is downshifting required?

Yes you have to downshift, upshift, and generally know how to operate the vehicle. That's the POINT of the TEST

 

No coasting is allowed, you must always be in a proper forward gear until you come to a stop

 

If you can't downshift, you can't or don't have total control over your truck. At least in my opinion. It's been so long since I took the driving test, I don't know the answer. Personally, it never has crossed my mind to not downshift to control speed slowing down and stopping.

 

If I remember correctly, you can't coast more than the length or your truck and trailer.

 

It crosses my mind sometimes, like when I don't have time to downshift if I intend to stop in time.

But, yes, the DMV test requires at least one downshift when coming to a stop. (In CA. I don't know other state's requirements.)

 

Yes you can skip gears. When I took my road test I downshifted 10-8-6 and let the truck pull itself to the stop sign or light in 6th. That's how my teacher who is also an examiner told us to do it. The criteria on the test is that you be in a proper gear. Basically if you have to go because the light turns green you should just be able to hit the gas and not have a lot of hesitation and lurching. Since you will be pulling an empty trailer on your road test, 6th gear is fine. Just remember to put it in your starting gear after you stop.

I will say that just because that works in GA, it may not work in your state. Ask your teacher and do it the way he or she tells you.

 

If you're driving in New Jersey, you better know how to downshift

 

Any time the clutch is depressed or the truck is out of gear (the same thing basically), it's coasting. Generally speaking you can't coast more than two truck lengths, or about 140 feet.