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"Most machines today have onboard computer technology, where the engine and transmission 'talk' to each other and make automatic adjustments to allow the machine to work at optimum efficiency," says Dan Drescher, product marketing manager - crawlers, John Deere Construction & Forestry.

For example, the engine and hydraulic control units on many of today's dozers work together to adjust operating rates and performance characteristics. "What you have today is the ability to adjust the speed ratios of your transmission, forward and reverse," Drescher notes. "Essentially, you tell the machine how fast you want to go - the maximum speed for a certain operation - and it will adjust up and down based on the load you have on the blade and the ripper."

"If an operator starts loading the tractor in second gear, for example... the transmission will determine that it is more efficient to kick down to first gear," Unger adds, "and it will automatically do that."

This takes the impetus off the operator to determine when it's time to upshift or downshift. "On some of our larger tractors... we let the computer decide when the torque converter locks up, because we find that the computer does a much better job of sensing conditions and when things should happen," says Les Scott, product manager - dozers, Komatsu America. "The guy in the seat has to feel or hear the engine lug down... He has to pick up some 'sign' that he's starting to overtax the tractor in that particular gear.

"By measuring ground speed and engine load, the [transmission] controller will shift at a much more opportune time to maintain your dozing production," he states.