downshifting an 8 speed freightliner

You should not, especially as a student, try to "make" a green light for a turn. If you anticipate making a turn at a light? Even if it is green you should start downshifting to prepare for your turn ahead of time (while of course preparing to stop if it changes). If the light is staying green and you can safely go through, STAY in the gear you downshifted to (which really shouldn't be higher than 5th ... maybe 6th depending on the sharpness, grade, and width of the turn.)

 

I'll answer it like he has a Meritor 8 speed. Those are usually coupled with puppy dog motors like in a beverage truck with side bays or a little city dump truck. Those you wind out a little farther. Instead of 1600 extend it out to say 1700. You just have to know your engine and transmission. It even helps to find the specs on your motor and where peak torque is but that stuff is more for an experienced driver. Your main goal right now is getting upshifting down, cornering correctly and not hitting anything.

But yes be sure of your transmission. There should be a shift diagram on the dash or visor. Most OTR trucks have 9 speeds or better. You don't have a trainer? There isn't much difference between 9 and 10 except the shift pattern. 10 speed has that extra low low gear. As far as the gears being spread out more. There's very little difference. But it's good you are trying to keep up with mph. That might help you if you miss a gear and get lost. Most newbies tend to over bump up when downshifting. Keep that in mind if you are grinding. Go with a light bump instead of over revving.

 

Wow must have been some trucking school ! So basically what you were teaching is to fully rely on your brakes to slow you down . don`t bother using the engine or transmission to help you slow down . Must have been fun for some or the newbs when they came to along descending hill to just let`r roll on down in top gear !! 26 years ago when I was in school all students were taught how to down shift even before we left the training yard. It`s not hard to learn and students should not graduate from the "school" or get their CDL if they cannot do it correctly . Sounds like you taught at a "puppy mill " for new drivers if you ask me.

 

So your students just naturally knew that they had to increase the rpm on the down shift and all would be good. I`m betting that someone told them to give the accelerator a shot of fuel to increase the rpm so the transmisson would drop into the actual lower gear they wanted . it `s not difficult to downshift but it`s not like driving a stick in a honda civic .
As for people who do not want to learn to down shift ,perhaps they should stick to the automatics

I`m not knocking this fella that started this forum but he has already graduated. He should not have to ask about what speed to downshift in. it will come natural to him but he should have the know how to downshift any 8 , 10 , 13 , 15, 18 speed trans before he graduates. Engine rpm is the key. Like someone said earlier look at the shift pattern go from there.

 

Select your appropriate gear before the corner. Shifting mid-corner for someone unaccustomed to it can result in missed gears and much frustration, both from said driver, and the others behind him.

 

To me it sounds like he got a local job straight out of school and never had a trainer? They have very limited road training like 6 or so hours. I could understand his dilemma.

He lost his way to the forum and forgot his password. I guess we'll never know!

 

Most trainers advise against this. Sounds always change. The big truck next to you may be loader, and the engine sounds different going up and down hills. Engine fans kick on that make a different sound. The best is to shift by sound, but confirm by glancing at the tack before you make the shift. If your an old school driver and know you truck, shift however you want, but for a newbie, its much better to train them to glance at the tack.

In general, shift by the tack, but you should learn the gears road speed to aid in gear recovery.

 

Well what if the light turns green before you come to a complete stop. Downshifting is a heck of a lot easier then gear recovery because your to slow for the gear your in. Also not downshifting can increase brake use.