New driver here

And I haven't seen it said here so I will say it... you're not a truck driver, you're a trailer driver.

 

Trucks are driven, trailers are pulled, thus the term; trailer - it follows,i.e; trails behind.

 

Yea, you're driving it.

 

Not really, the fifth wheel lock is pushing on the king pin. The trailer is actually being pushed.

 

Definition of trailer

1. 1: a nonautomotive vehicle designed to be hauled by road: such asa : a vehicle for transporting something a boat trailer; especially : semitrailer 1b : a vehicle designed to serve wherever parked as a temporary dwelling or place of businessc : mobile home
   
   
2. 2a : preview 3b : a short blank strip of film attached to the end of a reel
   
   
3. 3: one that trails
   
   
4. 4: a trailing plant
   
5. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trailer

 

Shifting takes practice. When I was in truck driving school i would keep repeating to myself what gear I was in and what gear I'm shifting to. Eventually it'll become second nature to you.

Another thing about shifting, don't shift while cruise control is on. It'll make the rpms spike really high. Learned that once or twice. And don't shift with the Jake Brake on. You can do it but it's much more difficult and not good for the transmission.

 

[QUOTE="RedRover, post: 6108696, member: 187054"

I still haven't perfectly learned the manual. If everyone here is honest, they'll admit that 30 years later they haven't either. Some days you hit every gear and some days you can't find where to put the key, or the dock, let alone a gear to save your life. The main difference between now and then is that good day or bad, you won't be as hard on yourself about it. Oops missed a gear. Right now it makes you feel like a dismal failure that will never get it. 6 months from now, you'll be like "get in there you piece of ####" and you won't even give it a second thought.

Just focus on taking your time. Loads can be rescheduled, lives can't. Don't be hard on yourself.[/QUOTE]

Annnnd so much THIS. Great wisdom, right here. Give yourself room and patience to learn.

 

If someone hit me with a screwdriver that same screwdriver would be his lunch. I understand your situation but don't put up with the physical abuse. Save your dignity and move on. Your young enough to move on and find something better. Where are you located.

 

You may think you don't have options but anything would be better than where you're at. Leave there, and I mean as soon as you can. Your "mentor" is a certifiable idiot...if you clutch you can't shift gears???!!!
And as far as the screwdriver, I would have stopped the truck and launched it right back at him.