Do you Rev to upshift or down shift?

Down shift. I don't shift going up or down steep grades which I think is what you're asking. 2nd gear.

 

Don't rev to upshift but I do rev to downshift. Flat ground and empty I start out in 4th gear. Skip fifth to sixth. That's on the 10 speed.

 

Exactly same here. To the OP, it's pretty hard to get it into gear on a downshift without revving.

 

I only rev if I missed it the first time.

 

Rev to downshift if not going uphill. If going uphill just wait till below 900 RPM then downshift. Start in 2 loaded heavy start 4 when MT.

 

Depends how heavy the load is that determines what gear you should be in when starting out on flat ground.If heavy I start in 3rd or 4th.Lite 5th or 6th

 

I only rev to go backwards!

Engine speed has to match road speed for them gears to go together. Gravity has a big effect. Going up hill you'll lose rpms quicker and will shift quicker. Going down hill you want to be in the right gear before you start your descent because the moment you pop it out of gear your road speed is going to increase quicker than your downshifting. Then when you miss the gear your speed will gain to the point of no return. It's kind of hard to slow down a freight train on rubber tires.

You can go down a hill too slow a thousand times. You can go down a hill too fast only one time. That or crap your pants!

Once you learn it's a piece of cake. Know your equipment and treat it accordingly. You have nothing to prove by being the fastest one down a hill. That just shows inexperience.

 

Some depends on the truck. I have a Cat that likes to shift at 1300 rpm. if i down shift i rev lightly to 1300 and it drops right in. Upshifting i shift at 1500and dont pull back in to the gear untill it hits 1300, again drops right in no problem. Just had to find my engines happy place.

 

You will notice different engines react to up/down shifts differently. I used to drive a small c12 cat that I would shift around 1350-1400, now at this job I usually drive a s60 Detroit and it likes to scream so I shift much higher otherwise I get a nice "errrr" grind to remind me. Learn to listen to the engine and you will hear it ask you for either an upshift or downshift, again depends on the engine but usually for a downshift I let it drop below 10-9 rpm and give it a 350-400 rpm bump. I start in 2nd (I can't stand the guys at my job who start in 4th loaded and slip the clutch!!) If I am empty I start in 4th and no higher, occasionally if I am on a downhill 5th or if I am bobtailing. You should be able to slowly come off the clutch without giving it any fuel at all, thats how I was taught. Oh and please, please, please, use your clutch brake when you come to a dead stop and need to get it into gear again. I hate hearing the forced clunk sound when a truck is getting ready to roll.