Float or Clutch

Exactly what I was gonna say....

It is NOT illegal to "kick it into neutral and use the brakes to stop at a light!
If it was it would be unenforceable because they could never prove what you were doing inside the truck from inside their patrol car or from standing next to your truck listening to you drive for that matter!

 

i do both, float up shift, float down shift to 5th gear than use clutch. for some reason i can't float the gear into 5th. i drive a 9 sp freight shaker. any help would be appreciated. this happens on a slight hill to a stop sign.

 

While that may be true in those states. Alabama will fail you on the CDL test for coasting. Flat, uphill, or downhill.

 

Same with NY.......fail !!

 

I like these guys that knock it in neutral when coming up to a light. Uhhhh, ever heard of a clutch? Being in gear when you stop makes it easier to put it in first gear, less time for the gears to slow......cause they sort of stop with the truck...

Anyway, i had a company mechanic recently going on to me about how its stupid that the company wants us to double clutch and that it makes the clutch last longer to not use it. He makes sense...

 

I hear ya! The last thing I'd want to do is tick off the company trainer and get thrown out of the cab at 60 mph. I'll take your advice and follow the company trainer's instructions.

 

In Oklahoma, they will dock you for coasting, as well. You are not allowed to coast more than the length of the vehicle. That does give you some leeway though.

 

Just be sure to come to a COMPLETE stop before the clutch is pushed all of the way to the floor. There isn't much pad on the clutch brake, and you'll burn it up pretty quick (as well as wearing other parts) if you push the clutch in far enough to engage the clutch brake while the truck is moving and the transmission is in gear.

 

In CA it's an automatic fail if you coast out of gear, so they say....you're supposed to double clutch, too, but I know someone that got their CDL floating.

I couldn't take the poll as I have an auto-shift in this Volvo. Some days I'd kill for a 10 spd, other days, I like having the auto-shift. I do have to use the clutch to stop and start tho....

 

I only drove for a year, but I don't see how you wouldn't be harder on your brakes not down shifting. I always down shifted through 5th, floating.