do schools teach you to shift gears?

Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by slmr85, May 18, 2012.

  1. littlelugger

    littlelugger Bobtail Member

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    May 17, 2012
    Daphne, Alabama
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    Still a itty bitty baby when it comes to learning this but I go to a school and we started learning the correct way to shift today.

    I would imagine that any school that is geared towards teaching someone how to drive then yea, they gotta teach how to drive a standard and/or automatic.

    Still a big time newbie though and only got info on this one school so I could be wrong.
     
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  3. BigRigBamaTrucker

    BigRigBamaTrucker Light Load Member

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    Dec 22, 2010
    Prattville,Alabama
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    littlelugger,

    which school are you looking at?
     
  4. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    Sioux City,ia
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    If a school don't teach shifting you better ask for your money back,lol.
     
  5. Rick_C

    Rick_C Light Load Member

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    Mar 11, 2012
    Denver, CO
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    One school I visited stated they do most of the practice and road driving using 10-speeds and use automatics for the CDL driving test with the thought that the test is stressful enough without having to worry about double-clutching.
     
  6. BeepBeep

    BeepBeep Bobtail Member

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    Apr 14, 2012
    Phoenix, AZ
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    That's actually illegal, I believe, unless you're getting a manual transmission restriction on your license. And shame on them if they can't teach the students to shift well enough on test day.

    http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=383.95
     
  7. Rick_C

    Rick_C Light Load Member

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    Mar 11, 2012
    Denver, CO
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  8. jet460

    jet460 Heavy Load Member

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    Modesto, Ca
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    Yes, any school that has trucks will teach you how to shift.
    Some schools train on autos, 6 speeds, 10 speeds, etc.
    The more gears, the better.
    I was terrified the first day of driving.
    It got easier day by day.
    I just completed my second week of driver training, and can shift just fine now.
    It's all about RPM's and road speed.
    You will be fine.
     
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  9. dloving8915

    dloving8915 Light Load Member

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    Sep 18, 2010
    Dallas, Texas
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    My wife "learned" with a truck rented from a company called CDL Help. It was in an automatic truck with a 20 ft pup trailer! She took her road test at DPS with the same truck. Texas is a double clutch state as well, but they did not concern themselves about that. After getting her license she went otr with swift with a trainer and that is where she learned to drive a standard.

    On the other side, I went to a school here in Dallas they only had 10 speeds and I was taught to double clutch. We learned to shift on a frontage road in South Dallas, he should do fine!
     
  10. durallymax

    durallymax Medium Load Member

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    Some people like to pride themselves in their gear shifting YouTube videos dragging the overcomplicated video on forever. Really, its simple. Learn the 9 and 10spd patterns and the rest is just extra .

    My test also required double clutch. Ive lived my whole life on our farm and never learned how to double clutch. The tester stopped me right away and said he had to see me using the clutch. I tries but found it very akward and took my focus away from the road. Fortuneatley the clutch was set up with a lot of free play so I just faked it. It was good enough for him.

    Sent from my Motorola Electrify using Tapatalk 2
     
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  11. jet460

    jet460 Heavy Load Member

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    Modesto, Ca
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    As far as the CDL test is concerned, I took mine yesterday.
    I was nervous as hell and missed so many gears it was embarrassing.
    I still passed.
    Today I drove like I was born in the truck.
    Seems to me the biggest obstacle with passing a DMV test is nerves.
    It was for me anyway.
     
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