Downshifting and turning with 80k pounds

BoyWander · Mar 3, 2013

If a car ever pulled out in front of me and slammed on the brakes, downshifting is the last thing I'd have time to do. I'd brake first. I've never had a problem braking when in neutral. Of course, I don't coast down the road at 40+mpg, only exit ramps while slowing down.

kern2008 · Mar 3, 2013

moloko said: ↑

Can somebody give me some insightful answers for the following scenarios?

let's say you are fully loaded at 80,000 pounds, 53' trailer for the sake of example:

1) you are fully loaded with 80,000 pounds: what's the take off gear? in truck school we never drove loaded, and we always took off in 4th or 5th.

A. Anywhere between 2nd and 4th depending on Slope, Engine, Axle Ratio, Transmission 9spd, 10spd, 13spd, 18spd Owner op usally.

2) you are taking a freeway offramp at 55 MPH and need to turn right, and you're in 10th gear before hitting the ramp. what gear do you recommend taking this turn at?

A. All Turns should be taken 6th Gear or lower, lower gear than 6th depending on the sharpness of the turn. Wet or bad weather no higher than 4th gear any transmission or you will jack knife.

3) you are approaching a green light at about 40 MPH in the city. you need to turn right at the green light. what gear should you be in while taking this turn? for that matter, what's a good turning gear?

A. See Last Comment

yeah, it's really basic stuff but i'm getting kind of rusty on this common-sense stuff since i haven't driven for a bit and don't have much experience.
Click to expand...

I hope this helps

windsmith · Mar 3, 2013

BoyWander said: ↑

If a car ever pulled out in front of me and slammed on the brakes, downshifting is the last thing I'd have time to do. I'd brake first. I've never had a problem braking when in neutral. Of course, I don't coast down the road at 40+mpg, only exit ramps while slowing down.
Click to expand...

Trust me, I remain fully prepared to push a 4 wheeler down the road when they do something stupid like that. And I will have video evidence to support my case.

Pumpkin Oval Head · Mar 3, 2013

moloko said: ↑

Can somebody give me some insightful answers for the following scenarios?

let's say you are fully loaded at 80,000 pounds, 53' trailer for the sake of example:

1) you are fully loaded with 80,000 pounds: what's the take off gear? in truck school we never drove loaded, and we always took off in 4th or 5th. 1st gear on a 10 speed......I drove 80,000 lb loads of grain all the time, and my little Cat C-13 engine needed every gear it had!!!!

2) you are taking a freeway offramp at 55 MPH and need to turn right, and you're in 10th gear before hitting the ramp. what gear do you recommend taking this turn at? I downshift from 10 th through 6th gear while I am on the ramp.......and for a 90 degree turn on flat ground shift down to 5th for the turn, unless it is a narrow tight turn then I might drop to 4th.....if it was an uphill turn I would be in 4th gear. If the trailer was going to be close to the curb, I would make sure I did a good square turn, and would downshift another gear just to make sure I was ok with the rear tandems.

3) you are approaching a green light at about 40 MPH in the city. you need to turn right at the green light. what gear should you be in while taking this turn? for that matter, what's a good turning gear? At 40 mph you would be in 8th gear, and you would need to get down to 5th gear for the turn....in city traffic, I would be downshifting to 6th gear before the turn, and then use the brake with the shifter in neutral until I braked to 10 - 12 mph to shift into 5th and then hit the throttle. Remember though, you can turn shorter the slower you are going.....so if those right rear tandems are going to be close to the curb, you may want to downshift an extra gear or two. If the road you are turning onto is a 2 lane road, you will have a very tight turn and will need to gear down for that. If you are turning onto a 4 lane road, you will have more space to make the turn, but you will need to have clear traffic to use both lanes....at any event, take it slower to make a good turn....a bad turn with the tandems up on the curb loaded can give you more problems, like a flat.....or a traffice light pole that won't get out of your way!!!

yeah, it's really basic stuff but i'm getting kind of rusty on this common-sense stuff since i haven't driven for a bit and don't have much experience.
Click to expand...

Have fun, and you will always be learning as a rookie.

moloko · Mar 3, 2013

####, so many responses. i'll have to sift through them when i get a moment. thanks everybody. by the way, for sake of example it would be a 10 speed eaton fuller.

superpet39 · Mar 3, 2013

Moloko: before driving a rig for the first time, had you ever driven a stick?

moloko · Mar 3, 2013

superpet39 said: ↑

Moloko: before driving a rig for the first time, had you ever driven a stick?
Click to expand...

never drove a stick before truck school. then i learned on a 6 speed , then a 10 speed

superpet39 · Mar 3, 2013

aaaaaah that explains it, good luck btw, how much more time do you have in school, or did you get your cdl already

moloko · Mar 3, 2013

i already got my cdl, but the school i went to was complete ####e and didn't teach me a thing about being a 'truck driver'... in fact i did so horrible on my dmv test..the drive test lady was completely pissed off at my horrible skills. c'est la vie.

not to take this thread in a different direction but i see you're in the bay area. if you know of any companies/terminals that hire around there for local or ltl runs let me know ... i'm specifically looking at san jose. maybe private message me so we don't divert off topic

RAGE 18 · Mar 4, 2013

Low gears for a loaded truck always. Anything higher than 3rd and load is in danger of shifting or falling. If ur clutch is good 2nd gear off a stop is good

Log in or Sign up

Forums

Find Trucking Jobs

Downshifting and turning with 80k pounds

BoyWander Road Train Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

kern2008 Bobtail Member

windsmith Road Train Member

Pumpkin Oval Head Road Train Member

moloko Road Train Member

superpet39 Road Train Member

moloko Road Train Member

superpet39 Road Train Member

moloko Road Train Member

RAGE 18 Road Train Member

Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

Wait, employers can't reach you!

Log in or Sign up

Useful Searches

Find Trucking Jobs

Downshifting and turning with 80k pounds

BoyWander Road Train Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!

kern2008 Bobtail Member

windsmith Road Train Member

Pumpkin Oval Head Road Train Member

moloko Road Train Member

superpet39 Road Train Member

moloko Road Train Member

superpet39 Road Train Member

moloko Road Train Member

RAGE 18 Road Train Member

Wait, employers can't reach you!