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Automatic will not go into gear during test

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Joe3301955, Oct 30, 2011.

Page 1 of 4
  1. Oct 30, 2011 #1
    Joe3301955

    Joe3301955 Bobtail Member

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    Oct 30, 2011
    Cleveland, Ohio
    0
    I am enrolled in a truck driving school. I have been to the state testing site twice. The school will only let us test in the Freightliner with the automatic transmission. Both times during the parking maneuvers, when I change gears from D to R or R to D the truck will not move. The engine acts like the transmission is in neutral. The air pressure in the brake system always reads above 100 pounds, and I am always fully stopped when shifting gears. I tried pushing the clutch to the floor when shifting out of gear and again when shifting in to gear. When this happens during testing, in the middle of a parking maneuver, I need suggestions of how to get the truck to move! The instructors have been of no help on this problem.
     
    Joe3301955, Oct 30, 2011
    Joe3301955, Oct 30, 2011
    #1
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  3. Oct 30, 2011 #2
    KiloByte

    KiloByte Bobtail Member

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    Sep 12, 2011
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    Did they fail you on the spot for this reason? How did the school's driver get the truck back into gear after the test? If they're not helping you then I'd take it up with the school's management.
     
    KiloByte, Oct 30, 2011
    KiloByte, Oct 30, 2011
    #2
  4. Oct 30, 2011 #3
    gravdigr

    gravdigr Road Train Member

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    keep in mind if you test in an auto you will have a restriction on your cdl and not be permitted to drive a standard shift truck.
     
    gravdigr, Oct 30, 2011
    gravdigr, Oct 30, 2011
    #3
  5. Oct 30, 2011 #4
    Eaton18

    Eaton18 Road Train Member

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    Sep 3, 2011
    Waverly, KS
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    Not 100% true. This also depends on if they (DMV) knows if the school also instructs in manual-shift trucks. The school I'm attending, we have both. The auto-shift is used for backing maneuvers, and testing, the manual, a 10spd, for highway driving and shifting. So far there have been no such restrictions placed upon any of the graduating students having passed the DMV tests and received their CDLs. I will add this is in Kansas, so may be different in other states .
     
    Eaton18, Oct 30, 2011
    Eaton18, Oct 30, 2011
    #4
  7. Oct 30, 2011 #5
    THBatMan8

    THBatMan8 Road Train Member

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    Feb 13, 2011
    Wherever I park
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    Nope. What you take the road test in is what pops up on your CDL. Why a school would train you in a manual and test you in a automatic makes no sense at all.
     
    THBatMan8, Oct 30, 2011
    THBatMan8, Oct 30, 2011
    #5
    mtnMoma Thanks this.
  8. Oct 30, 2011 #6
    Eaton18

    Eaton18 Road Train Member

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    Sep 3, 2011
    Waverly, KS
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    Well whatever you think.... I'll have the definitive answer tomorrow. Not only from the school's owner, who was a DMV examiner, but also from the current DMV examiner. I know that the students that have tested did not have an auto restriction. Did you also read the little disclaimer... This is in Kansas..... It might be the case in other states. Heck I've found that the tests from one DMV office to the next, here in Kansas differ. You may get all the backing maneuvers, or just a parallel park blind side, and alley-dock, or just an alley dock, an off-set and straight-line. But I'm 99.999% certain that they will not place the auto-shift restriction on your license. If I'm wrong, I'll be sure to post that too...
     
    Eaton18, Oct 30, 2011
    Eaton18, Oct 30, 2011
    #6
  9. Oct 30, 2011 #7
    Joe3301955

    Joe3301955 Bobtail Member

    4
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    Oct 30, 2011
    Cleveland, Ohio
    0
    If you let the truck set for a couple of minutes idling, it will go into gear. Or shut off, one instructor told me they shut the truck off for 14 minutes before it would go into gear. Bear in mind, this is during a timed parking test, so I am completely flustered after a no gear incident. In Ohio, the automatic restriction does not go into effect until January 2012.
     
    Joe3301955, Oct 30, 2011
    Joe3301955, Oct 30, 2011
    #7
  10. Oct 30, 2011 #8
    Eaton18

    Eaton18 Road Train Member

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    Waverly, KS
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    I had something similar happen to me the other day, the digital gear lights just sat there flashing. Had to shut it off, only waited a few seconds, then bumped the starter. Shut it off, and then it restarted in neutral.

    What I was told by the instructor, don't try to go from drive to reverse (or vice-versa), without stopping/pausing in neutral. Go from drive to neutral, let it accept that, then on to reverse.
     
    Eaton18, Oct 30, 2011
    Eaton18, Oct 30, 2011
    #8
  11. Oct 30, 2011 #9
    Pumpkin Oval Head

    Pumpkin Oval Head Road Train Member

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    Jun 24, 2010
    Scranton PA
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    I am hijacking this thread for a moment....I have a bulging disc in my neck and I can no longer move the shift lever without causing increasing pain to myself. Wondering what companies are going to the Ultra Shift trucks. My brother has one and I could drive it ok with no increase in pain.

    thx.
     
    Pumpkin Oval Head, Oct 30, 2011
    Pumpkin Oval Head, Oct 30, 2011
    #9
  12. Oct 30, 2011 #10
    Eaton18

    Eaton18 Road Train Member

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    Sep 3, 2011
    Waverly, KS
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    The only 2 that I know of around here are Maverick and TransAm.
     
    Eaton18, Oct 30, 2011
    Eaton18, Oct 30, 2011
    #10
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