Shifting? My 1st weekend at class

Lol, yes turning it on helps a bit.

 

A manual transmission in a car or small truck like a pickup is synchronized and the stick can move into any gear position, on or off, moving or not, as the synchronizers will match the engine, transmission and road speed together. Basically think of it this way, though the "stick is in the hole", it hasn't engaged the gear yet. A heavy truck transmission, on the other hand, is unsynchronized (generally speaking), meaning that if the gears won't or aren't meshing then the gear can't be engaged. When you turn the truck on the engine will actually be turning the transmission, as well, except, no gear has been engaged. You will depress the clutch to the floor (don't do this violently though) and it will engage the clutch brake, slowing the gears in the transmission down. Then the transmission will drop into gear. If, however, you depress the clutch clear down once you've started the truck and it won't drop into gear, very slightly release a small amount of pressure on the clutch to allow the transmission to rotate a bit and it should drop into gear.

 

Its not boring crap there pal....its stuff that you must learn....it may be boring but someday it could save your life, or someone else. Once you start the truck you'll see how the transmission works, ColoradoGreen covered that very well.

 

If you never drove a "stick" before, then you are far better off because you want have to unlearn a skill first. Good luck and don't sweat it. It's not that difficult to learn.

 

Very good advice on that unlearning skill thing... Lol. I mainly drive sticks in my commuting cars, thought driving a truck would as easy...

 

Sorry man, you made me laugh! Yes, turning the truck on is going to make a difference. Since you have never driven a stick before, like the other poster mentioned this may help you. Course you will probably find yourself overkilling it when you do shift a four wheeler after learning on a big truck.

Overall there's nothing to it. It just requires practice and you'll have no shortage of that in the next few months.

Good luck, school and training is a blast!

 

You will eventually learn how to shift properly with ease though it is a common worry for newbies. Far more important is realizing that you are becoming a PROFESSIONAL truck driver. That means that you SHOULD know ALL that "crap" you are learning indoors as well, and more. Learn how to adjust your trailer brakes because there are still a lot of old trailers on the road that need you to do so. There are few trailers that don't need your help. Steadfast illiteracy is common in the trucking industry and is apparently getting worse. Experience and knowledge are not the same thing. You need both. There are many truck drivers with years of experience who would be better drivers if they applied knowledge they don't have (or ignored) to their jobs.

 

I go to NETTTS as well not the school your attending but no instructor has given advice on how to "pass" a drug test other then dont do drugs.

 

Say it again, TTD!

Sir, you are trying to learn to drive a semi. You're not there for fashion statements, popularity contests or whatever. If you are bored, get your pen and pad out and take notes. Make it your goal to be good at what you do. Dont be content with just getting by. I tell you this, if you get selected for orientation at a mega carrier, you will see so many hopefuls get sent home that you will think youre in a slaughterhouse. We want to be at the top of the pile, not the bottom of the barrel.

Even if theyre talking about things that city folk talk about, listen. Those instructors do this thing for a living. They know who wants to be there and who dont. If they feel that you're one of those people who dont want to be there, they will let you walk out the door to fall on your face when you go through orientation. So, get your mind focused on listening.