I don't know if it's the same but my 2003 Land Rover is programmed like that to warm the engine & transmission faster. I think my 2003 Yukon is the same way. I noticed it 1-day last week but we haven't had enough cold weather yet to say if it was anomaly or not. I try to make sure my vehicles are good and warmed-up to operating temp before I drive off, much less hit the highway, so it's not very often I would find myself in that scenario regardless the make of vehicle. But keep in mind the trans temp is not reflective of engine/coolant temp: the trans' warms while driving & RPM based. Sitting at engine idle, the trans fluid will remain cold on cold starts until it is put into gear & moves the truck. Some manufact' program the vehicle to hold gears longer/farther and delay TC lockup to warm the trans' faster, as well as the coolant. This is accomplished through higher loads obtained with increased RPMs. The ECT or coolant temp sensor & ambient temp sensor are monitors used for such algorithms. IIRC the faster warm-up may be more emissions-based or emissions-prioritized, rather than a method of extending the service life of vital components but I see it as vice-versa.
