Change in Transmission ?

OK, here is a simple break down on the 9 speed, 13 speed, and 18 speed,
On a 9 speed, you got 10 gears, 9 foreward, 1 reverse, Gear #1 is kind of a granny gear,you will most likely never use, looks kind of like this
LOW HIGH
R-2-4 6-8
1-3-5 7-9
On a 13, it the exact same, but you spilt each of the high side, adding 4 more gears, and on the 18, It's also the exact same, but you split the low side and the high side, if you learn on an 18, you will be able to drive any of the three, A 10 speeds not much different than a 9, so, you should be ok on that as well, hope this helped

 

That's nice and all, but again..... the OP is attending a driving school and my message remains the same for him. Concentrate on what the school is teaching, get good at that. Play around with floating later.

I live in Sorrento but I was born and brought up in Atlantic Canada. Think 10-14% grades, 115K gross, 238-300 HP and lots of gears. My "kindergarten" truck was a twin stick R model Mack. Learned all about shifting real fast. Like I said, I've seen the insides of many a tranny and the results of "cowboying". I know about knees too, had both of mine crushed when I was 21 and these days they hurt like hell. S'why I'm hot and cold about our fleet going to automatic. My head and heart don't trust the computer but my knees are smiling.

 

My transmission is a super 10 so half the gears are floated right off the bat anyways.

 

If allowed try slipping your shoes off. If not wear a very flexible soled shoe. Your right foot is the brains of the shifting operation, so give it a chance to learn.

 

I concur with kittyfoot. Keep the horse in front of the cart. You shouldn't even be thinking about floating gears yet. Learn the ground basics, because that's how you pass the driving test.

Sounds like that instructor ain't with the program. Once you get on the road, let the road trainer teach you how to float once they are satisfied with your double clutching. That's like these schools teaching in automatics.

 

Actually I was responding to your comments, and in no way was I suggesting OP challenge his training.

I never suggested "cowboying", nor am I concerned about my knees (At least not yet). I did go play in our 49th state a while years before IRT, admittedly in the summer and fall, and they had a few good grades there and in route there. After the Mississippi-Alabama tornado outbreak I did some volunteer runs of supplies for the Salvation Army Using their truck which was an automatic (My first experience with an auto). It felt a bit unusual, for some reason especially when backing, but nothing good or bad, so I guess I could be considered hot and cold about them also, but I guess I would give the edge to shifting. It just ain't truck driving if ya ain't shifting . BTW, good to meet you!

 

The only time I personally double clutch is when I'm downshifting up a hill loaded or sometimes when i don't feel like floating which is when i'm coming up to a red light on an incline loaded.

I'm either empty or pushing 80,000 or slightly over... When you get paid by the weight you get as heavy as you can .

 

dont float gears while in training,your instructer might fail you or atleast yell at you,you need to show him you can double clutch.the floating of gears you'll do that when out on your own after cdl school