Getting used to clutching and tiring easily.

Look it takes time to learn but remember that if an old lady of 75 can learn how to drive a truck - you can.

I tell people to relax, not to focus on the shifting part but on the driving part because if you have to devote too much attention to the shifting, you will get into an accident.

As I drive different trucks every week sometimes every day, I have to adapt to the truck. I have had a string of trucks with 13/18 speeds in them and it seems odd that the last time I drove a 13 speed was back in 1989 when I helped move tractors from Port Huron customs to a warehouse in Detroit (seizure vehicles). I still have a habit of losing count if I don't focus on driving and then end up missing a gear.

AND if you can dance (not jump around like you were having convulsions but actually dance with dance steps), you can learn how to drive anything and do it without any problems.

 

Experience and a high level of skill,that comes from pride in yourself and in what you do. That's how you get the best jobs, your rep.

 

My team partner when he started he would miss a gear in the rockies in wyoming and end up stopping on the highway. Start it back in first. Two months later he was fine. About four months in he didn't grind anymore.

Best one is when he had to pee in west Virginia he stopped on the down grade and got the brake to smoke badly. I shot water bottles on the drum and pad to cool it down.

My first week.I almost jack knifed in Nebraska trying to exit off the highway. Granted it was fifteen mile per hour, but the trailer was swinging. It was a blizzard and there was an inch of ice under the snow. I got out of the truck and almost fell over.

When I started shifting I memorized shift points. Like at1550 rpm up shift engage at 1050 rpm. All the gears except 9 and 10 on my truck are spaced the same. Nine to ten has more "rpm" space. I could shift OK on level ground, but on grades I would grind since the truck was accelerating or decelerating.

Hang in there it gets better with time.

 

You'll prolly get that part down a lot better the first week or two after you get your own truck assigned. At least that's how it went for me.

Most likely you'll still grind'm up now and then, but shifting will soon become your smallest problem. Don't worry 'bout it, you'll be fine.

 

I work at a beverage company and constantly drive different peoples trucks, there's two trucks I can drive without, the other's I always clutch. I can't speak for all trucks but for the Volvo's and Internationals I'm in you only need to give them very little clutch while shifting, no where near enough to tire you out and I'm in the city. But if your always in the same truck you won't need it once you get used to it.

 

Clutch lol...who uses a clutch haha.

In all seriousness...you will get to the point that its second nature. I still grind a gear every once ina while when not paying attention, but i just look at road speed and can recover pretty easily.

it still anoying to drive through heavy traffic, but you get used to it.

 

After reading a lot of the replies, there seems to be a few that brag about not using the clutch. That being said, I have seen a few that said they did not use the clutch, they ground and jammed each gear on up the sequence. I have road tested new hires that supposedly had experience, only to reject them because they could not change a gear without an issue. Do not let the cowboys try to shame you. You are learning. I believe you should learn to drive smoothly with the clutch and then as you progress and become familiar with things.

 

Find a good company that uses automatics. Personally, I prefer automatics.

 

Drove 2 13's on Friday - after years in a 10. Picked it up but had to FOCUS.

Remember to breathe! You'll be fine. And have a strong left leg!

 

It is natural and normal to be tired, mentally when learning to drive a semi truck..

Actually it is normal when , learning any new task... it actually does take more brain energy.. but, the brain will create a shkrter quicker route for the repetitive task to conserve energy...

Which is why drivers say they dont even think about it anymore.. they do, otherwise the muscles needed to shift wojld not take action...

It will require less brain power over time.. and so it will be less mentally tiring for you...

Dont get frusfrated or stressed about it.. just breathe..

What helped me was to make tbe mental process of learning to double clutch and shift more fun..

If you hum The Adams family song.. and clutch on the snaps.. it is the timi g or rhythm of clutching hoj need..

Da da da dunt. Snap snap Da da da dunt snap snap..

Then progress to. ( starting from 2nd gear)

Da da da dunt Neutral third Da da da dunt Neutral fourth
Da da da dunt neutral fith and flip the switch
Da da da dunt neutral sixth Da da da dunt Neutral seventh

And you get the idea... you do the jingle I your head at home while doing dishes or what ever. ? S kt is already I. yojr head.. tap your left toe on the snaps..