Trucking school Week 2

I think it's best NOT to float gears while still in school. This way, when you go for your DMV road test, you can show the tester you know how to properly shift. Everyone has an opinion on floating gears. I think the vast majority of us float, I know I do, and only pretty mush use the clutch to start off, and when coming to a stop, or changing from forward to reverse.

The truck you describe sounds pretty typical of a worn out, probably city truck, that may have had over a hundred drivers beat on it. Just make the best of it, soon enough you may be driving a truck at your job with, oh about half a million miles on it!

 

True... or WORSE. G. Anthony is dead on. Use procedure , up and down through the shift pattern, until your on your own and very comfortable. Then , you can experiment with floating and or the non use of a clutch (which can be hard on a truck if not done properly... ie insertion at the the incorrect RPM).
Not to mention, no one wants to be stopped in the intersection behind someone else because they had to come to a complete stop and start all over when plans fell apart in mid shift. ( it's happened to us all at some point in the beginning ).
The most important thing to remember is to bang out the basics properly and masterfully, WITHOUT THINKING about it, and then you can start looking to simplify your driving tactics.

You're never a 25yr driving vet in year one. It always takes 25 years. Take your time. We'll wait. Good luck !

 

I believe that's good sound advice. It's best to know the basics before going on to floating. We all know it's not hard but the problem I have seen while road testing new drivers that float is they do not get the gear all the way in when they shift. Then when power is applied the gear will jump out with a loud bang. Not good on a tranny.

You should know how to double clutch first for a couple of reasons. You'll have to shift this way for your CDL. Also, it will allow you to concentrate on all the other items while driving. I do not like a new driver looking at the transmission and only zeroed in on shifting. There's a lot of things happening while driving so you'll need to keep your eyes moving.

Once you've got that type of shifting I suggest you go on to skipping gears. You really can not skip on the way up when loaded but you sure can on the way down. Like when you're on a surface street and coming up to an intersection and there's a stale green on the other side. You slow the truck down nice and easy leave it in gear and when the light turns green, you skip from anywhere from 10th to 6th on a 10 speed. You keep your road speed matched to the transmission. And away you go. Nice and easy relaxed driving.

Then when you get all that down pat and you shift without banging gears go ahead and float if you choose. Just remember floating does not make a truck driver like some feel. In fact it shows inexperience when you bang a gear. Good luck and it will all come to you. You'll be shifting without even giving it a second thought. Drivers like to float because it's less work. You always want to work smarter not harder.