Freightliner Class M2 Vehicles Get Automated Transmission

Freightliner, a division of Daimler Trucks North America, said the new transmission was designed for pickup and delivery trucks, “such as food and beverage distribution, utility and towing applications.”

Customers can order trucks with the AMT3 automated manual transmission immediately in the United States and Canada, the company said May 23.

“The new transmission technology combines the design principles of a manual transmission with intelligent electronics to form an automated two-pedal shift system that equalizes driver performance and improves fuel economy,” Freightliner said.

The company said that, unlike automatic transmissions, “the Freightliner AMT3 eliminates the torque converter and instead couples the engine to the transmission with a hydraulically actuated clutch.”

This type of clutch “results in minimal torque interrupt during acceleration and shifting, while providing constant lockup, the company said.

Freightliner said that the new transmission “significantly reduces wear for greater longevity, eliminating the need to replace the clutch virtually over the lifetime of the truck.