Downshifting and braking at the same time, proper technique?

It matters not.

Just make larger skips across more gears as you go to the one that is proper for the situation.

Testing is a form of .... obedience school. You do this, that and other with Silent Drill precision or fail. Once you have your CDL A you then LEARN how to be a trucker in the real world.

For a percentage of students learning to pass a DMV CDL test shifting is a problem. When you have been trucking as long or longer than me, shifting is not a big deal. The truck becomes a seamless part of you mentally. You decide what gear and presto she is in that gear without too much effort in plenty of time for that ramp.

 

I usually skip gears when downshifting on ramps.

You just need to get to know at what speed and engine rpm is good for what gear at some rpm. It takes practice.

Maybe when you shift up a year, immediately shift back down a few times traffic permitting. Spend some time to get to know the speed and engine sound at any given road-speed.

It's just practice... Bring the motor down to a lug, then Revit it and downshift 2 gears, or more once you get the feel for it.

 

Theyre both 9 speeds if you dont use the splitter.

With full jakes on, service brake down to 1000 rpm, float out, throttle back up to 2000rpm and shift down 2 full gears then back onto the service brake just as the jake comes back on.

Youll get her reigned in pretty quick like that.

BrrAAAHHhhhhHPpPPPupupup.

 

I don't know about the rest of you but there used to be taught a rule. You always kept power flowing to the drives. Coasting out of gear was verboten. Not that it was not down down grade Georgia overdrive gravity drive free fall style but eh...

You always kept power on the drives.

 

Set the spike at 15lbs and downshift.

 

Ive always started slowing down a ways before the exit, depending on which gear I was in. If on an interstate, chances are you are in 10th, so I'd bang it back to 9th aways before the exit, that way you arent getting close to the on ramp in 10th. Thats just my opinion though.

 

I stalled on my driving test and still passed. Although I was on the side of the road simulating a "emergency stop". I forgot to put it in neutral and popped it back to 3rd. Stupid, I know, but the rest of my test was great.