Central Refrigerated Truck Stop

You're supposed to have snow in OKC? I wouldn't hit the road if you do those folks don't handle the snow well at all!

 

Hey, hey now!!! I'm one of those people!!!!

You are right tho, my fellow okies do seem to have a problem with snow and ice but then.......you've got idiots everywhere, eh.

 

LOL,
Sorry Panhandle, I just figured that you being a professional driver that wasn't an issue! I lived in OKC 85-88 due to the Navy. First year 11" snow next winter 13". Saw way too many of those cowboys paws up in the ditch. Tried to tell them 4X4 means all wheels turning and you know them laws of physics etc.....They'd go flying by me in my 2wd suburban and sure enough the next stop sign or curve there they'd be in the ditch.

 

Hey Everyone. I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I'm new to this whole world of trucking. My husband is currently with his trainer with Central. He's only on his second day on the road and he said he's having a hard time down shifting, that he keeps grinding gears. He said that his trainer yelled at him saying, "If you screw up my transmission I'm out $40,000!" This has my husband extremely nervous and convinced he'll never get the hang of driving. It's got me extremely worried.

My husband is a quick learner and a good student and it frustrates me that his trainer would discourage him like this. I don't know how to make him feel better all the way from home. What are some things I could tell him for encouragement? It will get easier for him, won't it?

 

In beautiful San Antonio for a 99 tomorrow, then off to Laredo for my preset and then back to Alabama. Glad my life insurance is paid up.

 

Welcome aboard!

Shifting is easy. You really only need the clutch for 1st and reverse. But of course that isn't the proper answer while he's in training. His trainer should be instructing him on the proper RPM range for the upper and lower limits of each gear in that truck. He should have also learned that in school.

For example 1000rpm would be the low end and 1500 would be the top. When the RPM reaches 1500 clutch in and place into neutral, then as the rpm drops towards 1000 clutch in to the next higher gear.

For down shifting let the RPM fall to the lower limit, clutch in and place in neutral, then gently apply pressure to the throttle and raise the RPM to the upper limit and she'll slide right into gear. If the RPM is to low or to high it will grind.

He also may be pressing the clutch in to far. The only time it should go to the floor is when the truck is at a dead stop, as there is a clutch brake that stops the rotation (not good when rolling). For example in my truck you only need to press the clutch in an inch or two to engage it while rolling.

It does take time to get the feel for it. Even though these trucks are generally pretty tough, sometimes it is best to baby them and stroke them gently for a better response.

 

Hell, I've been with Central just shy of 6 months and still can't shift worth a ####. They don't expect you to be perfect or great or even half way freaking decent in 1 month.

As for his trainer. he could simply point out that the "rules" state no yelling. Or he could call or threaten to call Kurt. Or remind his trainer that he too will be evaluated by the Trainee.

Or do what I did with my trainer. I simply told him, that I don't know what he thinks gives him the right to scream at another grown man, but if ya do it again, we're going to have serious problems...he shut the fug up.

 

Good trainers will do anything to get their point across to the trainee. What I mean by this is that they will find a way to explain what is being done wrong so the trainee understands. Even if it means breaking it down to the most basic level to get the point across and teaching by example and explaining what is happening during the process of what is being taught.

Back when I taught motorcycle safety, demonstration was the key. (high speed rear wheel skids and evasive maneuvering where the most fun to demonstrate). But when I prepared people for heavy and tactical vehicle road tests, explaining what happens worked slightly better than demonstration.

If the recommendation in my previous post doesn't hit home for him, tell him that driving a truck smoothly is a lot like foreplay. Ya may not get it right the first few times, but once ya know what gets her to respond ya won't forget it.

Oh, and before anyone asks, no I am not a trainer.

For motivation I used to tell my crew at sea, "There's two ways of doing things, the right way and your way. If you want to do it your way you can leave anytime you want, the nearest land is straight down."

 

For example 1000rpm would be the low end and 1500 would be the top. When the RPM reaches 1500 clutch in and place into neutral, then as the rpm drops towards 1000 clutch in to the next higher gear.

yeah but loaded you need to get it to 1600 and everything changes in all situations 1700 and 1200 when going uphill so you dont lose momentum and if the trainer yells when you stop ruff him up a little bit

 

See I'm diffrent, I'm all about fuel economy, so I always and I mean always hit 1200 and shift.. When I'm climbin a hill.. I usually keep it around 1400ish.. That way I'm not kickin my nasty limiter and loosin all power.. I dunno what to tell ya.. It kinda came to me.. But others have to work for it..m but when others can stay calm.. I'm yellin at ya and throwin stuff out my winda...

Well bud.. They took my armadilla load away.. I'm headin up to streetsboro, oh for monday, then I had a mishap with my dm today, so I start my new otr fleet monday... Right now I took tonight and tom off at home.. So I'm gunna shower and sleep.. Then find a microwave and 360 tomorrow..can I have your boot??? Please????? Pretty please???????