New Career ... From the beginning.

Good for you Markus and stay southeast in the Rome area LOL! (since we are not that far from each other!!) How much longer in school? I think you said you test early December?

 

Your shifting a 10spd right? If so, what one of our instructors told us, that really helps is judging your shifting by the speed, using it to determine what gear you should be in. Works both up and down. Where most students in our class were having problems was in the high side. The rule she told us to follow was:

15mph = 6th gear (1+5=6)
25mph = 7th gear (2+5=7)
35mph = 8th gear (3+5=8 )
45mph = 9th gear (4+5=9)
55mph = 10th gear(5+5=10).

Now as far as downshifting, make sure you slow to the given speed before you start to downshift. So if your traveling 55mph, slow using your brakes to 45mph. Now your engine speed (RPM) should be somewhere close to it's range (1,000 to 1,200), clutch, and drop it to neutral, then raise the RPMs to around 1,700, clutch, shift to 9th. Continue to slow, your engine should be acting as a brake, but also use your service brakes, to 35mph. Again your RPMs should be around 1,000 to 1,200, clutch to shift to neutral, then raise the RPM to around 1,700 , clutch and shift to 8th. Continue doing this.

 

Something you new guys might find interesting and informative is a book about life on the road - it'll give you an idea of what to look out for so you don't get caught by surprise! I'm not in the industry anymore, but used to work for a trucking company in the 80's & 90's and I found the book real true to life. You can get it from Amazon.com. It was written by a former truck driver (very well written, actually - so it's easy to read) named Marc Mayfield and is called "In the Driver's Seat".

 

Good read here Markus, enjoying the heck out of it. Like your writing style too. Maybe when you get done you could write a book too; title it something like "From Flowers to a Bad ### Trucker".