Stalling at every traffic light at 4th gear

Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by k008, Sep 22, 2019.

  1. k008

    k008 Bobtail Member

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    So I'm at this trucking school and the guy teaching me out on the streets have very little patient and any mistake he yells and drop F bombs on me. Sometimes he get so angry he kicks the truck panels on the passenger side. He also has one of the thickest accent and he only say something when I made the mistake instead of correcting me before I make the mistake. Very little instruction is given while I'm out on the road. I have to literally figure it out on my own and since I'm new to trucking and also new to driving stick shift I figure he would have a little more patient with me but nope, he just keeps getting angry with me.

    So on a traffic light I would fully stop and I would switch to 4th gear. When the light turns green I let go of the brakes and let go of the clutch and the truck stalled. He yell and drop a few F bombs on me and after that I figure out not to let the clutch off too fast and to let the clutch off slowly. Well now I'm doing exactly that and the truck stalls again. He yell and drop a few more F bombs. At this point I'm starting to have anxiety because the trainer isn't really helping the situation. He is making me nervous while I'm outside on the road with pedestrians and cars. Every time we come to a traffic light, my anxiety is more of trying to not piss this trainer off than to actually learn how to operate this truck the correct way. I ask him questions and he gives me very vague answers and would brush me off like I'm suppose to figure this out myself. Finally he told me give it a little gas when I let off the clutch from a standstill. I did that and I would rock and jerk the truck and he would yell and drop F bombs on me again. At this point I'm not even sure what I'm doing wrong. I'm trying to put two and two together and figure out what I need to do since the trainer doesn't even bother to explain and just yell at me.

    The school is forcing me to go take the DMV test this coming friday but I feel like I'm not even ready to go since I can't even operate the truck correctly.

    This is what I'm doing when I stop at a traffic light. I'm on the clutch and brake and the truck is on 4th gear. When the light turns green I release the brakes and slowly release the clutch until I feel like its moving forward then I press on the gas.

    It seems I'm doing it wrong since I stall every time. Please help and give some advice since my trainer will not help me at all.
     
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  3. Lyle H

    Lyle H Road Train Member

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    Why are you starting in 4th gear?
    Try 3rd.
    Also, keep your foot on the brake and then slowly let out the clutch.
    Once you feel the clutch engage release your foot off the brake and start giving it throttle.
    Never rev up the motor to get rolling.
     
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  4. jinxutoo

    jinxutoo Light Load Member

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    IMO, if he was teaching you the correct way you would be downshifting when approaching a light as to time it so you don't have to come to a complete stop, but since he is not and you should beable to figure this out on your own. Take off on a lower gear. I have a 13 speed and always take off in low and progressive shift up and try to time lights so I dont have to stop.
    Anxiety?? Your driving a truck, it gets a whole lot hotter in that seat than a trainer yelling at ya.
     
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  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Starting out in 4th gear is why you're stalling.
    You're pulling an empty trailer so try starting in 3rd gear; if that doesn't work try 2nd.
    Pretty sure 3rd will do the job though.
     
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  6. k008

    k008 Bobtail Member

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    He won't let me go in a lower gear than 4th from a standstill. He will just yell at me again and tell me to put it in 4th gear. And yes I know there is more crap I have to deal with once I get out there working but working under pressure is different than trying to learn something new and constantly getting yell at for it. I worked under stressful situation before, but this is different I'm getting yell at for controlling and operating a machinery I have never worked with before. If I can't operate it then what else is there for me to do? That is why I'm getting anxiety is cause I'm helpless from the situation. I don't get anxiety if I'm getting yell at for something I have control, I have been in the hot seat plenty of time in my life. This is just frustrating and nerve-wrecking if I can't get help from a trucking school I paid $$$ for.
     
  7. k008

    k008 Bobtail Member

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    I might have to talk to someone in the office tomorrow and suggest a lower gear cause yes they're making me go in 4th with a empty trailer. Not sure the reason why but its either try a lower gear or they have to find someone else to teach me than the guy who yells at every little thing.
     
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  8. Lyle H

    Lyle H Road Train Member

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    Did this “trainer” just get his cdl 3 months ago?
     
  9. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Maybe transmission is broken which is fraud for the students. Anyway, complain to people in the office.
     
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  10. k008

    k008 Bobtail Member

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    Surprisingly no, he's a old guy who drove for like 30+ years.
     
  11. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Probably has early onset dementia.
     
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