started my course today, wow

Its interesting, because when I went to trucking school through Central Refrigerated, they required that we use the clutch and told us to never ever ever EVER float if we can help it lol :') I guess every place is different, but because I learned early on to use the clutch, that's all I do. I have floated every once in a while but its still a very awkward procedure for me I think all in all, you'll get the feel of it, and the more you drive the truck (with or without the clutch) you'll start to get the hang of it. I tend to be a very anxious, nervous sort of person, and it took me a few months to really feel comfortable with driving that big metal monster Anyway, good luck in your course, listen to your instructors, practice safe driving more than the mechanics of it all, and I'm sure you'll do just fine.

 

I had to double clutch in school niw i float its a lot easyer for me if im empty i up shift around 12-1300 rpm when loaded i go up to about 1600 or so down shifting not to bad get the rpms to around 10-1200 pull it out rev her up a little and their ya go and i dont down shift pased 6th it get to jumpy, but i drive a 10spd keep posted how yoh doing but most places make u double clutch for yor drive test i cant use it anymore just to stop and go.

 

Wow.. they had you out on the streets on day one... The school I went to was at a slower pace..
e did eventually learn to double clutch, float and split gears...

 

some companies want to do progressive shifting. I drive a 13spd I shift low gears 1000-1100 the high gears 1200-1300. its hand eye coordination. the more you do it the better you will get. it took me 2 wks to learn how to drive a 13spd. if you aim for lower rpms it will be a lot better. when you get hired on to a company they will tell you that what they taught you in school was wrong. you think its hard now. just wait till you get in a city during morning and afternoon traffic. when all the idots that's driving 4 wheels think your in their way. hang in there you will get it right be glad your learning on a 13spd. that way if you go to a company that have a 10spd or 8spd you will have it down pact.

 

Your right foot is the key to your survival. The throttle belongs to you and you don't give up control for anything. Always control the rpm, never just lift your foot off and let it fall, and hope you can jam into gear as it flies by the rpm you want. Slow and deliberate, controlled movements. Same gearing down, let off just enough to get out of gear, then smoothly bring the revs up. If you push it in toward the next gear, just slightly before it's going to grind, you can kind of feel the gears almost bumping each other. When they reach the proper rpm it feels like a gate just opened, and it just falls into place.

 

As dieselwrangler noted, make your foot movements on the accelerator pedal very small. Next time you get behind the wheel, before you put it in gear, practice bringing the rpm's up to 1500 and back to 1000. You will notice that those points are only about 1/4 to 1/3 the way into the throttle. You don't have to move your foot very far to reach those points.

Next, shifting is all about rhythm. If shifting up then start backing off on the throttle to get it out of gear, then LIGHTLY push it into the next gear in a "ONE and a TWO" rhythm.

Finally, you should SOFTLY nudge the shifter into the new gear while making very slight movements with the throttle. You should feel it simply fall into the gear on its own. If you are pushing it into the gear then that is what creates problems, you panic, overrev the rpm's, and then you are lost and grinding away.

Regarding testing at your DMV, I'm almost certain they will require double clutching. I'm surprised your instructor is having you float from the beginning.

 

Man , this guy is going about training you ###- backwards.....sure you will eventually be floating the transmission , we all do...but you MUST LEARN TO DOUBLE-CLUTCH.....1ST. Most companies require you to use the clutch on their road tests.....If I were you , I would demand to be taught the true BASICS.....He isn't doing you any service by taking such a short-cut...not at all.

 

Yup........