Holcim makes the move to auto transmissions

With a driver shortage impacting vital business sectors such as freight and construction, companies running truck fleets are increasingly gravitating towards fully automatic transmissions, particularly in the medium-duty truck and light heavy-duty truck categories, according to transmission specialist, Allison Transmission.   

Australia is a major market for Allison, with the brand growing a steady presence in the local market.

“Allison Automatics allow fleets to welcome drivers with varying levels of experience,” said Allison Transmission Australian Sales Manager, Robert Cavagnino.

“With fully automatic transmissions, drivers can focus on the precise task at hand and businesses can have more confidence in their operational output.

“They can also take comfort that a fully automatic transmission reduces the risk of drivers over-speeding the engine and drivetrain shock loading.”

Holcim Australia is one such business that has witnessed value in its agitator trucks being equipped with the Allison 3200 fully automatic transmission. The company has now migrated a significant portion of its fleet to fully automatic transmissions, expanding the potential driver pool.

“It means candidates no longer require the specialised skills to drive a large manual vehicle but can still be a great addition to our team,” said Holcim Australia’s Regional Logistics Manager for Queensland, Dave King.

“Our concrete agitator truck drivers undergo a comprehensive training program, so this is one less thing to worry about. If you’ve got a newer driver running a manual, with a clutch and a brake and a gas pedal on a vehicle, such as an agitator that has a higher centre of gravity, it can be challenging for them. The simplicity of a fully automatic transmission helps us train staff confidently and safely.”

“Furthermore, we do an awful lot of stop/start, a lot of idling, manoeuvring and deal with inclines on sites of up to 12 degrees,” King added.

“Often, when we are reversing onto concrete pumps, we have two-trucks feeding onto the one pump. The finesse of a smooth, fully automatic transmission helps drivers position their discharge chutes with greater accuracy.”

Allison’s Continuous Power Technology provides superior low-speed control and manoeuvrability to enable the precise inching and positioning of the loaded mixer truck with virtually no rollback. Another advantage for Holcim has been the connection to Allison’s service network, which manages any adjustments on new fleet arrivals and assists with ongoing maintenance.

Allison’s service network encompasses 57 locations across Australia, with Heavy Automatics, Penske Australia Pty Ltd. and Transdiesel, all Allison Authorised Distributors having each expanded their own business operations during the last year to address the growing number of fully automatic transmissions. 

“While our partners continue to increase their service capabilities, our customers will also continue to see value over the lifetime of their vehicles with an Allison requiring lower maintenance,” Cavagnino said.