Downshifting and turning with 80k pounds

If you're fully loaded then you should go thru all the gears on the upshift. Taking an offramp and fully loaded, you should be going no faster than 45mph before the ramp (if on the freeway i use my flashers or markers when slowing down fast), and interval downskip asap- use your brakes, but do it smoothly always making sure you're at the right speed for the gearchange. If i know a right turn is coming up, i always prep for a buttonhook and if fully loaded i slow down to under 7mph.

 

1. any time I'm loaded, I start off in 1st gear, then work my way up. 2. What is the ramp speed? If it's 40 mph, then you take it at 35 mph or less.

 

Even at 80k i start off in 3rd or 4th........Depends on the truck.
I have never needed 1rst gear,2nd is fine for starting on a hill.
Every truck will be different though and you will get the hang of it.

 

Empty I start in third. Anything but is first gear. I don't tear up / burn out company clutches... Anything more just seems to laborious on the equipment.

Turn speeds are determined by the situation not a post on an internet forum. Offramp into farmland, no curbs, wide turn, no poles near the road, wide lanes and no traffic you can go faster.

Inner city and this type situation, what speed do you think would be appropriate?

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...atching-mirrors-spared-little-girls-life.html

Mikeeee

 

In school, one instructor told us to "drive it like we stole it", well i think what they really meant is to drive it so as to attract NO attention and do everything possible never to get law enforcement personnel involved (except during emergencies or once an incident has ocurred, ofcourse) but i'd rather would have heard : "Drive it as if one incident will cost you your job and drive it as if one more citation will cost you your license; drive it slow on the streets, dont stop on the freeway, they cant fire you for being safe and legal and remember that the slower the better."