Moving from auto to 10 speed manual

yes, i think too that it may "lessen" the chances of complacency in that you must shift, and pay attention. to drive an automatic (which i have many times) makes one (lazy) i think in looking out for problems ahead. you sorta "sit back" rather than sit upright, which can lull one into a false sense of security.

 

This is darn good advice. I own my own trucks and while I have driven standard pickups and tractors for nearly thirty years I had never driven a standard big truck. I took my CDL test in an auto. When I bought my Kenworth W900 with an 8LL I had no one to help me so I just hopped in and started grinding. The first hour of driving around was pretty pathetic but I picked it up pretty quickly doing just as SMD said. After a couple days of driving it I could hit all the gears just fine. I am no pro but after a week or so I felt confident and comfortable driving it. Just remember it is all about the RPMs. Don't use the clutch except when starting from or coming to a complete stop. Never try to force it in to gear. It will go in with finger pressure if the RPMs are right. If you are trying to go into a certain gear and it won't go lightly (as in one finger) push the shifter towards the gear and increase the RPMs until it drops in.

 

ok.....but now YOU OWN trucks...

ok, if they are all automatics, then no problem for you, eh..?

but if you have any sticks, would YOU HIRE a person that does not know how to shift, and grind YOUR gears, COSTING YOU MONEY IN HUGE REPAIRS..??

I think not, unless you're ultra rich, and don''t give a dam............

 

The school I went to had 18 speed manuals only so that's what I learned on. Personally I wouldn't have minded an auto for the first trip or 2 out in traffic, just to get comfortable with handling a tractor trailer in city traffic before throwing shifting into the mix. Driving a manual isn't that hard to pick up. As long as you don't panic and keep your cool you'll be alright. I don't know if it's been mentioned but if you're new to shifting, don't shift when making a turn. Grab a gear or 2 when you pull into the intersection and hold that gear while in the turn. Once you've straightened out, start grabbing gears again as needed. Just gives you one less thing to worry about so you can focus on making the turn.

 

What percentage of trucks on the road have automatic transmissions?

 

We have three trucks. One is a under CDL 26k dump with a synchronized standard that shifts just like a standard pickup, one is an under CDL 26k flatbed with an auto, and the Kenworth with an 8LL.

No I would not hire someone to learn how to drive a stick in my truck. That was not the point of my post. I was just trying to give some advice to OP about learning and that it shouldn't take him too long to pick it up should they give him the opportunity.

 

I dunno. I see many truckers with their air seats on the floor, arm straight up and drawing pictures on the head liner with the shifter knob. Not sure how they can even see over the steering wheel, much less look out for problems ahead.

Out of curiosity, how does driving a manual help with paying attention vs. an automatic when you're spending a couple of hours cruising in top gear on the Interstate?

 

Your right it doesn't take alot of skill to do that. On the other hand if your going to make a career out of it. Then a driver gets a better feel of a load/power/gear selection pulling hills. Another difference is driving off road in soft ground or goat trails in the mountains. You don't just mash a pedal. That's the difference between a monkey and a honest to god driver.

 

its easy. 9th at 45mph-14-16rpm, 8th 35mph 13-15rpm just memorise speed and rpm and float or d- clutch