Looking To Rent Time On A Proper Simulator In Northern California

Hi, I took my CDL test and passed in a truck with a 6 speed synchronized transmission. It wasn’t very challenging, as I’ve been driving manual cars my whole life.

I got a PC sim setup with Eaton style shifter and ATS setup in unsynchronized mode. I’m very comfortable now with the 10, 13 and 18 speed transmissions on there. I upshift and downshift like a pro.

I’ve gotten a chance to drive a truck with a 10 speed a few times now at a place I’m hoping to get hired at. While the PC sim has helped me with backing, rev matching(the idea, anyways) and shift patterns, it’s nothing like a real truck. Still glad I got one, though.

While I’m doing okay at it, I’d love to be able to rent time on one of those proper sims these big schools use that are more like a real truck.

I live in Northern California. Any ideas on this? Thanks

I actually found ATS to be better than the sim that was at our school. The graphics were far better.

Here's my two cents...

There are no simulators that will help you with this. Every truck shifts a little differently from each other. There are so many variables involved. The same truck shifts differently when loaded versus unloaded, or even going uphill or down will make a huge difference.

You have your CDL already. You seem to enjoy perfecting the little nuances. In trucking that's called experience. You don't need to waste your money on simulator training. You need a job. Go get on board and perfect your skills while being productive.

While you are working, you'll discover a whole new world of challenges you haven't even considered yet. Shifting will become muscle memory in no time at all. Things like being safe, productive, and always on time will rise up to be things you want to learn. Once again, there aren't simulators that help with those skills.

Step into the real world where there are consequences. There is nothing that teaches you so well as a system having the power to reward or punish you.

I would call local CDL schools, especially any CC's that had simulators and ask. I would agree with Davy A though, that ATS was a better sim compared to my schools $100,000 machine. It was only better in that the shifter would grind and not go into gear and the roads in the sim were not as forgiving as they are in ATS.

I'm in a similar place as you. I graduated CDL school on April 14th, and will start my new job on June 17th, and I'd like to get some time behind the wheel in-between but haven't come up with a solution as of yet. If we had a truck wash close, I thought about putting out an add offering to drive people's rigs in and wash them. 😂

Here's my two cents...

There are no simulators that will help you with this. Every truck shifts a little differently from each other. There are so many variables involved. The same truck shifts differently when loaded versus unloaded, or even going uphill or down will make a huge difference.

You have your CDL already. You seem to enjoy perfecting the little nuances. In trucking that's called experience. You don't need to waste your money on simulator training. You need a job. Go get on board and perfect your skills while being productive.

While you are working, you'll discover a whole new world of challenges you haven't even considered yet. Shifting will become muscle memory in no time at all. Things like being safe, productive, and always on time will rise up to be things you want to learn. Once again, there aren't simulators that help with those skills.

Step into the real world where there are consequences. There is nothing that teaches you so well as a system having the power to reward or punish you.

When I read this post, my thoughts were much the same as what Old School said. When I trained at Schneider, they had a simulator. It was kinda fun to play on at the time, but now after almost 3 years of driving, I know that it was mainly a big waste of time.

CAFreshy, are you planning on getting a job that requires driving a manual? Your first job will probably be in an auto shift truck; no simulator needed!

Simulators are a great tool and resource but are intended to teach thought process not mechanical skill.