Clutch, When at a red light do you wait in neutral or in gear?

Depends on the light. If it is a fast light, I stay in gear, clutched. If it is a long light, I will stay out of gear until I see the cross traffic light turn yellow, then I get into gear and clutch in.

 

You can look it up yourself if you know how to use Google... it's in the FMCSR.

 

I have never heard of anyone getting a ticket for this. What key word search did you use on the fmcsa site, as I am not finfing anything???

 

It is not listed as a serious or major violation on the serch I did on the FMCSA site. In fact, in the multiple searches I did, nothing showed up.

 

My opinion and that of every training school and the FMCSA, always in gear. If you are out of gear, you are not in control of your vehicle.

 

The primary problem is it is virtually impossible to prove a negative. I could come in these forums and say the FMCSA requires fuel tanks to be painted pink! Unless you can find a regulation that clearly states otherwise all you can do is say that is wrong but can't "prove it". I used a silly example because it is cut and dry. However, the confusion starts when it is not so cut and dry. Of course, there is no such regulation. I have searched ALL of title 49 CFR for the words using a boolean search. There "might" be some state regulations, but that is a state thing.

 

Well to heck with the FMCSA...try this one on for size. Put a new driver in the seat with a DOT certifying official license tester. Have the Newbie take the truck out of gear at a red light and wait for it to turn green....then put it back in gear and go forward. See what happens! Or better yet, take it out of gear and coast to a red light. See what happens! The Newbie will fail! That's all I'm saying and not trying to start a stick measuring contest.

 

At the risk of starting a stick measuring contest, unless it is a clear violation of the law it would be improper for an examiner to fail someone being tested for doing that. I would be most interested in seeing these regulations.

 

That is for the cdl test.....and you are quite right. But it is not illegal for you or me to sit at a stop light in neutral. As long as we have a foot on the brakes at a light, we are in control of the vehicle, and in compliance with fmcsa rules.

 

The proper way is in gear clutch and brake down