Taking CDL test in 2 weeks, need some help downshifting quickly

BRAKES BRAKES BRAKES! This is very common for new folks.. you have to really get on the brakes firmly to get the roadspeed and RPM's down. If you know the RPM range between gears, that helps a lot. All downshifts can be made exactly the same.. You HAVE to how the RPM you start the downshift in to make the shift easier. If there is 300 RPM between the gear, DRAG the speed and RPM down to a set point ( say 1000 RPM) at that point, don't dawdle, make the shift! (with your foot off the clutch) rev the 300 RPM, tap the clutch and stick in in the next lower gear. You can "double down" but you MUST rev higher.. 300 X 2 (gears) = 600 RPM. You DRAG the RPM and speed down with the brakes, firmly using the brakes takes practice. Get to your set point (1000 RPM) then off the clutch, REV 600 RPM, tap the clutch and move the shift two gear positions. This sounds really confusing.. sorry.. this is like learning to dance some weird dance.. but just knowing speed for the gears in your truck will help and knowing the RPM between each gear is super important. ALL downshifts can be made exactly the same.. drop to you set point, rev it, stick it...off the clutch and get on the brakes again.. repeat.

 

to skip shift going down, do it this way...

1) 10th gear
2) slow down to 1200 RPMs
3) clutch to neutral
4) rev the RPMs to 1600
5) clutch into 9th
6) slow down to 600 RPMs (maybe 700 RPMs depending on the truck)
7) clutch to neutral
8) rev the RPMs to 1200
9) clutch into 7th
10) selector switch down
11) slow down to 600 RPMs
12) clutch to neutral
13) rev the RPMs to 1200
14) clutch into 5th

 

Don't bother downshifting much.

IF a short ramp 50 mph down to 10 or whatever, Get on your service brake. Apply 30 pounds and impose a pretty good steady slowdown.

Your RPMs will fall down to idle in top gear or wahtever it was. Take her out and by now you might be at 30 and dropping. Put her into 5th high with a little fuel. And maintain the service braking. That means you will have a dance there for a bit of two step...

She should come down to 10 for the worst of that ramp by now your 5th will be at idle and it should be pretty easy to tap fuel and pick say 2nd. It should almost fall in. But shifting is the least of your worries.

Now....

Revisit the issue.

On a exit ramp of a interstate you see a post with 3 reflectors. Then two and one. At the distance of the post with two reflectors throw your signal on, your jacobs and work down your shifting tree. Go change lanes into the decel about 5th high. Then get on your service brake until your engine is pulled to idle going into the ramp, Gently pick a suitable low range gear.

No fuss, no drama and especially control of your speed.

 

Congratulations ! Now you can go out there into the real world and learn how to be a trucker.

 

These next few weeks are crucial for you. Pay attention and ask lots of questions. Don't be a smart ### or make any jokes because some trainers may not like that and it's off their truck you go. Also, do not be afraid to talk to your DM or DDM if you are not clicking/getting along with your trainer. That chemistry is most important towards your success. Don't let a trainer get away with saying they or you are in the sleeper berth when you're not (Modifying the e-logs). That's a huge safety violation as fatigued driving for both of you is a very serious real risk. Do not stand for a trainer telling you that you can only sleep in the top bunk when the trainer is driving it's against federal law and is another safety violation and extremely dangerous (trust me I've been that student - you go flying out of the bed on every dang dip or bump in the road making it impossible to sleep). Survive through training and you will get your own truck and then the real learning begins!! Congratulations on getting your CDL

 

There's no federal law against sleeping in the top bunk of a moving truck as long as it has the proper restraints. But, like you mentioned and I will paraphrase, a trainer is dumber than snot (but coming out of the other end) for even thinking about suggesting a student sleeps in the top bunk when the truck's in motion