How to recover from a miss shift downshifting

This is why you generally won't see me trying to help much on these things. I do, but try to lightly touch the subject. I much rather meet up with a driver and have a friend bring over his rig and I will physically show them how to back and do basic shifting. Since I no longer have a drivers license I can't do this out on road. I wish I could. One of the most satisfying things I know is watching a young driver "get it".

 

Yep and once you get it, you got it. It's like riding a bike. I hadn't shifted once between my CDL school in Dec of 15 and my orientation class in June of 17. I got in the truck and within seconds it came back. I passed a road test 30 minutes later in a truck I'd never driven before the road test. I hadn't backed a big rig in the same period and I was shocked that even the safety lady watching us back said "youve done this before, you lied on your application, you're not new." I was the only one who backed in between the cones without stopping at an angle and there were people in that class who had been driving for years. It shocked me. I am NOT that great at anything, but apparently others suck more than I do.

I talked to her later alone and said how come people can't back a truck and you guys still hire them she said "I'm not in charge of the hiring process".

 

I was getting pretty decent at shifting so they switched me to a truck with an automated manual.

 

Know your truck and what gear and RPM you should be at, at any speed. It's really that simple. Pay attention and make an effort to learn, and you will pick it up in a few days.

 

I think only once ever I had rammed a scratching transmission to take a 5th high. Which was actually first low because the splitter had rattled down on the column as it shook off it's high range into low while trying to force the #### thing.

C L U N K, then the truck gave this wild space ship whir inside the transmission box (Clutch is not even out yet) and she leaned into it via the frame.

My instructor paled. Now most people have a little white or fright when something goes whoops. But when a big strapping BLACK man loses his color and says a very simple sentence to me...

Do not move that *&^% clutch. You break my truck, I break you. I had that clutch in ready to apply power. Then he batted by transmission back out of gear and saved the day.

It would probably have totaled the truck and maybe hurt us if that clutch came out at 30 mph with power being applied into what was apparently 1st low. It went to the shop for a going over and we never saw it again. (Nor did I see him again.) I was told to go home come back in the am.

AM comes around and I got a GMC Astro cabover with nothing that works and a turbo that is a ice pick in the ear when it's time to shift up. They say I have three days to improve in that thing get going to philly yer lte. (Containers)

Shifting that thing consisted of flat on the floor, wait until the pulling quits and he shaking to set from the motor mounts. And the pain from the icepick turbo under the dog house. then take the next gear. Speed? Who the hell knows. Ask a state trooper sometime.

Stories I have, some already told but it's the coffee pot I blame. Have a wonderful day all.