Quick questions about a 13-speed trans

From the posts that have been made on the subject of using low gear it is clear that the experienced drivers believe in the use of lower gears while taking off. I am one of those drivers.
If you less experienced drivers choose to take off in a higher gear so be it. Your choice.

One of the purposes of this Forum is to educate others and to share ideas and experiences.

JFaulk99 I wish you no ill feelings. We just have opposite views on driving practices.

 

No, i've just been through swift truck driving school 47 times. I can't seem to graduate because I keep forgetting to ask for a "radio check" every 15 min.

 

Maybe you will pass on the 48th try. Try taking off in a lower gear. That may be why they are failing you.

(I posted this to test your sense of humor)

 

um.....you do realize you can put whatever you want in your bio. I've had student for a while to help screw with people, I may change it to 127yrs and try that route for a while.

I don't care what gear anyone uses to start since trucks come with all different gear ratios, tire sizes and power levels. But to make a blanket rule that you MUST use low or 1st I find funny. With an empty trailer sometimes 2nd is too low. I'm not slipping the clutch by any means and I don't think the OP is either. If whatever gear you pick you can let out on the pedal quickly without touching the accelerator or letting it slip at all then you chose correctly. If always using low makes you feel better then by all means use it. Just don't jump on a guy that uses a higher gear especially when you have no idea how his truck is set up. The truck we had with 4:88's was so slow you could put it in low and let it SLOWLY roll while loading grain and never stop, by the time the spout was at the rear the trailer was full. Now no one here can honestly say they would use low or first in a truck like that at every traffic light. Authough I've followed many guys like that (act like they're grossing 150k with an empty flatbed) and they are an annoying traffic hazard and what they believe they're saving in clutch/tire wear they're burning in fuel.

 

The statement was made to NEVER NEVER use low gear. That is the statement I totally disagree with.

 

One more Idea. If you were honest in your BIO I would take you more serious. The statement that you put student in your Bio to screw with people tells me alot about you.

 

Yes I LOVE to start stuff and irritate people however unlike some on here I'm smart enough to know that there is NO one size fits all when it comes to this job. I use low when starting on a hill, I do not use low on level ground or on a downgrade. This has made ZERO difference in the average clutch life of any of our trucks. Almost all our trucks are driven by the owners, not employees but the few that had hired drivers the clutch life was the same. We have not replaced any U joints, axle shafts, or had ANY transmission issues other than bearings on 2 (one at 800k and one was done just because it was already pulled for a clutch at 600k which is cheap insurance). So the way I see it if starting in any gear higher than LOW is only going to cost me $1k in over 500k miles then the added cost (if any) is trivial and irrelevant. My success isn't riding on $.002 per mile, I don't pull a van or jocky containers.

the truck in your pic looks like a Western Star (really small) so there's no danger of me driving your truck. The rust of the steel cab just isn't my style! LOL

 

um.....you do realize not everyone likes to screw with people like you do.

 

So tell me about that...