First day behind the wheel!!

Hi everyone Here's an update on how my CDL school is going- week 2.

I received my official CLP yesterday and I started driving today!! Im just super excited!! However, I'm quite terrible at double clutching. I thought it would be similar to driving a 5 speed car manual BUT it is not. So I'm feeling a bit discouraged..

I've done pretty well with learning my pre-trip, passing all my tests etc- so this double clutching has me feeling pretty down. I recorded some videos of my instructors shifting, so I'm planning on going over it and practicing with a make-shift setup at my house. I'm hoping tomorrow will be better. We've also had some different recruiters come through. RE West, TMC, Swift & Liberty. Anyways, just wanted to give an update-

 

It takes some practice.Get your rpms up high enough before you start to shift.After awhile you'll be shifting easily and not even thinking about it.

 

Don't let the double-clutching discourage you.

You will later find that most fleets now have pretty much gone to (or are in the process of) automatic transmission-equipped tractors.

Some exceptions to that: the off-road fleets -- loggers, & the oil field crowd; & also, heavy haul/oversize/overweight.

-- L

 

Where is Liberty out of; headquartered?
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Liberty Energy is located out of Midland County, Texas. They are opening up a new location in Cibolo?, Tx. They have sites all over though- LA, CO, ND, WY. But the job they were offering to us was more along the lines of heavy labor- There wasn't much actual driving- other than the 2 hrs or so each day of hauling to the job site.

 

I've only had my license for about a year and a half, so I can still remember how excited I was to start driving and how embarrassed/frustrated I'd get when I'd miss a gear or grind one.

We all started somewhere, so don't beat yourself up over the first day of driving. The only way to improve is through practice, and eventually it'll become second nature.

 

Hang on to those recruiter business cards & any other handouts.

In the current CDL job market for rookies -- those may later be you best hope.

-- L

 

Wonderful,, now get to work,,,kidding, you'll be fine. Most will agree, the "double clutch" thing is a waste of time. I don't want to confuse you, but you should only need the clutch to start and stop. After a while, you'll see, when you let up on the throttle, and pull the shifter out of gear, there is a "sweet spot" for the next gear, and no clutch is needed. If you gently "ride" the gear with the lever, you'll feel when the gears will mesh. Typically, new drivers tend to over-rev the motor. Remember, in a diesel, the space between gears may only be 4-500rpms, and 2-3000rpms in a car. Usually, just a tap of the throttle is all that's needed. Now, practice that backing, you'll be fine.

 

That picture screams RUN AWAY!!!!!!

 

Good luck to ya!