New Guy--Schneider or Gordon?

Dropping an extra gear before you start down the grade wouldn't hurt you none. That said, it's just a rule of thumb because your assent up the hill is a different path than you will be going down, so the up grade may be steeper or less steep than the down grade.

You’ll see maximum truck speed limits on most long steep grades just be in a gear that will allow you to stay under that speed limit and never ever take it out of gear while descending.

 

You all wrong! The gear you decend a grade at has nothing to do with the gear you climbed it at.

Its depends on the grade, length of the grade, speed limit, and your weight, transmission would also change the # your where in....


For Examply I always climb Black Mt in NC in 9th Gear.....and Decend it in 7,8, or 9th depending on my weight.


And dont listin to jake1 You can shift safely while climbing or decending a grade I do it all the time. And if you intend to Work for Watkins Shepard you WILL have to show them you can do it going up and then back down a 6% grade at 79,000lbs or you dont get hired...Its not hard they will teach you how to do it first.




American Trucker

 

Your saying use the gear going down that you came up in is true and also false. Being such an experienced trucker, you would have done that years ago. However, with the trucks being more aerodynamic and having more power than trucks of yesteryear, they can go up inclines with more ease in a higher gear. So, sometimes you may be in the same, but sometimes you may be lower.

No disrespect or anything intended

Personally, I don't give a rat's patoot what gear I use going up a hill. I choose my downhill gear judging on the % decline and the weight I have in the box.

 

lol I didnt see American Trucker's post before I posted that. Mine was with regards to Jake.

A-T...I dont know you or your driving skills, but I think I'd take the advice of a 25 year driver over a 1 year driver. No disrespect

That is, of course, unless that driver was just a complete moron lol

 

AT - This is actually what I plan on doing. B-Day is Sept. 9. Schooling starts on August 1st. 8 Week course, puts me a week or two after my birthday. So all in all, I think I am timing it about right.

And as for schooling, the $1,500 sounds like a great deal, just make sure you don't get burned on it when it comes to trying to find jobs. Because some companies might list them, but prefer another school over that. (Kinda contradicts but I've seen it happen). Being 20 and not being able to drive OTR kinda does suck, but laws are laws that are in place for us to abide by. Best of luck to you and your choices.

 

you dont have to take my advice but dont expect me to stop at the runnaway truck ramp to see if your ok

If you dont want to learn how to properly operate a truck and instead just go with the I'll stay in the right gear BS go for it.


When your comeing down a grade barely clinging to your "right gear" and as you come around a blind corner traffic is completely stopped you'll wish you knew how to downshift....instead of locking them up and flatspotting 18 tires and STILL slamming into the traffic


But to each their own....




American Trucker

 

Did you not see this in my post, Super Trucker?

Dropping an extra gear before you start down the grade wouldn't hurt you none. That said, it's just a rule of thumb because your assent up the hill is a different path than you will be going down, so the up grade may be steeper or less steep than the down grade.

Now if you wish to take it out of gear while descending a steep grade that's your choice but even seasoned veterans like myself can miss a gear. That's not what anyone wants to happen and when you do miss a gear because you were stupid enough to take it out of the proper gear in the first place you put everyone’s life at risk. I have a run trucks with and without jake brakes, I never use them, never liked them nor felt the need too besides a Jake Brake can let you down at the worst opportune time and you can't use them on snow covered roads either, so I never use it. Black Mountain you say, that’s just a hill, try out west sometime off the interstate, if you ever get out that way you'll see. Look if you wish to put your life at risk, that’s fine but if I’m on the hill with you or my family is than you are affecting my safety. If you wish to do it your way, that’s fine, but please don’t advise new drivers because than you’re putting their lives’ needlessly at risk Below is a link common sense rules for grades. BTW, I have over 25 years behind the wheel pulling tank, I have also been a road trainer for 5 years in the 1990's out west.

http://www.newbiedriver.com/articles/Mountain_Grade_Info.htm

 

You won't flat spot your tires nor will you lock them up, if you're not in the proper gear and you are going too fast in the first place and not using your brakes properly you'll smoke your brakes and maybe even catch them on fire when you try to stop, downshifting or not but if you in too high of a gear your engine will not brake the truck properly and you won't be able to downshift in the first place because you are already overrunning the governor. BTW, when I used to get down to Black Mtn if I was close to 80,000 lbs (driving a tank I always was) I never managed to get over the top in anything higher than 6th, and I was running a Detroit not a Cummings.

 

You know when a young driver with 0-1 years under his belt thinks he knows everything someone usually gets hurt. I’ve been out here 25 years and I still don’t know it all, when you think you do it’s time to step out of the truck for good because you’re going to get hurt or worse yet hurt someone else.

Take Care A.T.

Jake