Don't Know How to Stick Shift, Problem During Trucking School?

Don't worry, I had no experience shifting either. It was much better that way, as said above by others. You'll do fine.

 

You'll probably be better off anyway... driving a truck with 1650+ ft/lbs of torque and an unsynchronized transmission is WAY different than driving a small car with 130 ft/lbs and a clutch that has less resistance than the throttle in a big truck. I learned to drive a manual transmission on my first pickup which was an old Dodge diesel, and have only driven diesel vehicles since then. I can't drive a small car with a gas engine and a manual transmission to save my life.

 

This. Right here.

 

So on the flip-side: If you can drive a big truck could you figure out a regular manual relatively easy - knowing it's not the same?



I for one have driven stick in a pickup truck but it's been a while. I'd probably be able to pick it up again in a few blocks.

 

You'll do fine. Like these other drivers said. Not having experience means no bad habits to break.

That said...you will likely learn and do 99% of your training driving an empty trailer. When you start pulling a loaded trailer, you'll see a huge difference, especially in the lower gears, so be careful not to make any absolute rules like 3rd = 5-10mph, 4th = 10-15mph, etc... You can use loose guidelines to help you remember at first, but keep in mind that it will change based on load, horsepower, gearing (10 vs 13, 18) grade, etc...

The most important things to me....even more important than getting the gears right, are following distance and braking time. Do not let yourself be pushed by vehicles behind you or feel like you have to keep up with anybody. The safety of you and your truck always come first. The safety of everyone else will follow it.

 

Shifting up/down shifts is part of training. Not to worry, those Eaton Fullers are bomb-proof. Almost.

 

This has already been said but you'll probably be better off, as was stated you'll have no bad habits to break. Driving stick in a car vs a big rigs total opposites.

A good friend of mine owns a local cdl school and he says the best students are the ones who can't drive a stick.

 

If you have no idea whatsoever as I tell new guys on roadranger here just peruse some great tutorials available on youtube and that way you do not feel that you are going in blind so to speak.