jerking truck while shifting

Im still reading the mail and getting a big kick's out of it. Now you have the newbie's/student's into it saying this is how you shift, and you have those that live in a FLAT state with no hill's saying it's ok to start in 2nd and 3rd gear. I can tell there name is not on side of the truck's.
For those of you who skipped through the post, check out #20,#27 for a refresher course.
BTW, I hope Im not hurting anyone's feeling's or EGO.., if so, SUCK IT UP !!!!

 

Gas in a diesel can't drive you nuts, matter of fact, I don't think it will drive you anywhere.

 

when you say second gear, do you mean 1st or 2nd? I ask this, because some drivers count low gear as first gear...

Check your suspension...

That, or roll onto the throttle more gently. So far, it has worked for me every time.

 

I'm a new driver and I still have a tendency to roll onto the throttle a little harder than necessary, but not overboard by any means. This causes a little rock in the cab.

My Volvo lets me float. I drive an 8 speed (not a 9, though it has a low plus 8 gears)

When I'm downstairs, I can go right through the gears every time I hit 1200 RPM (loaded on flat ground, that is) and Then to 5th I go at 1300, 6th 1400 and 1500 rpm for 7th and 8th.

I vary my technique, depending on a few factors. Weather, weight, uphill or downhill.

I'm working on rolling onto the throttle more gently to prevent cab rocking. I'm much better at it, but if a lot is going on around me, I tend to forget and jab it a little.

I hope this post helps. Keep in mind, it's what works for the particular rig I'm in, so it may vary for yours!

 

Thank you to those who took the time to explain their position, rather than just send sarcasm my way. (I enjoy sarcasm, too, but my question was serious). I actually did go look at the mechanical specs and could find only a recommendation for progressive shifting (shift at lowest possible RPMs) and skip shifting (skipping gears and only using the gears needed to move a load). However, based on the comments on skip shifting, it would seem that starting a load in 2nd gear is basically skip shifting; you are bypassing the gear you don't need and possibly saving fuel mileage to do it.

http://www.accessfreightliner.com/toolsservices/epa07/Cummins_Driver_Information_Card.pdf

Thank you again.

 

I think it's just a practice thing and, unfortunately, it varies with the weight and position of the load (front to back). An earlier poster said to start giving just a touch of fuel before you let the clutch all the way out, which seems to help me a lot, but it's a feel thing. The progressive shifting definitely helps, too (when I remember to do it!).

My dear partner has a habit of leaving the jake on once he's used it, so I sometimes will try to start out and can't get the truck moving for the life of me. It's always the jake. Guess you wouldn't have that problem, though.

 

Tim:
I do not discount experience; I try to learn from it. But even the best can learn something one way and not change if/when the system they're using changes. So, while I respect the two who are telling us that we should start in first (even if they don't seem to respect those of us who are new), I like to know the whys and hows. I'm not going to learn anything just going on everyone's conflicting opinions.

 

Yep, hard to argue with that.

 

Looks to me the only one here worried about an ego is you because some don't agree with your one sided " my way or the wrong way" way of doing things.......And yes my name is on the side of the truck.....

 

Starting in a low gear saves your clutch from wearing out. Starting in a high gear puts enormous stress on the drive train, especially the motor mounts.

The best is to start low and skip gears according to your weight, rather than start high and not skip gears.

Example:

1-3-5, etc

Rather than 3-4-5, etc.

Same amount of shifts both ways, but starting in 3rd will kill your clutch, break your mm's and might even crack the frame long term.