissions are going to eventually replace standard trans for all vehicles in the near future.

I know super smart automatics are the new way but I can still get better mileage from a stick.

 

[Nigel]

Of course it is. The angle of the shot made it look almost flat, I see the T-handle now.

Nigel

 

[jgillott]

I'd be excited to drive one of those. I would imagine that it would make the experience a lot more relaxing than the way we used to do it. I don't know about you guys, but I have no problem admitting that I have been stuck between ranges more than once. Nothing makes me pucker more than missing a downshift, which usually happened to me at the top of a hill.

 

[TFucili]

That doesn't look like a very handy place for the "trolley brake".

 

[mwilson]

That doesn't look like a very handy place for the "trolley brake".

I agree. The angle of the picture makes it look a little worse than it is but still I would prefer it be more accessible. I'd liked the old way where you could keep your right hand on the wheel and catch the trolley handle with a finger or two. There are times when you need it in a hurry.

Many fleets delete the trolley handle altogether which just blows my mind. I didn't even think that was legal but I guess it is. I would not drive a loaded tractor trailer 10 feet without a trolley handle....

 

[TFucili]

I agree. The angle of the picture makes it look a little worse than it is but still I would prefer it be more accessible. I'd liked the old way where you could keep your right hand on the wheel and catch the trolley handle with a finger or two. There are times when you need it in a hurry.

Many fleets delete the trolley handle altogether which just blows my mind. I didn't even think that was legal but I guess it is. I would not drive a loaded tractor trailer 10 feet without a trolley handle....

That's what I was thinking, on sketchy roads and you're trying to keep the trailer behind you, the last thing you want to do if hunt around for important controls. It's not critical, but even on my 2500, I dislike the T/H button being on the center stack where I have to fiddle around to find it. What was wrong with the end of the stalk?

 

[Lynx0849]

Many fleets delete the trolley handle altogether which just blows my mind. I didn't even think that was legal but I guess it is. I would not drive a loaded tractor trailer 10 feet without a trolley handle....

Just curious.. why would you not drive a tractor without the trolley valve?

 

[mwilson]

Just curious.. why would you not drive a tractor without the trolley valve?

Main reason is to control the brake application in bad weather conditions. There is a very slight delay simply due to the distance that the air must travel in trailer air brake application when using the foot pedal. So the tractor brakes apply just a hair quicker. That is enough on snow or ice to initiate a jack knife situation.

When you manually apply slight air pressure via the trolley handle to the trailer brakes before stepping on the foot brake your chances of staying in a straight line greatly increase....also handy for checking for black ice...

When hauling wood we all used the trolley handle when backing down slippery hills after spinning out...if you step on the foot brake the steering tires will lock up and you can't chase the trailer while backing.....hard on the hemorrhoids to say the least......

 

[Lynx0849]

Main reason is to control the brake application in bad weather conditions. There is a very slight delay simply due to the distance that the air must travel in trailer air brake application when using the foot pedal. So the tractor brakes apply just a hair quicker. That is enough on snow or ice to initiate a jack knife situation.

When you manually apply slight air pressure via the trolley handle to the trailer brakes before stepping on the foot brake your chances of staying in a straight line greatly increase....also handy for checking for black ice...

When hauling wood we all used the trolley handle when backing down slippery hills after spinning out...if you step on the foot brake the steering tires will lock up and you can't chase the trailer while backing.....hard on the hemorrhoids to say the least......

Thanks for the explanation.

 

[slowmover]

One can now find "men" who've been driving big trucks 7-8 years or more (past a half-million miles) and cannot drive a manual trans. They've never done it.

Was talking to a driver friend of mine who's stayed in oilfield longer than he should have. That the company I haul for is expanding.

But he's balked at handling a smoothbore tanker with an eighteen.

Only ever driven 9's and 10's

I get it about being somewhat intimidated, and tried to close the sale by highlighting skill difference for the future. Pride, and all that.

Still haven't heard back.

 

[mwilson]

Smoothbore is ok if empty or full to the cover....anything in between can be a real treat.

When a half full tanker is a full load weightwise in a placarded chemical trailer on a secondary road with railroad crossings every 10 miles or so you get the crap beat out of you. You'll be underway about three gears in after stopping very carefully for the crossing and right out of nowhere......Bang!!!...you resemble a Bobble Head for a few seconds....

 

[slowmover]

5100 in a 7k tank. One spends ones day with surge.

 

[mwilson]

One of the worst was Titanium Dioxide Slurry. At 19.4 lbs per gallon the legal load was around 2500 gallons. That crap would attempt to drive your head through the back window if you got out of rhythm with a 6,000 gallon trailer...it would slam you hard enough to make you wonder if the fifth wheel was going to hold it...

 

[Mark31]

One of the worst was Titanium Dioxide Slurry. At 19.4 lbs per gallon the legal load was around 2500 gallons. That crap would attempt to drive your head through the back window if you got out of rhythm with a 6,000 gallon trailer...it would slam you hard enough to make you wonder if the fifth wheel was going to hold it...

To make that a perfect load, wouldn't you need it hooked to a 71 DEEtroit with a 13 speed Road Ranger?

 

[slowmover]

One of the worst was Titanium Dioxide Slurry. At 19.4 lbs per gallon the legal load was around 2500 gallons. That crap would attempt to drive your head through the back window if you got out of rhythm with a 6,000 gallon trailer...it would slam you hard enough to make you wonder if the fifth wheel was going to hold it...

Mines bad enough. You win!!