Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Downshifting question....

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by CRSTMaria, Mar 26, 2012.

Page 3 of 3
  1. Apr 5, 2012 #21
    FXDLTRUCKA98

    FXDLTRUCKA98 Light Load Member

    93
    11
    Mar 4, 2012
    California
    0
    Ms Maria
    I haven't seen you post in a while hope everything is going better and your not stuck with that troll any more
     
    FXDLTRUCKA98, Apr 5, 2012
    FXDLTRUCKA98, Apr 5, 2012
    #21
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Apr 6, 2012 #22
    nitrogen

    nitrogen Medium Load Member

    569
    248
    Oct 3, 2010
    Calgary Alberta
    0
    we don't actually know what or if the first trainer was thinking. 25 years in a tractor has given me sometime to think about this sort of thing. when i started out i downshifted way too much, didn't let it get down to where the engine made peak torque. as a result i made far more work for myself than I needed to.I have had to block my trainees from the shifter a time or two to get across the idea that this truck didn't need a downshift to pull that particular hill. many times I have found that running the same road with the same load that whether I drop 1-2- 3 or no gears my top of the hill speed is the same. all I have done is make work for myself.that said with some of the other stuff you said about him failing to teach you other things(that you need to know)HE IS NOT A TRAINER, he is an O/O with a cheep co-driver On the other hand I have been in trucking industry defensive driving classes here(mandatory in the oilfield here) where they say you should never shift up, or down on a hill. I flat out told the instructor he was full of fecal matter, and that in my world if you didn't know how to and when it was appropriate you had no business behind the wheel.
     
    nitrogen, Apr 6, 2012
    nitrogen, Apr 6, 2012
    #22
  4. Apr 6, 2012 #23
    quitter

    quitter Light Load Member

    172
    151
    Jan 30, 2012
    San Juan Capistrano, ca
    0
    LOL, don't downshift? Don't downshift before going down a steep grade, and don't downshift when going up a steep grade? Man, that's even bad advice for driving an automatic.
     
    quitter, Apr 6, 2012
    quitter, Apr 6, 2012
    #23
  5. Apr 6, 2012 #24
    rodknocker

    rodknocker Road Train Member

    1,242
    584
    Dec 18, 2008
    Southeast
    0
    Lmao. These companies that have trainers have something like 120% turnover which means everyone quits. It also means inexperienced trainers. I know companies that have trainers with six months experience which means, he probably don't know how to downshift
     
    rodknocker, Apr 6, 2012
    rodknocker, Apr 6, 2012
    #24
  7. Apr 6, 2012 #25
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,737
    12,460
    May 28, 2009
    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
    0
    Downshifting VS finding the right gear.....big difference. You're approaching a stop sign ahead, so you know you will have to come to a complete stop. A traffic light that's red could turn green before you get there. Lets run thru a scenario. You approach a stop sign doing 45 mph. Yeah, you could downshift one gear at a time, but why ? Each gear you're goosing the throttle which wastes fuel, right ? That golden $4.50 diesel stuff. But then some say you're hitting your brakes a tad harder since you're not downshifting, which in turn wears out brakes faster. I say find a happy medium, since it's a stop sign, you know you gotta stop. Prepare ahead of time.

    Ok, another scenario, approaching a red light or a right turn, where you can just slow and then proceed. No need to downshift until the light turns green, IF it does turn green. At that point, (if it turns green), you'll need to find the right gear while in motion, as well as finding the right gear if you're turning right. Some variables play into this such as traffic, experience, heavy or light load, condition of equipment etc. I always told my students not to worry about downshifting until they got some miles under their belt. Every student would ask, after just 10 minutes behind the wheel, how to downshift.

    Here's a good way to learn, IMO. Next time you're on a not-so-busy street or large parking lot, get that beast moving to 25 mph, throw it in neutral, leave it in neutral for a second or two, THEN, find a gear. It might be the next lower gear or the second lowest gear. Finding a gear from neutral VS finding a gear from a gear will teach you much easier.
     
    Allow Me., Apr 6, 2012
    Allow Me., Apr 6, 2012
    #25
    CenutryClass, rockee and trailertrashtrucker Thank this.
  8. Apr 7, 2012 #26
    bigwuz

    bigwuz Light Load Member

    105
    6
    Jan 15, 2012
    south bend ,indiana
    0
    I know this has been answered but also it takes to much time to downshift if u need to stop suddenly kirkwood has dumb stuff instilled in you head just slow down and downshift as needed peace
     
    bigwuz, Apr 7, 2012
    bigwuz, Apr 7, 2012
    #26
  9. Apr 28, 2012 #27
    DrivingPro

    DrivingPro Light Load Member

    62
    17
    Feb 18, 2007
    San Antonio,Texas
    0
    After only 6 months of driving I was made a CRST trainer. I had no idea what I was doing. Downshift? heck I could not even upshift!! or back up to a dock.
     
    DrivingPro, Apr 28, 2012
    DrivingPro, Apr 28, 2012
    #27
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 3 of 3