"Get it in gear!"

when running a 9-10 speed esp if your running heavy you spend more time ether lugging or revving the shiznit out of the motor becouse your be at speeds were there just is no right gear, your working in a 5-600 operating range with a 300 rpm sweet spot and 4-500 rpm difference in gears. with a 13-18 you have a 200 rpm change between gears.

lugging the motor=black smoke/wasted fuel. over revving just wastes fuel. this is probably less issue on otr trucks at 80,000 or less. but the more you can keep the motor in its sweet spot the more efficient the truck will run.

say your accelerating up a hill with a 10 speed lets say both trucks have a isx for comparison. the motor does not produce enough power below 13 rpm to accelerate up the hill with the 10 speed your accelerating to 16-1700 rpms so your next gear falls high enough in the rpm range no real power gain above 1500 rpm, just wasting fuel. now with a 13-18 your climbing the same hill you only need to rev to 1500 rpms in order for your next gear to fall at 1300rpm.

ok for example number two your driving along on a relitvly flat road at 50mph 9th in a 10 speed is say 1400 rpm 10th is 1000 rpm with a 18-13 speed you can put it at 1200 so your not revving more than necessary but your not lugging the engine.

18 speed really shines in heavy haul and off road applications, always a right gear no matter the circumstances.

 

Student status, but been in trucking for a long time? Many times on this board, I see 1 year driving, Student status, Just begging, but they have been in trucking for over 30 years. I definitely think you been in trucking for some time. Its what some say and how they say it, that tells everything.

 

Wargames, Ive been driving about 4 years, mix of tri-axle straight trucks and tractor trailers. I would love to get back into a trailer but the job i'm at now treats me very well to run a little tri-axle.

I leave that student status on there because every day I learn something new about this industry, be it on here reading what guys with tons of experience like yourself have to say, spending time with my dad, uncles or grandpa who have been in trucking all their lives or out on the road learning on my own, I'll always be a student of trucking soaking up as much as I can and trying to be good at my job.

 

I'm right there with you. I'm learning on 10spds and down shifting is a bear for me for some reason. Everything else came pretty naturally but I just cannot grasp getting down. It'll come. Good luck!

 

I just started with my first company...Been out of school least than 2 months. Finished my 1st week with a trainer on me new job last week... What I learned last week. Forget almost everything I learned in school because that is not how it is in the real world...

 

Heel toe, heal toe, heal toe! Get used to doing it, toe on the brake, heal on the throttle. It lets you get the engine up to the rpm you need to slide into a lower gear while still braking. You will feel when its time to slide it into the lower gear, but you will grind a bit while learning, go easy. When you get good you will never turn off your jakes and will use them all the time. If you get really good you will never use the clutch except when you stop. My Pops did it with a twin stick for years and would get 500k out of his brakes hauling heavy haul loads.

 

everyone has a some trouble shifting at first, it will come to you with some practice. just remember its all about smooth fluid movements with not only your hand but your feet as well.