Please help coming to a stop and starting

Gear down slowly and then clutch and brake before she gets all shuddery on ya.

If you brake only, in gear, you're going to be a big bunny hop hop hop, oops, sorry about your school bus - where's my carrots?

 

YUP what he said brakes til it shakes then clutch and stop.

 

After braking and clutching, and as you are rolling to a stop, get the shifter into neutral and then shift into the gear you want start out in, just as you are rolling to a stop. You may need to pop the throttle a bit if you are rolling too fast for it to right into gear. What gear? If you are empty you can start out in 3rd gear. I would expect you to be empty on a test drive.

 

Don't forget to look both ways before crossing the street, gentle on the clutch, and you will do fine. It will all come back to you once you are in that driver's seat.

 

I actually believe that when you are new at driving you should try to downshift down to the gear you intend to start back out in before you stop. I believe you should try to get into second gear then clutch in and brake. It will help you learn, will be easier to start bsck off the line snd show the tester you have control of the truck. The guy that trained me made me cycle all way down to first one gear at a time every time we stopped. I think it helped me a great deal. Just one of many views, you will get. Good luck!

 

Yes - cycle down to the gear you'll be starting in. If you're out of gear when you stop it'll be grindy getting in.

And footsy on brake till you're ready to go again.

If instructor is real picky he may want you in neutral, stopped, park brake set . . . I wouldn't think so though.

 

A driving test with a company is very different from a driving test for you CDL. If you are to the point of a Company driving test, they are working with you to get you hired. If you take the truck out of gear on a state exam that is an automatic fail for being out of control of your vehicle. Not so on a company exam. A lot of drivers do that. Downshifting is correct but sometimes it is not necessary. The important thing is come to a complete stop and do not let your truck roll back. Coming off an interstate if use of the Jake Brakes are allowed, do so. Also, if the test has a cloverleaf type on or off ramp make sure you are going at least 5 miles under the posted speed limit sign for that curve. Trucks tip over and they do fall down.

Starting out it is important to start in a low gear. Not necessarily 1st but don't start in 4th. Let the clutch out slowly and DO NOT USE THE ACCELERATOR until the truck is moving. Do not shift while going over a railroad track.

 

Do not floor the clutch unless the truck is dead stop. clutch brake will not hold the weight of the truck, just a little clutch.

Also when you take off, no throttle till the clutch is completely engaged and your moving.