"Get it in gear!"

Just time and experience J man,you'll be fine

 

Learn to anticipate your gear.

Let it lug down a bit until you are at a speed you know you can catch your target gear, then shift into it.

My hardest seems to be going down to 4th gear.

 

If you can skip the split each time try 7h-6h-5h then split to 5l. I do that alot with the 13spd i drive and it is a lot easier.

 

I had to learn with my Dad....... At least you don't get back handed everytime you mess up!. I think that My head still has lumps on it from 30 some odd years ago! Till you learn to dance, it sucks!

 

Grind them up, they will lossen up a just fall into place that way, really though take your time and don,t let anyone rush you, it will come to you in time, i still get nervous when anyone riding with me, so i drive solo, also i hate safty ride alongs.

 

your get the hang of it. i learned on a 13 then drove 10sp now drive 18. the 18 is really a beautiful trans. biggest problem i had at first after being used to the 10 is not grabbing what i call the wtf gear....lol

also you should never have to give a semi any throttle when taking off from a start part of the beauty of the 18 is you get that really low low granny gear, i use it any time starting out on a steep incline my truck is over 100k loaded never have to give it any fuel when letting the clutch out. if the incline is not too awfully steep but too steep for 1st low somtimes i will start in low/high split to 1st low so you dont have quite the gap between low-1st then run your low gears on up to you high side. on downshifts if i was cursing along in 7th hi and started was going to down shift slowing down i would let it drop to about 1000-1100 rpms then shift 7th-hi to 6-low then run the low gears down, there are times you have to release the break to down shift, if your using the jake that split second your off the breaks will be gained back by the use of the jake. don't let your instructor fluster you keep a cool head and your do fine.

 

IMO, they shouldn't teach in an 18 speed. Keep it simple in a 9 or 10 for students. When they get that down, then let them progress to a 13 and 18.

But it sounds like you are 3/4 the way there. Practice makes perfect.

 

seems 4th is the hardest for me to catch most of the time as well..of sourse I know nothing about driving an 13 or 18, the swift trucks im in are only 8 ..lol