Cdl Test

I've been going to school through Swift for a few weeks at the United States Truck Driving School in Pueblo, CO, and just tested for my cdl today. I got almost a perfect score on pretrip and passed backing with just 2 points but failed the road test for an unsafe act by missing a downshift and having to coast to a stop. I've been doing pretty well with my road driving for the most part and most days haven't missed any shifts but I'm consistently really shaky on my downshifts, especially if I'm in a situation where I might have to skip a gear.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks that might help me do better with my downshifting or at least help me be a little more consistent in downshifting? I am supposed to test again next week after probably one more day of practice.

Thanks

Good afternoon,

I took my road test a couple weeks ago and the best advice that really helped me was this, remember what gear you are in before the shift, if you miss go back into that same gear. That saved me a lot during my road test and boy I missed a bunch and had to change my last name to Grinder. Hope that little tidbit helps a little.

I've been going to school through Swift for a few weeks at the United States Truck Driving School in Pueblo, CO, and just tested for my cdl today. I got almost a perfect score on pretrip and passed backing with just 2 points but failed the road test for an unsafe act by missing a downshift and having to coast to a stop. I've been doing pretty well with my road driving for the most part and most days haven't missed any shifts but I'm consistently really shaky on my downshifts, especially if I'm in a situation where I might have to skip a gear.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks that might help me do better with my downshifting or at least help me be a little more consistent in downshifting? I am supposed to test again next week after probably one more day of practice.

Thanks

Greetings! I just posted a new topic about checking out the Dbl. Clutching 101 videos on YouTube by "yourboyetrucker". It's a 3 part series and I found the information in the second video really helpful for me. Just an idea. I'm almost done with my third week of CDL school and have my road test scheduled for Jan. 15th. Good luck and I'll say a little prayer.

Good afternoon,

I took my road test a couple weeks ago and the best advice that really helped me was this, remember what gear you are in before the shift, if you miss go back into that same gear. That saved me a lot during my road test and boy I missed a bunch and had to change my last name to Grinder. Hope that little tidbit helps a little.

Thanks! Funny thing is several instructors here said that same thing! I will have to make a habit of doing that :)

I've been going to school through Swift for a few weeks at the United States Truck Driving School in Pueblo, CO, and just tested for my cdl today. I got almost a perfect score on pretrip and passed backing with just 2 points but failed the road test for an unsafe act by missing a downshift and having to coast to a stop. I've been doing pretty well with my road driving for the most part and most days haven't missed any shifts but I'm consistently really shaky on my downshifts, especially if I'm in a situation where I might have to skip a gear.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks that might help me do better with my downshifting or at least help me be a little more consistent in downshifting? I am supposed to test again next week after probably one more day of practice.

Thanks

Greetings! I just posted a new topic about checking out the Dbl. Clutching 101 videos on YouTube by "yourboyetrucker". It's a 3 part series and I found the information in the second video really helpful for me. Just an idea. I'm almost done with my third week of CDL school and have my road test scheduled for Jan. 15th. Good luck and I'll say a little prayer.

Thanks, I will definitely check those out! Good luck on your tests as well!

Goodluck on your next road test man. I'm heading to Swift here in Idaho this Sunday and am extremely excited but at the same time extremely nervous.

Goodluck on your next road test man. I'm heading to Swift here in Idaho this Sunday and am extremely excited but at the same time extremely nervous.

Thank you and good luck to you too!

Paul W. inquired:

Does anyone have any tips or tricks that might help me do better with my downshifting or at least help me be a little more consistent in downshifting? I am supposed to test again next week after probably one more day of practice.

Thanks

A few things to consider:

1- Try not to rush your shifts, take your time. Use a "1 - 2" count to maintain a consistent rhythm regardless of upshifting or down shifting until it becomes second nature to you. "Rushing" things is the number one mistake made when learning to shift.

2- If you miss a shift, it's ok, we all do it, but try not to panic. Recovery is important and what the instructor was looking for once you lost your gear. The instructor expects a student to miss a shift, it's how you handle recovery of that situation that is most critical. Like Michael J. suggested, if you miss a shift, put it back in the gear you were in before attempting the shift. Same thing also holds true when upshifting.

3- Keeping the "1 - 2" count in mind, when coming to an intersection or a turn, it's a must to first slow the truck down and allow your RPMs to drop around 800-900 before attempting to downshift; (count 1) clutch, rev to about 1200-ish, (count 2) clutch again while slipping it into gear. Do not "let go" of the gear shift between gears (I have seen new drivers do this), keep it under control your control. Every truck is different, but the "800-900" range has always worked for me. If your RPMs are too high when downshifting, the truck will not cooperate with your attempt. The truck will always win this fight!

4- When double-clutching, quickly "jab" or "punch" it when you are shifting. If you push it too far to the floor, the clutch-brake will be engaged fouling your attempt to shift.

What you will find as you gain more and more experience, the RPMs and road speed are far more critical in the shifting process than the clutch. It's possible that you were given a shifting chart at some point during school that matched road speed to a specific gear. If you have this chart, try to memorize it and think about how it is applied to specific situations you will encounter on the road. Let us know if you don't have this chart and one of us can publish it on the forum for everyone's benefit. You will "get this"...you are close, keep working at it.

Good luck on your test. Safe travels.