I'm currently OTR with a trainer, but he's not too helpful so I'll ask here.
I'm used to driving a 10 speed Freightliner from CDL school and now I'm with a
company and I'm in a Kenworth T700 8 speed.
When I approach an off ramp I need to be 10mph below whats posted.
I could be in 8th gear going 50 mph and then I need to slow down to
25mph. I'm slowing down in 8th gear but when the truck starts to sound
super rough and I attempt to shift into 7th and it won't go in the hole. I tried
6th too and still grinding and won't go in.
Am I doing this wrong or could someone walk me through this? The trainer
isn't very helpful. In fact I'm in the jump seat while I'm writing this.
I appreciate the help! Thanks in advance!
Downshifting a Kenworth T700
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by pharrari, Feb 20, 2013.
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hy driver take ur time shifting because the gears r sensitive whn u shift down whach ur rpm if u c whn u up shift @ 1500 down shift wht a rev of the eng it should go down nicely
newlife1966 Thanks this. -
watch your speed as you upshift
same speed and rpm going down
kw freightliner makes no differencenewlife1966, chopper103in and LaBubba Thank this. -
The rpm spacing between the gears is different with a 8 speed than a 10 speed, being more rpms. And the top road speed range of each gear will be different from what you were used to with a 10 speed as well.
newlife1966 Thanks this. -
What's happening is you are waiting for the truck to sound rough to downshift causing you to downshift in a gear higher than you should normally be in. In an 8 speed truck 8th gear is the overdrive gear. Slow down to around 55 then downshift to 7th, drop down to 45-50mph then drop down into 6th gear. Only downshift your high gears. Once your selector is flipped down don't downshift anymore. These are your parking lot and corner gears.
If you don't mind me asking who are you driving for? I also run out of Sanford....pharrari and newlife1966 Thank this. -
In the past I have been called "Part Blood Hound"....I would say the student is with Stevens Transport.
123456 Thanks this. -
I'm sorry to read this. Since I started with Swift, not long ago, I've been told the DM worked for me. I always wondered why they called them managers if that was case.
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with Stevens to pay off my loan and pay for my Haz Mat. I'm
gonna call somebody tomorrow and talk. I've only backed 2 times into a regular parking spot. I havent docked at all and I sucked at it at CDL school but I passed the test. Ugh I dunno what to do!
i'm in OR1 and I think I'm on my 4-5th week and I havent drove or backed much. I've played on Facebook longer than I drove! -
My trainer wants me to slow down to ramp speed before I start shifting so I think now im confused. Ugh! Everyone shouldnt be a trainer, especially leased drivers for a company. My oh my what did I get myself into? I thought Stevens had a great training
program!
My trainer said dont snitch on him but
its not fair to me. I dont want to become a poor driver or
get made fun of because I can't drive. -
what does your trainer want you to lug the engine onto the ramp
or throw the clutch and free wheel
both are wrong
but most training situations are bad so take it upon yourself and learn anyway
my first trainer wouldnt fix the power steering and told me to drive with highbeams because a low beam bulb was out
i quickly moved to trainer 2
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