Floating Gears

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by sage92886, Aug 24, 2007.

  1. Truck Driver

    Truck Driver Medium Load Member

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    There is no reason to ever bang gears in a truck regardles of your shifting method. Also you still need to match rpms just the same while double clutching and if your not doing so you are causing damage. Floating does not hurt the transmision if done properly and actually saves clutch wear. Some drivers that double clutch don't do so properly and also don't shift smoothly thus causing damage which is why some companys have a no double clutching policy. They are trying to protect their equipment. I float my gears but i'll sometimes kick the clutch once to take it out of gear smoothly when its bound up which in my opinion, is the only reason to use the clutch when rolling. The truck I drive requires me to shift as smoothly and efficiently as posible at all times. 51,000lbs of unbaffled liquid crashing the bulkheads of your trailer will teach you to shift a truck.
     
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  3. junkyardhound

    junkyardhound Light Load Member

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    I usually float up or down,but I double-clutch every so often so my left leg remembers what to do.
     
  4. BoDarville01

    BoDarville01 Light Load Member

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    you must not watch much NASCAR or IndyCar. NASCAR they use the clutch whenever they shift....if you remember CBS or FOX would have that split picture that showed the driver incar and had a camera on the floor board watching the drivers footwork.

    IndyCar is a different story (same with F-1). They use a sequential gearbox, IndyCar use to have a shifter on the right side of the driver, now both F-1 and IndyCar have a padle shifter behind the steering wheel. one side up upshift to a taller gear....the other to downshift. clutch isnt used till they come out of the pit, but they dont 'float' gears in the traditional 'truckers' sense.
     
  5. BoDarville01

    BoDarville01 Light Load Member

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    Oh....and i drive a 2009 Volvo 10 speed. You cannot shift without depressing the clutch just a little. But other than that, i float 1-4 or 5...and double clutch the rest. clutch is there for a reason. Floating gears is just plain lazy.........so i'm only half lazy. :biggrin_25525:
     
  6. GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

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    What company has a policy on not using the clutch? I do know of some that require the driver to double clutch. If you can not bring the stick out of gear with ease then you're doing something wrong or the truck needs work.
     
  7. PAJ1979

    PAJ1979 Light Load Member

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    Quite a few small companies wont hire doubleclutchers. My dad and uncle have both fired drivers from their small fleets for it. For local short haul stuff like they do, doubleclutching will wear out a clutch in no time.


    My policy on it would be a bit more lenient, like the DMV testers I've talked to, if you can shift smoothly and safely without damaging anything, I don't care how you do it.
     
    Last edited: Apr 10, 2009
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  8. Truck Driver

    Truck Driver Medium Load Member

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    They company I work for doesn't want you double clutching. They will even teach it to the guys who don't know it. In Ca, everyone must demonstrate double-clutching during their DMV road exam so alot of new drivers don't know about floating. Compared to proper floating, proper double clutching will wear out a clutch sooner. On the other hand, Ive heard one of the bigger carriers out there wants thier drivers double clutching. It must be a small company thing.
     
  9. GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

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    I'm sure it is a company thing. I did some of the hiring and if a driver couldn't shift smoothly I would want him or her using the clutch. The point is knowing what gear to be in at any given time. Every driver will rub a gear now and then but it's the banging of a gear that I would be concerned about and using the clutch will prevent that. I've been retired for some time now so maybe the transmissions have changed but any driver should know how to do both and I would want the new drivers starting out using the clutch and then once they have that down then move to floating. A clutch is alot cheaper than a transmission.

    We did all of our hauling locally or no more than 100 miles and some drivers would double clutch and some wouldn't. You couldn't tell the difference on clutch wear from the drivers on how they shifted. We only hired drivers with 5 years or more driving experience and some of the old timers ( I mean with 20 years plus ) used the clutch all the time.
     
  10. Truck Driver

    Truck Driver Medium Load Member

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    Yeah long as its done smoothly is all that really matters and its good to know both methods. It makes you that much more versitile and employable if'n thats what a company is looking for. I'll still drive like I drive it regardless as thats what works for me. The only real difference is the tapping of the clutch as you still have to match everything up just the same. Neither one is too difficult.
     
  11. GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

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    I imagine one of the reasons that a company does not want drivers to doubleclutch is because alot of new drivers do not know about the clutch brake.
     
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