Shifting New Advice

IMO any experience you can get beyond the school is worth the $$$ you pay for it. There's another thread on here somewhere about a student who had almost completed their (carrier) schooling but because he had a lot of trouble downshifting, he was sent home. Don't think you want to ride the greydog to another city, sit through orientation and get sent home because you can't downshift.

 

to help with your downshifting, just sit down at your motel or were ever , and just grab the toilet plunger, plop it down next too you, now that your shifter, next get a small wall clock , prop that up on a tv tray, now that's your pretend tach, then as you shift the stick,moving your left leg up in the air twice for double clutching , watch the tach-clock, what your doing is training your mind too do this naturally , sounds silly yes, but it all about training and practicing and you will get it next time you get in the truck

 

That's right. You're getting robbed. Most DMV road test require that you double clutch and your school is taking the easiest way it can to get all the students a CDL. They can care less if you learn anything about the truck and defensive driving. It's a shame and there should be requirements for these school before they take anyone's money.

What we required during our company road test was very intensive. Just remember that we are a company that is very a large oil company and they demand the best for what they pay. You might say it's the top of the chain and I'm telling you this so you'll know latter on. We want to see you use the gears to match the road speed. We don't want you to down shift every gear but select the right gear for any given speed. We'll ask you to double clutch at first and if that goes well you can float. We'll ask if you know progressive shifting and then show us. We want clean shifting on the up side and smooth on the down side. No shotgunning. When you come off the interstate we want you to go from 10th (most of our trucks are 10 speeds) to either 6th or 7th then if you have to down further go down to 4th then stop or go on. We like to see you roll up to a signal light in the highest gear which will let you keep up with the traffic and still have some power for acceleration. Then if the light changes and you need to select a gear you skip the gears and hit the hole that is right for that speed.

We like gradual acceleration and never run the engine agains't the peg. If you say you can float and after you show us you can shift using the clutch we'll say go ahead. The first gear you rub is ok it's after you rub and grind many gears that we say you don't know how. Floating does not make you a truck driver. Floating has been use by drivers that know their truck and find it easier to do. I believe it should never be taught in school and only done when you know what you're doing. I also believe that the schools today have left out a lot of information about taking care of the truck. It doesn't matter if it's a company truck or not you always drive it like it was your own. The object is to let the truck work for you and not you working for the truck.

 

you will be alright.you passed the school didn't you? go back to the school and ask for more time if you feel as if you were shorted.they may just accomodate your request.people like me got into it without going to a school.i could not back,had no power steering,and ducked going under overpasses on the interstate.it is a learning process that never ends out here.keep your money.you'll be fine.

 

It takes time

 

What company were you thinking of starting with? The ones that hire cdl grads will test you and work to improve your weak areas. As long as you show improvement during orientation day after day you should be fine. When you get on the road with a trainer he/she will work with you further, if you don't feel like you're with a good trainer request another one. Good luck.