Veterans Advice to a Rookie?

I don't think it would do you any good, a personal vehicle has a syncronized transmission were a truck does not. So they do not change gears the same.

 

It will help some... but Oscar is right on the snyc.
Gettin some practice before might give you a bit of an edge in knowing how the engine will sound and gettin that feelin of knowing and seein on the tach the right timing to clutch and switch gears... etc.

 

I think the principle of knowing how the engine sounds when shifting, that principle could help you learn when to shift, but at the sametime that is like a trial and error type of thing i.e. listening for the engine to tell you when to shift.

I think it depends on both your ability to learn i.e. retain information given to you, and the trainers who are giving you information.

I have a friend who got his CDL who had to learn how to drive a stick from driving trucks. If I was a trainer, I could explain it to you in order to help you. It is as simple as memorizing the gear patterns intellectually, have a book knowledge so to speak of the gear patterns of that specific truck, and then feel for the gears with the engine off, and then turn it on and get a feel for the gears etc.

Remember where the RPM's are at when shifting. There is a scientific formula.... I believe it is gear times 5mph that tell you where to shift.

Yeah... 1st gear x 5= 5mph.... 2nd gear x5 =10mph.....3rd gear x 5= 15 mph.......but this may be only for a 9 or 10 speed, changes for other trucks. Remember the RPM's my friend and I have faith that you will do well.

Also if you are musically inclined that may help you also....

LOL but start making the motor cycle noise right.....1st gear....... right at 11 or 12 rpm's shift... one 1 thousand, two 1 thousand......(motor cycle noise) while in 2nd gear.....right at 11 or 12 rpm's shift... one 1 thousand, two 1 thousand......but remember these are low gears and it may take only 2 to 5 seconds to go from gear to gear in low gears.....i.e. 1-4, or 1-5....

But remember to do this with you hand and foot, at the same time, simply practicing this sitting in a chair can help, but you will be alright if you read and listen to your instructor in training, and if your training is own someone's truck then that person may or should know their truck better than another and knows the right place to shift on their truck.

By the way, two of the same model, year, and make of truck could be the same, identical in every area but the mileage and still shift differently because of a warn gear pattern......

But you should be good without ever driving a stick before, I have a friend who got his CDL with a company this way, I already knew how to drive a stick before I started trucking.....

Peace

 

One way or another you need to wrap your head around the concept. Have you ever driven a 10 speed bicycle ? If you have then you kind of know already. As far as the procedure for shifting, I don't think being able to do it in a car or pickup is gonna help you with a truck much.

 

If you have never driven a manual shift vehicle then yes. Once you get the hang of letting the clutch out without stalling a vehicle, then its all the same other then double clutching. Of course once you master shifting then you will start floating gears ( no clutch)

 

See my answer below...lolol....

 

Good answer...left that out about learning not to stall out.....Definitely in favor of it helping with the right person pointing things out to trigger the train of thought needed to learn a principle....

 

If you can use a manual shift car, then your on your way. You will stall and grind at first, but who doesnt when they are learning? Some poeple make shifting sound like they are splitting an Atom. Trust me, when you are out there training you will see more than your share of idiots that shouldnt be driving a CMV.