The Driving Dilemma: Manual Vs. Automatic Transmissions for Pumpers

Joe Watkins’ first vacuum truck had a standard 10-speed transmission. Although he loved driving it, he decided after only a few years to sell it and buy a 2023 International HV607 from Imperial Industries with a 4,250-gallon aluminum tank and an Allison automatic transmission. “It’s getting harder to find people to drive standard transmission trucks,” he says. “A lot of trucking companies across the United States are switching strictly to automatics so it’s easier to find and retain drivers.”“If you want a manual transmission, you have to order one,” his wife Carli adds.Joe and Carlie are the owners of Watkins Septic