i double clucth most times, but then my last ride was a old century, well getting long in the tooth,it was just a detrote, with eaton 10 speed, but anyway i based it on the what was in the box, if light load then i be lazy and float it, never start out out on low side and just start on the high and run like a normal 4 speed like a car, with my truck i had many combtions i figure out, again depending on the weather , load ect, but if heavy load i started low en went thru all the gears , double clucthing as you go, its the little things , once you get your own truck that works for you., just a footnote, my dad , who is a trucker , im second gen, but anyway dad said never trust your gauges, they will go out on you, so i was trained by my dad and trained too use my ears , too listen too the engine and feel hows it pulling , that will tell you pretty quik how too shift and when , with out even looking at the tach, the school i went too said use the the road signs too see what gear your in , 45 mph= 9th gear hum, didnt belive that ether, o-well .
I agree with the floating of gears. I drove about 10 years ago for a now dead reefer company. At first I used to clutch it. Then my trainer got me to start floating. It took me one busy traffic day in Chicago to get it down. Once you have it you do not grind gears and I swear you can get moving faster and decelerated just as good. Plus you aren't working on blowing out your knee banging that clutch 500 times a day. Sad news is that I went to Swift to try to work for them and I took the road test. The tractor I drove was a International with an 8 speed. I sucked so bad at shifting that thing I am embarrassed. Needless to say I didn't get the truck back from the road test. I was sent home. Swift wants me to get a refresher and try again. I don't know if I want to. Two different recruiters called me and gave me two options. 1. Go to Swift academy for like 4 grand I think for 3 weeks and pay for all my food 2. Go back to the school where I got my CDL 10+ years ago and take a refresher from them I am waiting to hear from a contact at the school to see if Its something I want to swing financially.
I have a question about double clutching. Doesn't the clutch help synchronize the flywheel with the transmission? If I am correct, the double clutching just makes more of a mate when you go to mesh the gears? I feel like such a tard that I couldn't double clutch. I can float the gears on just about every truck I ever drove from 1 to x and x to 1. WTH???
I was taught to double clutch but then found out how to float by another driver...I was taught to shift up progressively thru the gears from my trainer on the road and to listen to the engine rpms if you can.That shows you how the engine is working in its powerband too. Having worked in the Automotive world for over 29 yrs, I have a little experience in engines so it was easy for me to understand what he was teaching me. Knowing where your torque is working best helps too even though we were told to shift low to save fuel...of course. Like a lot of you guys have said, it depends on conditions,weight of ld,up hill or down,traffic..etc.When you get floating down in ur truck, it's so nice and easy that it comes second nature....at least it did for me.
