Double clutching putting my new career in jeopardy

pattyj · Oct 1, 2017

DallasRT said: ↑

I need some advice. I started Roehl last Monday in their Get Your CDL program and I'm having difficulty getting the grasp of double clutching. It's bottlenecking my performance and giving my instructor the perception I'm too much of a nervous wreck to operate a semi.

I'll be the first to admit that double clutching makes me nervous. The thought of, "what if I can't progressively downshift in time for a red light or what if a car cuts in front of me," constantly swirls in my mind as I'm driving and makes me tense to the point I neglect things like checking the mirrors enough.

I've driven a stick shift many years of my life. I was hauling my grandparent's travel trailer in the mountains of Colorado with a manual F150 before I even graduated high school. I know it's the not the same as commanding a 73-foot, 40-ton rig, but the point I'm trying to stress is that the road doesn't scare me, and that I'm perfectly capable of adapting to stressful situations and driving safely. I'd estimate I've driven 300k miles in my life, never had an accident and have received only one ticket.

But last Friday, I still hadn't grasped double clutching a ten speed. And I had a one-on-one with my instructor, where he cordially told me to give some thought over the weekend as to wether this was the right career for me or not. Additionally I was told that if I didn't perform better on Monday before noon, he would have to speak to his boss to figure out what to do with me. So yea, I'm scared.

His primary concern is observed nervousness. It's mentioned repeatedly. He has said he doesn't doubt that I have the skill, but things will only continue to go downhill if I don't control my nervousness. But I only feel nervous because I feel the part I'm failing at is the most integral part of CMV operation, that is double clutching. It's so frustrating, because I invested so much time preparing myself for this job (practicing backing with a farm trailer, using Truck Simulator with VR headset to practice backing and repeatedly watching pre-trip videos). Had I known this dang double clutching would be such a barrier, I would have found a way to get some experience with it before setting foot at the terminal.

I've got my pre-trip down good (I think I would pass if the test were today, though I need to brush up on in-cabin) and have done a decent job with straight line backing. I don't feel like I'm as far behind as has been suggested. I still instinctively try to turn too early with the trailer attached, but I'm getting the hang of it and not worried about that choking my performance. Though I made progress with it, I'm still making silly mistakes like downshifting when I should have upshifted or forgetting to use the splitter. I usually know the instant I make a mistake, and can identify it.

I WANT to be a truck driver. It wasn't an overnight decision. I've wanted to do this for a year now. I'm younger than the average driver, but that doesn't mean I haven't done my homework or that I'm any less serious.

It just tears me up. I don't feel entitled to this career, but I know I'll be an asset once I can get double clutching down and free my mind up to focus more on driving than the actual mechanics of shifting. I respect my instructor's concern and try to take it to heart.

Any advice would be appreciated. Wether it's tips on double clutching or perspective into what I should do in my situation. Tomorrow begins my second week of training and I hopefully the rest I've gotten over the weekend will enable me to perform better tomorrow.

Thanks
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Go to school early and practice your shifting ,study the gears.

brsims · Oct 1, 2017

DallasRT said: ↑

Dallas actually
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Well rats. I don't know any of the instructors down there.

natedizel · Oct 1, 2017

"semi" retired said: ↑

If your "trainer" is telling you to find a different profession, get a different trainer. That's a terrible thing for a trainer to say. If he is basing that solely on your nervousness, forget about the double clutch for a while, that's baloney. You have the will to succeed at this, and all you need is a bit more "seat time". It is intimidating, but it's like anything, you'll only get better. With all the automatics out there these days, I can't believe a trainer would make a big deal about the double clutch. It's really not needed, and I think you're putting too much into it. If you aren't getting it, you're probably too slow, as a double clutch is a fast thing, almost like "pumping" the clutch pedal. I wouldn't even do that, except with slow road speed and a heavy load. You can match the gears without doing that, kind of ride the gear with the lever, you'll feel when the gears can mesh. Really, if you want to do this, go back and give 'er heck. In 6 months, you'll be a pro.
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If a trainer put that crap in my mind I would prove them wrong the rest of their lives. How dare someone try to make me quit or give up something...

sealevel · Oct 1, 2017

Scooter Jones said: ↑

Double clutching is an old archaic method of driving a big rig. After I passed my CDL driving test 9 years ago, I never utilized that method again, even while on the truck with my company trainer.

As an owner operator now, my shifting consists of pushing in the D or R button on the dash and giving it fuel.

Shifting gears isn't all it's cracked up to be
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You truly take slamming doors and licking windows to a whole new level. Lol

sealevel · Oct 1, 2017

DallasRT said: ↑

I need some advice. I started Roehl last Monday in their Get Your CDL program and I'm having difficulty getting the grasp of double clutching. It's bottlenecking my performance and giving my instructor the perception I'm too much of a nervous wreck to operate a semi.

I'll be the first to admit that double clutching makes me nervous. The thought of, "what if I can't progressively downshift in time for a red light or what if a car cuts in front of me," constantly swirls in my mind as I'm driving and makes me tense to the point I neglect things like checking the mirrors enough.

I've driven a stick shift many years of my life. I was hauling my grandparent's travel trailer in the mountains of Colorado with a manual F150 before I even graduated high school. I know it's the not the same as commanding a 73-foot, 40-ton rig, but the point I'm trying to stress is that the road doesn't scare me, and that I'm perfectly capable of adapting to stressful situations and driving safely. I'd estimate I've driven 300k miles in my life, never had an accident and have received only one ticket.

But last Friday, I still hadn't grasped double clutching a ten speed. And I had a one-on-one with my instructor, where he cordially told me to give some thought over the weekend as to wether this was the right career for me or not. Additionally I was told that if I didn't perform better on Monday before noon, he would have to speak to his boss to figure out what to do with me. So yea, I'm scared.

His primary concern is observed nervousness. It's mentioned repeatedly. He has said he doesn't doubt that I have the skill, but things will only continue to go downhill if I don't control my nervousness. But I only feel nervous because I feel the part I'm failing at is the most integral part of CMV operation, that is double clutching. It's so frustrating, because I invested so much time preparing myself for this job (practicing backing with a farm trailer, using Truck Simulator with VR headset to practice backing and repeatedly watching pre-trip videos). Had I known this dang double clutching would be such a barrier, I would have found a way to get some experience with it before setting foot at the terminal.

I've got my pre-trip down good (I think I would pass if the test were today, though I need to brush up on in-cabin) and have done a decent job with straight line backing. I don't feel like I'm as far behind as has been suggested. I still instinctively try to turn too early with the trailer attached, but I'm getting the hang of it and not worried about that choking my performance. Though I made progress with it, I'm still making silly mistakes like downshifting when I should have upshifted or forgetting to use the splitter. I usually know the instant I make a mistake, and can identify it.

I WANT to be a truck driver. It wasn't an overnight decision. I've wanted to do this for a year now. I'm younger than the average driver, but that doesn't mean I haven't done my homework or that I'm any less serious.

It just tears me up. I don't feel entitled to this career, but I know I'll be an asset once I can get double clutching down and free my mind up to focus more on driving than the actual mechanics of shifting. I respect my instructor's concern and try to take it to heart.

Any advice would be appreciated. Wether it's tips on double clutching or perspective into what I should do in my situation. Tomorrow begins my second week of training and I hopefully the rest I've gotten over the weekend will enable me to perform better tomorrow.

Thanks
Click to expand...

There is almost no advice that can solve nerves. You can drive and you know it. Just relax and drive the truck. Do not let nerves, the truck, or the person grading you drive you. Don't try to down shift too much. Leave yourself plenty of space and down shift only when needed. Space gives you time to think and plan. Above all have confidence in yourself. They are most likely more concerned with your confidence than your actual skills. It takes time. Again don't try to down shift too much and space is everything.

Badmon · Oct 1, 2017

i mean if its only the first week i mean cripes.... don't be so hard on yourself screw the instructor

DanDeMan · Oct 1, 2017

Relax when you drive. Watch the attached video. I watched the backing video series and they where a big help. Helped me grasp the concept better then my instructors.

DallasRT · Oct 1, 2017

Guys, thank you all for the wonderful advice, but please don't show disrespect to my instructor. I get it, don't let him or any other person for that matter get to me while I'm driving. But I posted this to resolve problems *I'm* having and not to blame anyone. Thank you.

sealevel · Oct 1, 2017

Oh and I forgot. Don't give up know matter what happens with this perspective employer. Soon enough you will be downshifting with 8" straight stacks and full Jake at 3am through the truck stop waking everyone up. Even those clowns had to learn at some point. And they sure are proud of it.

A21CAV · Oct 1, 2017

The trick with double clutch shifting up or down is timing and the most common mistake is trying to shift too fast. Google the Adams Family theme song. The finger snap in the song is the timing you need. First snap bump the clutch pedal and shift out of gear...pause...second snap shift into gear. No throttle on upshifts and no wild rev on downshift.

Truck transmissions do not have synchronized gears like the standard transmissions you've driven before and that muscle memory is what's causing you problems now. Slow down both your hands and your feet.

Frank

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