SH SH Shifting gears

Ok like has been said all trucks shift difrent what I was taught is say it in your head clutch neutral clutch gear and she will fall in every time now a cummins you will say it faster a cat in bettween and a detroit you say it slllloooowwww

 

Another common mistake for newer drivers is OVER-revving ... or trying to operate 200-300 rpms higher then is optimal for shifting purposes, throughout the gears. But any trainer should be able to point this out and correct this behavior. The other key is mastering the double-clutching technique. Many here will tell you "learn to shift without the clutch and it will be easier" ... first things first.

 

A lot of students do best at first shifting against the rev limiter. Wind that puppy out, clutch/neutral/clutch, let the rpm drop 400, clutch/next gear.

Downshifting, the same way, only bakards. When the rpm drop to 400 below the rev limiter, clutch/neutral/clutch, rev it to the limit, clutch/next lower gear.

It's a crappy way to shift, but it usually gets students to a point where they can start to get the "feel".

As others have noted, shifting a truck is very unlike shifting a 4-wheeler. You have to use the tach (at first), and you DON'T clutch to the floor, that engages the clutch brake and then you're fishing for a gear. Old habits die hard.

 

After I had driven 25,000 miles I felt that I could shift so much better than when I was in CDL school. It was like night and day difference. You might only get a few hundred miles driving experience in school, to learn the basics, so don't expect to be proficient at shifting. The next 10,000 miles - 20,000 miles is when you will become proficient and confident in your shifting. You will continue to learn the "ins" and "outs" of shifting for many months to come.

Turn off your engine brake when shifting....it will throw off your timing, guaranteed.

Once you are proficient shifting by double clutching, then you can teach yourself to shift without using the clutch.

I had a 10 speed in school, but was hired on to drive an 18 speed pulling a tanker. Now I drive a 10 speed pulling a tanker. Either one works fine, but shifting on an 18 speed is a little different from a 10 speed. You may also encounter a 13 speed, which works the same as the 18 speed, only on the high range gears. These shift levers have an extra button on the side of the shifter to shift a half gear without using the clutch, but you do have to let off the throttle to allow it to shift.

Lots more for you learn than what you are taught in school. Wishing you well.