Update: Failed My Road Test

Ah the bane of my existence when I first started training. Essentially you use the clutch as the brake and accelerator. Assuming you're empty, it's probably OK to start in 3-4th gear on a 10 speed. Just ease off of the clutch very very slowly and you shouldn't need to throttle up until the clutch is all or most of the way out. On a hill you'll really need to jump on the accelerator a bit quicker.

 

And this is your truck?

 

A shaker with a Eaton 10 and empty? 4th on level or downhill, 3rd for uphill....

 

When I'm empty, I start out in 4th unless I'm on a steep upgrade. On downgrades, I'll start out in 5th or sometimes 6th. Bobtail is usually 5th or 6th. Unless I forget that I dropped my trailer (!).

But yeah, for a road test, 3rd or lower is the best option.

 

You'll do fine tomorrow. Like they said don't overthink it
In my frieghtliner 10 speed I leave in fourth empty, second if loaded. Works fine.

 

I understand why so many companies are going with automatics now.

Manuel trucks have every gear for a reason.

 

My company switched to automatics to reduce maintenance costs attributed to driver abuse of equipment. That switch has shown positive results.

We have exactly five trucks with 10 speed manuals, and those trucks are assigned exclusively to drivers that are known to not abuse the equipment. I drive one of them.

 

I've lifted off in 2nd over with an empty tridem flatdeck once and I felt that was as far as I felt comfortable pushing it with an empty trailer. Lot of bad habits being taught out there. If I ever lifted off in 4th while empty in my dad's truck he'd have kicked my ### for equipment abuse.

 

I think you are confusing coming to a complete stop vs. Round-about yield/slow down.

A yield/round-about will require gear 4/5/6 depending on bob-tail/weight/slope etc.

A full stop, will require gear reset to 1,2,3 or 4th, depending on bob-tail/weight/slope

Your school instructors need some serious beat down

 

Replace a bad driver with a good one or replace an expensive piece of equipment with an inferior one. hmm