Hello Experienced Truckers...

It's not the trainer's job to teach the trainee how to double-clutch a 10-speed tranny.
This should be mastered before the trainee gets on the truck.
Besides, most "training" trucks at the bigbox carriers are dispatched as teams.
Trainee is many times a 2nd logbook...especially if it's an O/O or lease-op's truck.
Trainer in the sleeper catching z's while trainee racks up miles.

 

What are the requirements to rent a class 7 or 8 truck from one of them?

 

Well, an individual can't just rent from them unless they got beacoup loot. Plus, you gotta have insurance. All that just to practice shifting? S_ _T, you could practice double clutching in a car. And yes Judy, it was presumptuous and rude for me to think that you don't have that kind of bread---you may be loaded.

Dear Judy and anyone else who thinks i was "offended" by being blessed etc. i would like to thank you for blessing me that way, it's just that i personally, find it a little annoying given my views on religion. But thanks anyways.

Upon more thinking, if you really can rent a tractor from ryder or penskeeee then more power to you. However, after more thinking, i think it would be nearly effective and much cheaper to practice with a manual transmission car or better yet pickup truck. Make sure the car/truck has a tachometer though.



Also, i'm aware that car and pickup truck transmissions are sychronized, but you can still practice timing your shifts using the tach. Also, there's no range selector with a car, but really this is just stacking one set "on top" of another-----1 thru 5 is one stack and 6-10 gets "stacked" on top of that.


i mean is paying over $550 a week not counting mileage worth it just to practice shifting? Even if just a week the total will be over $1000 because you have to pay insurance monthly. Oh yeah what about fuel?

But really, i think the best way would be to try to practice with a company. When you felt like you didn't want to waste the trainers time, why did you feel this way?


2) Also, do you understand the concept of gearing and why a truck has multiple gears? i think this in itself goes a long way to learning shifting.

 

Yup, you know that & I know that, but some people who are new to this industry may not know what is the norm, so they get sold on price
alone.

 

Onyx;been reading your thread since you started it.One possibility that wasn't mentioned,why don't you put applications in Companies that that use automatics,I think Us express was mentioned as having them and there are others.The other choice go to a school that will train you on 8-10 speed, there are several here in NJ, Smith Solomon is one that my sons attended,and seeing how you already have the class A they should give you a greatly reduced rate;I know SS gives a refresher for $1000.I don't know what your finances are but if limited, first choice would be get hired by a training co so you are making $ while learning.Another choice go to Cr england,they will teach you from the ground up as if you were a new driver,again paying you while learning.Whatever you decide we wish you the best!