FAILED MY CDL ROAD TEST :(

Yes starting in 2nd or 3rd it would have a been a little more difficult to stall the truck. I would start in 2nd only on a road test, or 1 on a steep uphill. I stalled a truck several times AFTER I got my license and was in my own truck. It's no big deal EXCEPT on a road test. It certainly doesn't mean you can't get your license. You'll do better next time. Remember, on the road test your goal is to complete the tasks safely and the way the state wants it completed. Many rookies are overly worried about holding up the cars behind them. Don't worry about them. You will quickly learn every one of those cars behind you would be happy to drive by as you burn to death if they could get home 3 seconds quicker. They are just untrained users of the roadway staring at their smartphones.

 

No big deal.
Schedule another test and go for it!
One more thing you already know is select a lower gear such as 2nd when you take off on a hill.

 

Is that all? Pfft, they got me for blocking a intersction when the light turned red trying to make a left hand turn.

 

@Hulld and @tscottme told you correct. But i'm not sure you understand why. See you say, "they tell us to start off in 4th and when you tried to start off in 4th on a hill, the engine stalled. Do you understand why the engine stalled? If you did, you would NEVER stall the engine ever again.

If you tried to start off in 10th gear, what would happen?

"It would stall, Six."

Are you absolutely certain?

"Yes."

Say for example you are grossing 79000lbs (the school truck is empty and probably not more than 34000) and you come up on a hill. What gear do you want to start off in?

"Well, they want us to start off in 4th. That's how I was taught, Six."

I don't care what you were taught. I need you to understand how you figure out which gear to start off in for any situation you come to. If you are ever the slightest bit unsure, start off in 2nd gear. The engine is made to run at a certain rpm. drop the rpm too low, and the engine cuts out. The lower the gear, the easier it is for the truck to start off. The higher the gear, the more torque the engine needs to take off from a dead stop.

"Why not start off in first gear, Six?"

On a 10 speed, first gear is the granny gear. Unless you're trying to pull 100k up a steep incline, you wont ever use it. it has the most leverage for pulling, but it tops out around 5 mph. Anyway, I hope that you have a better understanding on the gear selection when starting off from a dead stop. Hope you ace the next text.

Luck in battle.

 

Very good explanation off why you don’t start off in 4th on a hill.
I really feel bad though for the op because he did what he was taught to do in school but he was given junk information.

 

I don't know how to phrase this without offending someone. It is not my intent to offend anyone.

Here goes: "Grow a pair of heavy ding dongs and add 50 pounds to your right foot. Be gentle. She'll pull it." however if you started off in too high of a gear she will simply quit.

You can only learn by experience by doing. Take the test again, remember that hill situation. If you run it again, do not be afraid to get down into 1st or even low. DO NOT whatever you do shift while in middle of a turn, without getting too technical, there is a great deal of "Pressure" on your drives while turning in gear. If you tried to shift she will probably want to quit too.

Trucks WILL walk off on a 15% grade. I have started them in excess of 20% which is pretty much straight up to the sky. One stop sign near Bethlehem comes to mind. That one was 45 degree slope. She started. Nigh tore out the tranny but she started.

 

I think the reason schools want students starting out in 4th on a 10 speed is because you get deducted points if you shift while going through an intersection. This is all part of the idiocy of the testing world versus the real world.

If I am driving my OWN truck (a 13 speed) I MIGHT start in 4th IF I am bobtail or deadheading AND if I am starting down a slight grade. Other than that I start in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd depending on the situation, PRECISELY because stalling is far worse than shifting through an intersection. I shift as many times as needed to keep accelerating or decelerating through turn, but that's a technique that new drivers need to work at.

 

Y’all missing the point. 4th gear on a 10 speed with an empty trailer is still hard to stall even on a slight incline. Me personally in my truck it would probably be in 3rd gear. However, just release the clutch more slowly.

 

You will pass, try again and again