The increasing use of automated gearboxes will be a good thing for transport operators struggling to attract and retain drivers,
The increasing use of automated gearboxes will be a good thing for transport operators struggling to attract and retain drivers, says Gary Bain, OE Business Manager at ZF Transmissions.
Bain says ZF, which supplies its AS-Tronic transmission to Iveco, MAN and DAF, is confident drivers will reap the benefits of the latest AS-Tronic2 through ease of use and comfort issues.
“With the AS-Tronic there are no mechanical linkages to the cabin, which means there is no transmitted noise or vibration for drivers to deal with, as well as eliminating down time because of broken or damaged linkages,” Bain says.
“It is also less physically demanding because drivers are not constantly pushing the clutch pedal, which means anyone with recurring knee problems can use one of these.”
The AS-Tronic has also proven to be a more cost-effective unit than a traditional manual gearbox, with modern electronics ensuring the engine stays in its optimal rev range, improving fuel consumption and engine emissions.
“We have also found that clutch life is much greater than in a fully manual transmission, because drivers are not ‘riding’ the clutch, we are now seeing a clutch life of one million kilometres, which means lower service costs.”