Need Some Help With Shifting, TT
Topic 19127 | Page 2
To practice shifting try getting a regular old chair and a plunger. Set the plunger next to you and practice going thru the gears and the movement your feet need to make. It may look silly, but it is effective.
When I was in trucking, a fellow student had the same issues and we employed the same practice solution as this. Don't forget to add lots of verbal vroom vroom engine noise to engage the other senses into the muscle memory. Serious.
....in trucking *school*....
I found what helped me a lot was just mentally thinking about it and planning it out in my head, watched some YouTube videos that helped and shifting was my biggest concern. 2nd day of driving and I was floating gears. Some of the other guys in my class were still having trouble shifting even at the end of class.
I also had the opportunity to come in on off days and work on it with just me and the instructor. I would ask about coming in on a Saturday or something if that's possible. It's really just one of those things that the more you do it the better you get at it and the more comfortable you become!
Floating Gears:
An expression used to describe someone who is shifting gears without using the clutch at all. Drivers are taught to "Double Clutch" or press and release the clutch twice for each gear shift. If you're floating gears it means you're simply shifting without using the clutch at all.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Thank you all for the words of wisdom, I Have some good news though, Today I got in the truck nervous and worried and dreading the ride to come but one key difference, I laid down in the bunk instead of watching my partner drive, I got in the seat when it was my turn and was kicking arse with the gears and did a fine, bang up job until near the end of the trip when I stopped for a yield sign then had issues from there, I feel that once I mess up, my mind tries to process that mess up and then I end up messing up again after that.
I found what helped me a lot was just mentally thinking about it and planning it out in my head, watched some YouTube videos that helped and shifting was my biggest concern. 2nd day of driving and I was floating gears. Some of the other guys in my class were still having trouble shifting even at the end of class.
I also had the opportunity to come in on off days and work on it with just me and the instructor. I would ask about coming in on a Saturday or something if that's possible. It's really just one of those things that the more you do it the better you get at it and the more comfortable you become!
Keep in mind - YOU MUST DOUBLE-CLUTCH for a DMV Road Test.
I figured out how to float early on in driving school - when it came time for my road test - I'd forgotten how to DC correctly (because I DIDN'T PRACTICE IT ENOUGH - I FLOATED INSTEAD). I failed my first road test ON SHIFTS. Never stalled or had to stop to find a gear - but I couldn't shift smoothly. I could float up/down 2-3 gears - but had difficulty making a regular old DC shift.
Floating COMES LATER - learn how to double clutch and don't worry about floating gears until you have your CDL in hand...
Rick
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Floating Gears:
An expression used to describe someone who is shifting gears without using the clutch at all. Drivers are taught to "Double Clutch" or press and release the clutch twice for each gear shift. If you're floating gears it means you're simply shifting without using the clutch at all.
Double Clutch:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
To practice shifting try getting a regular old chair and a plunger. Set the plunger next to you and practice going thru the gears and the movement your feet need to make. It may look silly, but it is effective.
I did the same thing haha
I found what helped me a lot was just mentally thinking about it and planning it out in my head, watched some YouTube videos that helped and shifting was my biggest concern. 2nd day of driving and I was floating gears. Some of the other guys in my class were still having trouble shifting even at the end of class.
I also had the opportunity to come in on off days and work on it with just me and the instructor. I would ask about coming in on a Saturday or something if that's possible. It's really just one of those things that the more you do it the better you get at it and the more comfortable you become!
Keep in mind - YOU MUST DOUBLE-CLUTCH for a DMV Road Test.
I figured out how to float early on in driving school - when it came time for my road test - I'd forgotten how to DC correctly (because I DIDN'T PRACTICE IT ENOUGH - I FLOATED INSTEAD). I failed my first road test ON SHIFTS. Never stalled or had to stop to find a gear - but I couldn't shift smoothly. I could float up/down 2-3 gears - but had difficulty making a regular old DC shift.
Floating COMES LATER - learn how to double clutch and don't worry about floating gears until you have your CDL in hand...
Rick
I was told the same thing until I found out my grader actually use to drive trucks for like 15 years, I floated and he didn't say a word about it. But yes double clutching is required!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Floating Gears:
An expression used to describe someone who is shifting gears without using the clutch at all. Drivers are taught to "Double Clutch" or press and release the clutch twice for each gear shift. If you're floating gears it means you're simply shifting without using the clutch at all.
Double Clutch:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
Double Clutching:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
That is an effective and excellent way to practice. Could not think of a better way to practice outside of in the truck itself.
To practice shifting try getting a regular old chair and a plunger. Set the plunger next to you and practice going thru the gears and the movement your feet need to make. It may look silly, but it is effective.
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Automatic Transmissions Becoming A Truck Driver Tips For Shifting
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When taking off from a stop, realize the lower gears are to simply get you rolling and your upper gears (high side) is to build speed. Every truck will have "sweet spots" on where to shift as far as your rpms depending on how that trucks rear end is set up.
For example, I have a 10 sp manual transmission. If really heavy I start in 2nd gear, if a light load or empty, I start in 3rd or 4th gear. I upshift at 1400-1500 rpms. And for my truck, I downshift at 1100 when pulling hills.
I'm in a Freightliner Cascadia 10sp manual.
You will also have to be at the appropriate road speed (in addition to correct rpms range) to shift. A good guideline on road speed is:
1+5 (15 mph) 6th gear 2+5 (25 mph) 7th gear 3+5 (35 mph) 8th gear 4+5 (45 mph) 9th gear 5+5 (55 mph+) 10th gear
To upshift:. Clutch neutral clutch gear Downshift: clutch neutral rev clutch gear
Relax, take it easy on the shifter and don't try to force/slam it into a gear that it's not going to take. If everything is right it will literally fall into gear with very little pressure on the stick. When downshifting rev your rpms by about 500 rpms and it will effortlessly slide into gear. If you over rev it, shifting will be difficult. Don't be rough on the shifter and as my trainer used to tell​ me, make love to it not slam bang it lol.
You sound like you are doing well. BTW the chair and the toilet plunger thing works well.