Approaching a stop

If you must coast to a stop, shift to neutral and release the clutch. Clutch pedal against the floor is the "clutch brake" position for engaging first or reverse while at a dead stop, or for stopping the input shaft if you need to upshift quickly on an upgrade. Holding the clutch against the floor while in gear and rolling is like trying to stop the rig with a small friction designed only for stopping a transmission shaft while in neutral. Make a habit of hitting your heel on the floor, and the clutch will have some clearance from the floor. Try downshifting one or two gears on an exit ramp, and you will not be coasting too far.

 

The truck should be in the appropriate gear for the speed it is traveling at ALL times. Hence, downshift your way to a stop. The theory is, if you need to accelerate (quickly), you'll be in gear and ready. If you can't make the truck go, if you need to, you have not maintained complete control. If you've ever approached a red light, planning to stop, when it suddenly changed to green while you were idling along in neutral, you know it would be smoother just to mash the fuel pedal, and go, than to start searching for the right gear.

Using the engine to help slow the vehicle will also save a lot of wear and tear on the brakes.

This concept was passed on to me from one of the former "America's Road Team" members during a training session. So far, it's worked for me.

 

The comments about the cluych brake are worthwhile.
Sometimes I coast to a stop. But when I do I follow the truck speed downward, anticipating what gear I would go to if traffic starts up on me - as it often does. The I blip the throttle a little and slide 'er in gear.

PS... you'll get to where you can play with that clutch brake a little, using it to slow the clutch down or speed it back up (by easing up off the floor) when the gears won't fit right because you are not really stopped. You'll get it.

 

the boss is always right

 

uh..........i don't know where you get this from, but coasting to a stop while out of gear isn't really too smart. you need to be in gear at all times while the vehicle is in motion.................you never know when you need to accelerate quickly, especially if someone is heading for you, and you need to manuver out of the way. who ever told YOU to "coast" to a stop in neuteral is wrong, dead wrong, and i think you are too in giving that advice. or is this something you "thought of on your own, and do it frequently"....???

when coming to a stop, either at a stop sign or traffic light, stay in gear to the very last moment, then put in the clutch, step on the brakes, and put yourself into a lower gear, prepared to take off again. if you were (for whatever reason) to be involved in any accident, and you are found to be in neuteral, be prepared to answer some very "matter of fact" questiond from the DOT and the police..........you could be heavily fined/ticketed, and probably found "guilty" of the accident through negligence........

i do hope someone else says something "coasting to a stop in neuteral"....

 

Not to mention unnecessary wear and tear on the clutch parts.
It's fun trying to drive a truck with no clutch to a safe place to get it repaired.

 

I think what Heyns57 is trying to say, if you find yourself in a situation where you have to coast, then he is explaining how to do it. We all know that coasting in neutral is a no-no. But I'm sure when you started driving you missed gears, couldn't find them, went into a little 'panic' mode, red light's ahead, and well.........we've all done it. Some of us just hate to admit it.
A new driver may not know that putting the clutch to the floor engages the 'clutch' brake. And the boss is right. The clutch should not be right to the floor when the truck is rolling. WahlbergCasket: you will just have to keep working on the downshifting when approaching a stop. If you get to a low enough speed, you should not have to put the clutch in till you are almost at a complete stop. The motor will assist you in slowing down. It just takes practice.

 

What this man said is how you need to do it, if you find it hard to skip gears downshifting then do as I did when I first started, Down shifted every gear till I figured it out (thank god it was a 10 speed lol) This is the safest way to do it.

Far as if you find yourself unable to hit a gear and coasting to a stop then yes do not push the clutch in. But you always should be in gear as you are slowing down unless you are shifting gears of coarse


About why he is telling you not to sit with the clutch in at a stop sign, It is wear and tear on the clutch break. Totally different from a car

 

I picked up an easy way to figure what speed you need for your high range up/down shifting while at CDL school.

If your speedometer is marked by 5's (15, 25, 35 etc) - just add the two numbers together. 15 mph you would need 6th gear (1 + 5) for 25 mph use 7th gear (2 + 5) & so on, all way to 10th gear (5 + 5)

Its useful for those of us with short attention spans.