Con Way Truckload

So How did you do? Enquiring minds want to know.

For what it is worth, the trucks at my school are, shall we say, not new. The way I look at it.... if I can drive these, I can drive anything hehehehehe. Well, almost anything.......

 

Scooterdawg, good to see you back my man. Just got back from my physical and got my 2 year card and better yet my B/P reading was 110/72!!!!!!!!!!!!. Geesh, got that behind me. I will be looking for your update hopefully today bud.

 

Good for you SI.

It's all upward and forward from here! Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Getting ready to post now....

 

My day went pretty well.Every time I skipped a gear I rebounded quickly.For the most part shifted correctly though.Downshifting was no problem also.We didn't go up or down big grades like I though we would.Just little hills.There was once incident where I was making a left turn into a plaza and the truck turned off on me.Blocking traffic and I kept pulling off the clutch too fast so I let the instructor take over.Wasn't that embarrased.But I made a big mistake on the way back.As I'm completing my left turn,my instructor wants to make another left into a empty parking lot.I see there's no oncoming traffic so I start my turn.My trainers starts yelling no!no!I'm like there's no traffic so I keep turning.He yells look at your trailer in the mirror!My trailer is about to sideswipe a pickup!So we drive up on a sidewalk,#### near hit a couple signs just not to hit the pickup.Very embarrassing.He preaches as always watch your trailer as you make a turn.Should be common sense but that's how it is when your used to a chevy.

 

At least you made it back though ok. Even though it was a little embarrassing I bet you will remember to look in your mirrors more now. Keep it up! I'm sure things will get easier.

 

OK, so I shouldn't be laughing, and I know it, so I am not. But I had something similar almost happen to me. I have sort of developed a phrase that works pretty good for me. I simply say, "Hey, at least I didn't run over any nuns"..... and it puts it all into perspective. In fact, we (a few of us) at school have sort of adopted the the concept where the orange cones in the yard are nuns.... and as long as you don't hit any, it's all good.

It'll get better Chevy. Treat her like a lady, but YOU are the boss! Drive that truck.... don't let her drive you!

 

That is a funny but yet helpful way to look at it Scooter. Thanks!!!

Hey does Conway have a flatbed division and does anyone know anything about it?

 

Only if you drive very quickly under a low underpass.... but your employment in that division would be short-lived.......

hehehehehe

 

Scooter I tried treating her like a lady,but like a lady she started talking back to me.Let's say I'm coming to a red light, then while I hit the brake it turns green.It's like a black out not knowing what to do.She starts talking back to me you letting me know she aint shifting till I downshift correctly.I remember one time I was in 8th and I hit the little switch on the stick down and tried to downshift to 3rd.He's like there's no way can do that.Just downshift one gear.That's my only problem.That and when it's time to down shift and make a turn I just turn retarted.

 

OK Chevy -

First off, let me preface by saying that I am by no means an expert. What I am going to tell you is what works for me, ok?

When I am approaching a light, I am watching it closely, and checking my mirrors. I get her into 6th gear and ride in at a steady pace. I am rolling somewhere right between 30-40 mph. The longer the light stays green, the more is slow down. When I get to 30, I am ready to shift to 5th. That gives me the ability to stop without panic. If I know it is going to change, I clutch into neutral, put my shifter in front of 5th, rev (smoothly and evenly) up to 1500 rpm, slightly depress clutch, and the shifter falls right in. Then I let the downshift slow me down. Understand, I am doing this from a little ways away from the light. Then if the light changes back to green before I get there, I have the power to pull out. If it doesn't, bring it to a full stop, then shift to 2nd, 3rd, or wherever you need to be.

Look at the tach. Low rpm on a gear is 1000-1100 rpm, high rpm on a gear is 1500. And the truck knows that. If you are upshifting, you run the engine up to 1500, then shift, putting it in the next gear by the time the engine drops to 1100 rpm. When you are downshifting, let the engine throttle down to 1000-1100, clutch to neutral, run the engine up to 1500, clutch the gear in at 1500. Remember, you are working through the range of the gear. if you are upshifting, you are starting at the bottom of the range and working upthen shifting to the next gear. When you are downshifting, you are starting at the top of the gear's range and letting it ride down to 1000-1100, clutch in, rev to 1500, clutch next lower gear in.

Listen to her.... she's talking to you.... and watch the tach.... And never shift in a turn until you get good at the other. You might end up having to come to a full stop if you miss it.

I know it sounds complicated, but think about it, and read this again if you need to. This is how I figured it out. Now like I said, I am not the best in the world at this, but this thought process worked it out for me. And use a soft touch. The harder you push or pull that shift knob, the more resistance you'll have dropping it in gear. My instructor showed me that, and he was absolutely correct. Little pressure is needed on the shifter.

You'll get it... you're a smart cookie!