Freightliner SmartShift Shift Control

General Information, SmartShift

The SmartShift transmission control is an electronic transmission control device. It is installed with the following transmissions:

• Eaton® Fuller® AutoShift™

• SmartShift offers two main advantages over conventional transmission control devices. Usable cab space is increased and access to the sleeper is improved by removing the shift lever from the floor.

• Meritor™ SureShift

• ZF Meritor™ FreedomLine™

It replaces the typical floor-mounted shift lever or dash-mounted push button control.

SmartShift accepts driver requests for transmission functions and transmits them through hard wiring to the transmission control unit (TCU). SmartShift is a true shift-by-wire system.

SmartShift offers two main advantages over conventional transmission control devices. Usable cab space is increased and access to the sleeper is improved by removing the shift lever from the floor.

The SmartShift control mounts to the right-hand side of the steering column and is operated by the fingers of the driver's right hand, allowing both hands to remain on the steering wheel.

A two-position slide switch is mounted on the body of the control lever just before the paddle widens out. The slide switch allows the driver to choose automatic (AUTO) mode or manual (MAN) mode. The SureShift lever has no slide switch.

In AUTO mode, gears shift automatically, without driver interaction. Manual gear shifts (all SureShift shifts; AutoShift, UltraShift, or FreedomLine when in MAN mode) are accomplished by a momentary pull or push on the control in the plane perpendicular to the steering wheel. Pull upward (toward you) on the control to upshift and push downward (away from you) to downshift. The control is spring-loaded and returns to mid-position when released after an upshift or downshift.

For the Eaton Fuller automated transmissions, a four-position (R, N, D, L) selector switch (see Fig.) is located at the end of the lever. For the Meritor SureShift transmission, a three-position (R, N, F) selector switch (see Fig.) is located at the end of the lever. For the Meritor FreedomLine transmission, a three-position (R, N, D) selector switch (see Fig.) is located at the end of the lever.

Note: To upshift manually, pull the lever up (towards you). To downshift manually, push the lever down (away from you).

SmartShift Control Lever

Slide Switch (forward driving mode switch)

MAN Mode (of slide switch)

AUTO Mode (of slide switch)

Upshift Direction

Reverse Position (of selector switch)

Selector Switch

Neutral Lock Button

Neutral Position (of selector switch)

Drive Position (of selector switch)

Low Position (of selector switch)

Downshift Direction

Fig. 1, Four-Position SmartShift Control (with Eaton Fuller transmissions)

Fig. 2, Three-Position SmartShift Lever (with Meritor SureShift)

1. SmartShift Control Lever

2. Upshift Direction

3. Reverse Position (of selector switch)

4. Selector Switch

5. Neutral Position (of selector switch)

6. Forward Position (of selector switch)

7. Downshift Direction

Upshift (in manual mode, pull upward)

Steering Wheel

Reverse Position

Neutral Position

Drive Position

Downshift (in manual mode, push downward)

Steering Column

Fig. 3, SmartShift Control Operation (FreedomLine control, showing only R, N, D positions)

Embedded in the selector switch is a small neutral lock button to prevent accidental shifts into gear from neutral. Any time you shift through N, press down on the neutral lock button to move the switch from neutral (N) to another gear, such as drive (D), low (L), or reverse (R). When shifting to N, it is not necessary to press the neutral lock button.