Coming to a stop during road test.

His point was that if you're down in 1st gear, you are generally doing slow maneuvering, so letting the truck idle is not a bad idea. It's also not a good idea, as idle rpms are generally slightly below the 'green zone'. New drivers have a tendency to run the rpms up to 1400-1500 as they're doing slow maneuvers in 1st gear which is just as bad as idling along as far as the engine/transmission/drive train is concerned, not to mention fuel economy. Under most circumstances it is possible to "idle shift" from 1st to second. I never used 1st gear unless I was starting on a hill, so idle shifting would have been a bad idea. Same with downshifting into 1st - if I needed first circumstances usually dictated that coming to a complete stop was either required by law or just a smart decision. However it is very easy to downshift into first - just not practical most of the time.

 

You think too much. Dive the truck as yoou would. If its a sudden stop dont bother trying to downshift. I fyou know its an up coming intersection. Down shift once and be prepared to stop if it turns yellow. USe your head. You wont get failed if you dont downshift.

 

You're allowed to clutch-coast the length of your tractor-trailer. You're not allowed to coast in neutral (out of gear). Whatever gear you are in as you come in to stop, while stopped, it is easy to get it into any other gear you need to take off again. Nothing in the book says you have to be in a specific gear to approach your stop. Sometimes there just isn't enough space and time to downshift too many gears.

 

I brake and run the throttle at the same time with one foot. If I've got time to brake, I've got time to downshift. Those downshifts might not be sequential in a case like that, though. And I'm not even that good at this stuff.

 

Yes I do that too sometimes. I went out for a test drive with my boss, he didn't like me downshifting up to stops so much. Said it put too much stress on the drivetrain. I drove the way he wanted so I would get hired, I recommend driving the way the tester wants for the same reason.

 

LOL. Just wait until he finds out how much stress going forward puts on the drivetrain!

 

Very bad advice! It is an automatic failure of the CDL road test in Pennsylvania (the state the OP asked about) if you do not downshift as you come to a stop for any reason. When we administer the road test it is a failure if a light change suprises you and you can't downshift, it is failure to control your vehicle if you coast more than a truck length out of gear. The only exception an examiner may make is if it is a panic stop to avoid a crash due to someone pulling out in front of you or similar situation.

Also bad advice to just drive it how you would, the CDL exam has very specific criteria we score an applicant on. Drive it by the book for the exam then afterwards I don't care how you do it as long as you don't hit and kill someone.

 

Any gear is better than coasting..........

 

I think you need to anticipate your stop earlier, don't be in a hurry when you drive, Take your time it not a race. It is about operating safely and smoothly, never coast, period. Remember then RPM split between gear, slowdown before you down shift, down shifting is not to slow you down it is something you do after you have already slowed down, slow down till your tac indicates say 900 rip'um, clutch, bring um up to say 1400 and slide it gently into the next gear down. Knock of the rushing it never works when you rush it.