Downshifting and braking at the same time, proper technique?

You look beyond the end of your hood to recognize the need to slow BEFORE you're on top of that 25 mph curve...and run down through the gears as you reduce your speed.

This ain't Nascar. No need to race into the corners.

 

You're doing it right. Only advice I'd give is to look farther ahead and anticipate your need to slow down sooner.

The people saying to use your left foot to brake while bumping the throttle with your right forget that in some cases, you may need that left foot to clutch it out of gear or into the next one...not to mention, you're going to have to clutch at the bottom of the ramp eventually, anyways.

This isn't a high performance application. Watch where you're going, anticipate your needs, and drive the truck properly.

 

Yeah I know about that but someone said this is illegal, implying that you will get a ticket. I know it was discussed a while back, but guys it isn't a law. It may be a failure on the road test but it isn't a law.

 

AND Again this is applied how?

OK so it is a law, but who cares, most driver break at least five laws while driving.

 

Use 2 feet. Do it all the time. Why would I need my left foot to "clutch it out of gear" if I'm floating the gears. And before you start in with "WELL NOT EVERYBODY CAN FLOAT GEARS!" if the op isn't floating gears then his question is a mute point. He's stuck with what he's doing.

 

I think the original point was, you can’t be coasting to a stop while in a CDL skills/road test with an examiner

 

You're right...those 5 petty little civil infractions are nothing compared to the 3 felonies per day committed by the average American, according to Harvey Silverglate (civil liberty attorney/author)...

 

I've been floating gears for years, and every once in a while you climb into a truck that just doesn't want to shift. Double clutching is a good tool to have in your box for those situations...not to mention, if you're on the brakes and draw the RPM's down too low, that clutch is the only way you're going to get it out of gear.

Save the 2-footed crap for the track. If you have to brake hard enough that you cannot safely let up to grab the next lower gear, you already screwed up. Only pedal my left foot needs to be operating is the clutch.

 

I just thought it odd to get a point off your test for going less than 55 onto an off ramp. I understand there are different scenarios that can happen and on a perfect day on a nice clear off ramp things work out great,and I understand not to impede traffic on the highway, but some times you gotta err on the side of caution.