A wanna be trucker here

As a New Driver myself, I know of what you speak.

Do yourself a favor and get as many endorsements as you can. That way you can differentiate yourself from drivers that won't get Metal Coil, or HAZMAT, ect...

In my case I really think it made the difference in me GETTING a job verses a younger fellow that only had Combination/Air Brakes on his CDL.

Good Luck in your training, remain Positive, help your fellow Students where you can.

 

Who do you drive for?

 

In my Pre Trip, I didn't plan for the Rest area to be full.......

 

There is a Small Trucking Co. there in Rome that hauls Commercial Furniture and Produce cross Country. I chat on the phone with the Owner bout 4 times per year. If my Job ever goes bad, I would try to drive for him.

 

Yeah JB, I was going to ask in class about floating gears also. From I've seen here on the boards, most instructors refuse to teach it. But if we need to know how to switch (without the clutch) in order to get jobs with some companies, how are we supposed to learn it?

- S.S.

 

Floating gears when you are at the Correct RPMs for the shift. When going down a gear, My 10 speed in High range, I just very slightly tap the fuel at 900 to pop it out of gear, then quickly tap the fuel to increase the RPMs to 1500 and it slides right in gear.

Going up, in the high range, I just quickly let off the fuel at 1800 and pop it out of gear and when the RPMs drop 500, It will pop right back into gear,
REMEMBER, Stroke it with the finger tips. Do'nt Grab the thing. Truck trans are like women, they want a gentle touch. The low range I only go up to 1500.

 

A good friend of mine told me to treat his truck like I want to be treated as a woman; make love to her, not agression fornicating.

 

"Make Love NOT War, OR, Get Married and do both".

Serious and jb...I for one wasnt going to mention "how" to float gears, if others do thats cool BUT why put the ole horse b4 the cart? I wouldnt tell you B4 you learn logs how to (ahem) doctor them when ur just learning theres no line 5. Last thing I personally wanna do is mix ya up OR have an instructor on your butt in school.

Just curious if they EVEN teach it.....been 10yrs for me. Wiseguy explained it very good and on (I think) a level a newbie should be able to grasp easy. Tread veeery careful in school about how the "real" world of driving is, you dont need trouble before ya get outta the gate. Wiseguy is right, treat that stick like a woman...hamburger grinding squeaks the teeth...no need for it...of course my idea of a woman is 5foot high,no teeth, and a flathead to sit ur drink on.....Boy cant wait for the driverettes response on that....(I think Im in trouble)

GOOD luck you two and dont forget, help others there that arent grasping it as fast as you...."A man that thinks hes better than you, usually doesn't know anything else".

 

Thanks 97Ford, I'll try to heed your advice. I was just going to ask if they taught it, or even simply discussed it when we first got to class. But if they say no, then I won't push the issue any further.

Good 'ol Sam knows when to hold 'em, and he knows when to fold 'em. hehehehe