Just drove for the first time today! - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

boyrobbie74 · **^ Top** #1 08.07.2007

I'm in my second week of school. Today we actually took the trucks out on the road. OH MY GAWD! Shifting looks so much easier when you see someone do it...who knows how to do it. I hope it get's easier. CLUTCH, SHIFT, CLUTCH, BREAK, THROTLE, SHIFT, CLUTCH!!!! Anyone have words of confidence? I only drove for about 2 hours today and I have 4 more weeks of school left.

Peeping_Tom · **^ Top** #2 08.07.2007

it is easy, just takes practice and time. no different than a clutch in a car. it will come second nature to you man.

bbmyls2go · **^ Top** #3 08.07.2007

when I went to school, I know this sounds silly, but I went to the grocery store and bought a plunger. I then grabbed a box from the dumpster. My roomie and I cut the shift pattern into the top of the box, set it over the plunger handle, and practiced with the box sitting next to a chair in our hotel room. It helped reinforce the shift pattern in my head since I had never driven a truck before.

Peeping_Tom · **^ Top** #4 08.07.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbmyls2go

when I went to school, I know this sounds silly, but I went to the grocery store and bought a plunger. I then grabbed a box from the dumpster. My roomie and I cut the shift pattern into the top of the box, set it over the plunger handle, and practiced with the box sitting next to a chair in our hotel room. It helped reinforce the shift pattern in my head since I had never driven a truck before.

i bet that was funny to see. 2 guys walking into a grocery store to buy a plunger. imagine what they were thinking.

boyrobbie74 · **^ Top** #5 08.07.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbmyls2go

when I went to school, I know this sounds silly, but I went to the grocery store and bought a plunger. I then grabbed a box from the dumpster. My roomie and I cut the shift pattern into the top of the box, set it over the plunger handle, and practiced with the box sitting next to a chair in our hotel room. It helped reinforce the shift pattern in my head since I had never driven a truck before.

I thing I'm ok with the shift pattern, it's the double clutching...and down shifting that is rough. I keep jerking the truck...grinding gears. My instructor told me not to get frustrated, that it happens to everyone and I will get used to it and with time will get my timing down. I guess I could use your idea to work on the double clutching.

bbmyls2go · **^ Top** #6 08.07.2007

yeah, you dont even need the prop, just to take a little time to work your legs while pretending to shift will help.
As pointed out, time will be your best friend as you adjust to the feel of the clutch, get used to timing the gear shift syncro, and seeing AND hearing the rpms, it all come with experience.

You'll still be grinding a couple gears in a couple of circumstances 3 months from now - uphills, stopping for scales, and the occasional emergency braking when you sort of "get lost". What gear was I in? Whats my speed? What gear do I need? Sometimes concentrating hard on the motion makes you do it even worse, LOL!

Attitude:) · **^ Top** #7 08.07.2007

It really does get easier. Good ideas about the shift pattern and the foot one too. I hated that feeling of YIKES! What gear am I in lol.

Peeping_Tom · **^ Top** #8 08.07.2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Attitude:)

It really does get easier. Good ideas about the shift pattern and the foot one too. I hated that feeling of YIKES! What gear am I in lol.

if that happens just look at your speedometer and you will know.

Bullwinkle · **^ Top** #9 08.07.2007

You will get used to the shifting pretty quickly. It is pretty much the easiest part of driving once you get an understanding of it.

the plunger/box method sounds like a pretty good idea, actually. It allows you to actually go through the motions, rather than trying to imagine it in your head.

munrkr · **^ Top** #10 08.07.2007

I often forgot to split. By the way, what did you use for a splitter button...a match box and a rubber band?

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