As a fleet manager, you are always looking for ways to improve the efficiency and safety of your fleet. With an ever-changing workforce and the shrinking pool of drivers qualified to operate a manual transmission, it's important to consider new products in the market. One such product is the Endurant XD series automated transmission from Eaton Cummins.

Why Should You Consider Endurant XD Series Transmission for Your Fleet?

While manual transmissions continue to be a reliable choice for some fleets, the Endurant XD offers a range of benefits over the manual transmission. Here are some key reasons why you should consider the Endurant XD series for your fleet:

Ease of Operation

The Endurant XD series offers intuitive controls for get-in-and-go operation while also offering increased controls and settings, making it incredibly user-friendly and suitable for drivers of all experience levels. This allows you to confidently employ drivers with less experience without worrying if the job will get done the way your customers expect it to while also offering the comfort and performance your experienced drivers will appreciate.

Safety

Compared to Manual Transmissions, the intelligent shifting of the Endurant XD series will ensure control of the driveline in all driving conditions, making the difficult shifts for the driver while allowing them to focus on the job and not making the shift. Other features such as Hill Start Aid provide drivers with a consistent controlled launch and prevent rollback when launching on a grade.

Reduced Wear and Tear

The Endurant XD not only removes the physical burden of shifting on the driver, it also reduces the wear and tear on the vehicle with:

• Driveline Torque Limiting, limits output shaft torque in low gears to avoid broken drivelines.
• Engine Protection Upshifts, prevent engine overspeed events, practically on downgrades, by upshifting.  
• Clutch Thermal Monitoring, the transmission will prevent clutch damage due to excessive use (or abuse!). To ensure the job can be completed thermal operating limits are now higher with the new Extreme Duty clutch found on the Endurant XD Pro models.  
• Transmission Oil and Temperature Monitoring, to prevent low lubricant burnups and notify the driver of excessive operating temperatures. 

Driver Satisfaction

Driving the Endurant XD is as easy and smooth as driving a pick-up truck. This reduces driver stress and fatigue. Drivers love the simplicity, comfort, and safety it offers. Although established drivers can be hesitant to try out new technology, fleet managers find that when drivers try out the Endurant XD it's hard to get them out.

Drivers love the Endurant XD’s:

• Impressive low speed maneuverability and optimized software that makes smart decisions to instill confidence in difficult conditions
• New Performance Goals that control transmission shift points and other features. Because driving conditions change, drivers can toggle between two Performance Goals to match the situation
• Up to 6 reverse gears to get work done 

Increased Efficiency

The Endurant XD’s optimized communication with the engine and intelligent gear selection increases your fleet’s overall MPG, making every driver in your fleet as fuel-efficient as your best driver. Fuel efficiency is also increased by the Endurant XD’s helical gearing design, precision lubrication, and 225 pounds of weight savings. 

In conclusion, the Endurant XD automated transmission offers a compelling alternative to the manual transmission. It is easier to operate, designed for driver satisfaction and can help to lower your overall cost of ownership. As a fleet manager, it's worth considering the Endurant XD series when choosing the transmission system for your next commercial vehicle.