Questions about stopping at a light

Red=Stop
Yellow=prepare to stop
Green=start shifting & hope you make it thru before it turns red!

It is common practice to downshift as many gears as possible when stopping. Me personally don't want to stop... I'd much rather slow down & keep the truck rolling.... That way you don't have all that stress going thru the drivetrain when your starting from a dead stop....

And then........

Sometimes you don't have much of a choice but to slam on your brakes, close your eyes, & hope for the best!!!!

 

These are hazmat requirements only. Your quote is directly from the hazmat rule book.

 

Yes

No.

I can't find a single state or provincial law that states no shifting, unless it's hazmat/bus, but I can't find a single state or provincial commercial drivers manual that says it's only for those. All manuals say don't do it in a commercial vehicle and I believe most non commercial ones say the same. I guess I'll file it in with whether or not you have to sign your log book at the beginning of the day or at the end. Not something to worry about unless you're taking a road test.

 

That's how we all do it and we've got 110,000lbs behind us and driving in the city all day long. We don't race to the lights or stop signs, we just cruise and 9 times out of 10 we'll get to the end right along someone that jackrabbits light to light. Timing the lights is the trick right along with being relaxed and in the right gear. We all think it's foolish to hit every gear going down and you're doing more damage than good. You should know after awhile what gear to be in at any given speed. I go from 10th to 7th then stop. I have more control than someone trying to hit every gear. Besides all you do with hitting every gear is wearing yourself out and the truck because those gears are not going to stop you any better.


Shifting over the R/R tracks are for hazmat vehicle. It's all there in the FMCSR which I believe every driver should have the pocketbook with his or her gear.

 

Actually shifting over rail road tracks and intersections are in the standard CDL rules and have nothing to do with hazmat.

Hazmat rules are for stopping at the tracks.

 

actually, was talking about printed law, not just general rules........

but Thanks

 

I am not talking about FMCSA rules of hazmat.

Here is one from California. I can check another state if you wish, but I remember reading it in the past.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/cdl_htm/sec2.htm
Railroad Crossings

Railroad crossings are always dangerous. You must approach every railroad crossing expecting to see a train coming.
Never attempt to race a train to a crossing. It is extremely difficult to judge the speed of an approaching train.
Your speed should be based on your ability to see whether a train is approaching from any direction. You should be driving slowly enough so you can stop short of the tracks in case of an emergency.
Because of noise in the cab, you cannot expect to hear the train horn until the train is dangerously close to the crossing.
Do not rely solely upon the presence of warning signals, gates, or flagmen to warn of approaching trains.
Double tracks require a double check. Remember that a train on one track may hide a train on the other track. Look both ways before crossing.Afterone trainhascleared acrossing, be sure no other trains are near before starting across the tracks.
Train yard areas and grade crossings in cities and towns are just as dangerous as rural grade crossings. Approach them with care.
A full stop is required at grade crossings whenever:

• The nature of the cargo makes a stop mandatory under state or federal regulations.
• Such a stop is otherwise required by law.

Railroad crossings with steep approaches can cause your unit to hang up on the tracks. Never permit traffic conditions to trap you in a position where you have to stop on the tracks. Be sure you can get all the way across the tracks before you start across.
Do not shift gears while crossing railroad tracks.



Here is Illinois

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_cdl10.pdf

2.12 Railroad Crossings​

Railroad crossings are always dangerous. Every crossing must be approached with the expectation that a train is
coming. Follow these safety precautions:​

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Do not rely solely upon the presence of warning signals, gates, or flagmen to warn of approaching trains.​

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Never attempt to race a train to a crossing. It is extremely difficult to judge the speed of an approaching train.​

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Reduce speed in accordance with your ability to see approaching trains in any direction, and maintain a speed that
will allow you to stop short of the tracks if a stop is necessary.​

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Because of noise in the cab, you cannot expect to hear the train horn until the train is dangerously close to the
crossing.​

• ​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

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​

Double tracks require a double check. A train on one track may hide a train on the other track. Look both ways
before crossing. After one train has cleared a crossing, be sure no other trains are near before starting across the
tracks.​

• ​

​

​

​

​

​

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Yard areas and grade crossings in cities and towns are just as dangerous as rural grade crossings. Approach them
with as much caution.​

• ​

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​

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​

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​

​

​

A complete stop is required at a grade crossing when:
- The nature of the cargo makes a stop mandatory under state or federal regulations.
- Such a stop is otherwise required by law.​

• ​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Railroad crossings with steep approaches can cause your unit to hang up on the tracks.​

• ​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Never permit traffic conditions to trap you in a position where you have to stop on the tracks. Be sure you can get
all the way across the tracks before you start across.​

• DO NOT shift gears while crossing railroad tracks.