Shifting Concerns

Well, they should be having the oppurtunity to practice downshifting all the way throughout the school, because it is one of the hardest parts of driving that truck.

Also, I point out, the truck has huge lettering on it, "STUDENT DRIVER", and there is an instructor in the right seat, and if it needs to go in gear in a hurry, that instructor will get it in for the student..trust me..

I had a codriver once who stopped in the middle of a deceleration lane on interstate 80 in iowa. Im like, what the f? She said, I got stuck in neutral and my trainer said to just stop if i get stuck in neutral. I told her, you cant stop on an interstate! She says, but im not in control of my vehicle!

Just a common example of the logic these people use.

I want to point out the two issues here. This was a clover leaf exit ramp, and trust me, it doesnt matter what gear she was in, she would not have a desire to accelerate on that ramp! And if she is completely stopped, is she any more in control than when she was moving? Not really, lol.

And this was a 10th to 9th shift. Come the hell on, i should have called safety immediately. How can you not be able to get it into 9th from 10th?

 

it takes miles and miles of practice. for the 10 speed try memorizing the speeds for each gear to be upshifted into. once you know that, when the speed is *below* that gear a little bit, you can typically downshift to that gear.
for the ten speed:

first=2 miles an hour shift up
second= 5 miles an hour shift up
third= 10 miles an hour shift up
fourth= 15 miles an hour shift up
fifth= 20 miles an hour shift up
sixth = 25 miles an hour shift up
seventh= 30 miles an hour shift up
eighth= 35 miles an hour shift up
ninth = 45 miles an hour shift up to
tenth = 55+

these are conservative speeds for each gear i have given, easy to remember and i recommend downshifting to whatever gear when the speed is slightly below what you would normally shift up into that particular gear.

i just got my truck on friday june 11 and still having problems downshifting sometimes but that happens more at the end of a 600 mile day than any other time. anyway just practice and doing day in and day out you become one with your truck.

 

My point is, was, and will continue to be that if they can not perform the simple act of donshifting they have no business being turned loose on a public road.It is simple, and the fact they are being allowed to operate a CMV without supervision lacking this simple yet vital skill lends further proof to the lack of training and testing standards for a CDL. If they can't downshift how the hell do you expect them to find a gear when that light turns green they were coasting up to?Out of gear or out of range is out of control. Without control you are an accident waiting to happen!

 

My only piece of advice when downshifting is practice the mechanics of what you are doing. Speed will come with time as long as your mechanics are correct.

 

That worked fine until I got thrown in a 9 speed top 2 truck. Every shift speed is totally different because the gears are spaced wider...

Oh yeah, you didnt even mention the addition trick. Add the two numbers for your speed together, works for anything ending with a 5 in the top range. 15 = 1+5 = 6th, 25 = 2+5 =7th, etc...until you get to 55, then anything over that is still 10th...

 

shifting a truck is like anything else, the more you practice the better you get

i remember when i was in your shoes, worried about shifting...now i dont even think about shifting, i just do it, and you will to

 

Dang, look at all the "tricks". You guys are waaaaay overthinking this and there's your "problem".

Again and again I and other "old hands" have told you.....

1. Your car has synchronizers on all gears, your truck does not. Ergo it takes more skill to drive and shift your truck.

2. Learn double-clutch and Use It until it becomes second nature to you. This is a Basic Skill to driving, has been for more years than most of you have been alive and is there for a reason. Learn it, learn it, learn it until you do it automatically without even thinking about it.

3. FORGET about floating, skip-shifting and all the other "shortcuts". Those are for when you have alot more road time and skill under your belt. Try using them now and you'll f--- up and look like a complete fool.... and maybe do serious damage to the tranny.

You are a newbie, a beginner. You're nothing special and you're not one bit different than the thousands before you. Learn the basics, learn them right and use them until they are second nature to you. Tell the Billy Big Riggers and SuperTruckers to take a hike. They are Legends in their Own Mind only. They'll get you in all kinds of trouble and then laugh at you.

 

sorry but i disagree...after i got my cdl i forgot all about double clutching and started floating, and skipping gears (downshifts only)right away, its really not that much different at all to me