do schools teach you to shift gears?

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

  1. bOOmBoTz401

    bOOmBoTz401 Bobtail Member

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    I'm attending NETTTS now they do teach you how to drive a 9 and a 10 speed there the day I got my permit from the dmv I went right out on the road with an instucter to a local industrial park to Learn upshift downshift how to match gears,double clutch etc.

    He took 4 of us at a time with a 48' trailer hooked up to a freightliner sleeper.

    I have much experience with a stick shift so I was quickly on my way to becoming road ready to go 1on1 training however my good friend whom I grew up with,we decided to go to this school at the same time to buddy up and make the experience easier/better has no experience with a stick and I was amazed at how calm the teacher was there was a few times I thought he ripped the driveshaft from the truck and the teacher remained calm the entire time

    He is now greatly improved with his shifting and is almost ready for the next level. So the moral of this rant was yes they are great at teaching everything you need for real world and passing the dmv test.

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  3. jet460

    jet460 Heavy Load Member

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    Modesto, Ca
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    The instructors are used to all the grinding. I'm sure it's the same at every school. Those school trucks take a serious beating.
     
  4. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    Congratulations on passing your test.Skipping gears is a natural thing as well as getting nervous.Testers are'nt so concerned about you missing gears as long as you can recover a gear so it does'nt die on the road and you did just that so WAY TO GO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     
    jet460 Thanks this.
  5. durallymax

    durallymax Medium Load Member

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    In Wisconsin its all private testers now which makes the situation more comfortable. More often than not they will just meet you where your truck is at so you don't have to drive to them. The state does audit them from time to time. I got my road test and a 2nd chance at the.road test offered free to me by the tester because the state was going to be watching. I didn't have a sleeper so the state.boy followed behind. I stopped at stoplights that were shut.off but.not bagged and was automatically failed for that. I.never knew it was that illegal. But then again I never went to school either, just went and took the test.

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  6. Rick_C

    Rick_C Light Load Member

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    Mar 11, 2012
    Denver, CO
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    I was under the impression that if the stoplights were not working (and not bagged like they would be if they were in the process of being installed), the driver was to consider that a 4-way stop. Not sure why you were failed for that but then again, things might be different in WI.
     
  7. texan007

    texan007 Medium Load Member

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    I took my cdl test in an automatic three years ago then drove the auto while hauling cars. I drove an old 1983 Pete years ago for fram work that had a 13 speed this week I will start a new job and im actually hoping I shift as well as the guy will want!

    Sometimes there can be a huge difference between farm and OTR equipment. Plus that old Pete was just about completely wore out when I was driving it and i hardly ever even got it out on the road. I do remember other than flipping a switch it shifted just like a pick up. The tranny rattled so much in it that i could just rest my hand on the shifter knob and it WOULD TELL ME when it wanted to shift.

    One thing that threw me off was learning that I DIDN'T have to push the clutch all the way it, actually I just depressed it lightly and it would slide into gear. Then after a very short time I learned to clutch IN THIS TRUCK was NOT needed except for 1st.

    I'm sure like just about everything in life your husband will look back and think "man there was so much more to worry about"
     
  8. texasmorrell

    texasmorrell Medium Load Member

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    From what I have been reading in many posts regarding schools they do a crappy job at best. In fact it seems to be the number one reason why people wash out of school. I have no doubt that is why the mega-bottom feeding carriers are going to automatic trannies now. If they want to keep up their high driver turnover rate, and keep generating those fleece purchase profits that have taken the place of actual freight profits, then they have to keep making it easier to get the low quality people in the seats who are dumb enough to work for nothing. Think about it.
     
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