Need some input...

Double clutch.

Ok. When the gear runs the engine up until tractor pulls it's ### off it's time to upshift.

Shove your clutch in and count your heartbeat to three, move the gearshift into the next gear AS YOU Pull your foot from the clutch and add power into that gear.

Here is the secret. That tach should have fallen from 1900-2100 down to 1200 or just a little less by the time you complete the clutch and next gear up.

That is all to it. It's smooth, it's three heartbeats and add power.

You shove clutch in break power to the drives, back it off and reshove it in for the next gear up to add more power with the new gear. There is NO rush. None at all.


You can actually shift without using that clutch pedal twice, but I prefer you learn the way I showed you.

Downshift...

Relax get that right foot off the #### hammer.

Count to three, shove that clutch in, pull your gear (Here is the trick... REV your engine up....) and get your clutch back out and then back in as you move the gearshift into the next lower gear.

It's a little... process.

Let me know if you have trouble making low to high range. You pull it on the upshift before you move that stick and shove it before you drop into the lower range.

Shoving the gearstick against the transmission for a long GRINNNNND while the engine drops in revs makes you stupid. Go try the next gear down unless you are on a downgrade, try the next one up. Stop that grinding.

Good luck.

 

I started out at age 51. I now have a little over a year OTR. Buck up, you can do it. Sounds like you had a pretty rotten school. I can sympathize, because I went to a TERRIBLE school. This is all about practice, practice, practice. Look for a community college that does truck training. They are usually VERY cheap compared to private schools, and usually do a better job of teaching and giving you the time behind the wheel you need.

I failed my test TWICE. All on the same backing issue. I paid for a week of training with another school and learned more in 1 hour than I learned in 6 weeks at the other place.

I have TERRIBLE depth-perception. I have had to learn to overcome that. (It can be done). I'm older and stuff that's obvious to a 21-year-old kid, I struggled with. Probably an age thing.

But I've been OTR for 14 months. I've had a couple of very minor incidents (Less than $1000 total) None involving other vehicles or moving violations. No tickets, no accidents other than as I said, minor stuff.

I've made every delivery on time unless it was insane dispatch or weather. Driven from Delaware to Los Angeles and everywhere in between.

You just need to learn. And if it takes that, pay for the teACHING. I can take a load anywhere. I've backed into some truly insane docks, where even O/Os with 30 years are complaining. It's not about age. It's about training, your ability to learn, and judgement. In that last category, your age is likely to HELP, not hurt.

 

OK, roll tide, you found the list, didn't you? I'd say, maybe it's time to head for 7-11. Free coffee, attractive customers, and no 14hr clock. Of course, you'll still have those Daytona wannabee's on your way in..

 

Hey, thanks for all the positive ( well mostly positive ) replies !

 

Plenty of good advise so I will just wish you "good luck".