Stopping Without Downshifting?

Hello, everyone!

I'm taking my CDL road exam later this week through a school. I've been learning in an 8-speed manual transmission truck, and part of our road test route includes a busy 4-lane city road with quite a few stoplights throughout, as well as a 55 MPH speed limit. I shift all the way up to 8th gear to maintain the speed limit during a long stretch without any stoplights early on. However, I often find myself not having enough time to downshift through the gears when one of the stoplights up ahead suddenly turn yellow or red, and cars start piling up in front of me. A lot of times, I end up unable to get into gear, which causes me to coast longer than the length of my vehicle (an automatic fail on the exam). It doesn't help that cars often cut in front of me at the last minute, making my stopping distances before the lights even shorter.

So, can I safely stop in 8th gear using only the brake and clutch pedals? Will pushing in the clutch pedal just before coming to a complete stop in 8th gear prevent me from stalling out? (also an automatic fail)

Sorry if this has been asked a million times or seems like a dumb question, but I'm new to manual driving and am having trouble finding a clear answer anywhere. I didn’t get much road time during my training, and most of the time I did get was spent focusing on learning how to double clutch properly.

I know I should be downshifting as much as possible whenever I can. I’m pretty good at it in more predictable parts of the test, like highway exits and upcoming turns, where I can take my time. However, the nature of this particular road—given the speed limit, stoplights, and amount of traffic—is awkward. I really need to pass my exam, and the retests at the school are not cheap. I’d rather just use the service brake to stop in this area altogether, if possible, and then shift into a lower gear before starting again.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

I think you answered your question, don't do it on the test. The machine can take the abuse but it isn't the best or safest method. You mentioned not coasting the length of your vehicle, that's good. Have your instructors taught you about a "stale green light"? It was a new concept to me when I started. The idea is to anticipate and be ready for a light that's about to change. Also, it's OK to be a bit below the speed limit, if the limit is 55, go 50.

John, I feel your pain. When I tested out in a manual, I had the same worries. The key was to drive the test as slow as possible (without impeding traffic), which gave me more time to think, react, and downshift. When I tested out, all I had to do was to get down to 3rd gear in the test truck. I could start from a dead stop in 3rd gear. I’m not sure if all trucks can do this, but 2nd gear should always be low enough. And, yeah, I ground some gears but I still passed the test. Most examiners are aware of the fact that you are still learning when you test out. Try to relax, think and take it easy. Good luck!

I think you answered your question, don't do it on the test. The machine can take the abuse but it isn't the best or safest method. You mentioned not coasting the length of your vehicle, that's good. Have your instructors taught you about a "stale green light"? It was a new concept to me when I started. The idea is to anticipate and be ready for a light that's about to change. Also, it's OK to be a bit below the speed limit, if the limit is 55, go 50.

Thanks for the reply, Rob! Unfortunately, no, I'm only hearing about "stale" green lights now as I ask this question across trucking forums. My actual road training consisted of just one week shared with four other trainees, and it wasn’t as lengthy or thorough as I would have liked. But, as they say, "It is what it is." I have been trying to maintain a speed that is 5 MPH slower than the limit to avoid being penalized on the exam for speeding. The speed limit on the road I’m having trouble with is 55 MPH, but sometimes traffic moves at around 45 MPH due to congestion. It’s a fast moving stop-and-go area that I find quite tricky to anticipate and manage effectively at times. I get overwhelmed sometimes by having to focus on the shifting while also needing to pay attention to the road and my surroundings.

Is it possible to come to a complete, controlled stop in high gear without stalling the truck out? I don’t think my instructor would mind, since I would still be in gear and in control of the truck during this process. However, stalling the truck out is an automatic fail.

John, I feel your pain. When I tested out in a manual, I had the same worries. The key was to drive the test as slow as possible (without impeding traffic), which gave me more time to think, react, and downshift. When I tested out, all I had to do was to get down to 3rd gear in the test truck. I could start from a dead stop in 3rd gear. I’m not sure if all trucks can do this, but 2nd gear should always be low enough. And, yeah, I ground some gears but I still passed the test. Most examiners are aware of the fact that you are still learning when you test out. Try to relax, think and take it easy. Good luck!

Thanks for the reply, BK! That’s exactly my problem with this one area on my exam route. I feel like this particular road I’m struggling with isn’t very friendly to newbie manual truck drivers—it’s congested, has multiple lanes, many stoplights, and a 55 MPH speed limit. I want to upshift rapidly to maintain an appropriate speed without “impeding traffic,” but I also need to be prepared to downshift quickly if one of the lights changes unexpectedly. It just feels like too much all at once.

Is it possible to come to a complete, controlled stop in high gear without stalling the truck out? I don’t think my instructor would mind, since I would still be in gear and in control of the truck during this process. However, stalling the truck out is an automatic fail.

I neglected to mention in my original post that I am slowing down before the stoplights by letting my foot off the accelerator and allowing gravity to bring my speed down naturally, while also gently and steadily applying the brake pedal. I don't just slam on the brake pedal and clutch suddenly at the last second. I can anticipate stops pretty well most of the time, but I find myself not having enough time to downshift one this one particular stretch.

John, you can only come to a complete stop in high gear IF the clutch is disengaged. But after you stop, you have to get it in 2nd or 3rd gear to get moving again. Of course, it’s easy to downshift if you are stopped. The examiner is looking to see that you at least have the concept of downshifting to slow the truck. You don’t usually have to be perfect, but good enough to demonstrate that you have the general idea.

Will you be driving a manual when you pass the test, or don’t you know yet?

John, you can only come to a complete stop in high gear IF the clutch is disengaged. But after you stop, you have to get it in 2nd or 3rd gear to get moving again. Of course, it’s easy to downshift if you are stopped. The examiner is looking to see that you at least have the concept of downshifting to slow the truck. You don’t usually have to be perfect, but good enough to demonstrate that you have the general idea.

Will you be driving a manual when you pass the test, or don’t you know yet?

I engage the clutch only shortly before I intend to come to a complete stop. I typically push the clutch pedal in (while already slightly applying the brake pedal) maybe 10-20 feet before stopping, at most. Only after pressing in the clutch pedal do I fully apply the brake pedal to the floor. I can feel the clutch helping me stop the vehicle, but I’ve been informed that keeping the clutch engaged is often considered "coasting" or "being out of gear" by most testing standards. That’s why I try to avoid using it until I’ve already slowed down considerably and am ready to stop completely.

I’m aware of the need to reset once I am stopped. I learned the hard way that taking off from a stop in high gear can stall the truck (lol). After stopping, I’ve trained myself to always shift to neutral, put my splitter down, and then shift into 3rd gear, which is the gear we were taught to start in with the school’s 8-speed truck. Does this all sound correct to you? Any additional tips?

I have no issues downshifting for turns during the suburban part of my exam route, nor do I have trouble downshifting off the highway exit portion of my route. Both areas are easy to anticipate, and I don’t have to worry as much about traffic. It’s really just this one congested 55 MPH area with numerous lanes and stoplights that’s been giving me trouble. I’d like to avoid downshifting in this area altogether and instead show off my downshifting abilities in the other areas that I'm more comfortable with. However, I’ve been concerned that stopping in high gear might stall the truck out and result in an automatic fail.

My school has both manual and automatic transmissions for testing. I’ve been working hard to learn manual and will be testing in that. I’m trying to avoid having an automatic restriction put on my CDL , as I’ve read that many higher-paying driving roles still use manual transmissions and won’t consider applicants with the restriction. I intend to make a career out of truck driving and I'd like to eventually be considered for these types of jobs.

Thanks again for your help, BK.

On my exam with a 10.sp, i down shifted to 6th gear, stopped and reset waiting for the light to change before taking off again. This is perfectly legal on the MO exam.

You can stop in high gear like you want, there are 2 issues that I see. 1 is it allowed? The state wants to see you drive "correctly" I believe we had to down shift when stopping on the test.

2nd is timing, if you stay in 8th until the engine starts chugging then push in the clutch you may end up being to far from the light resulting in you costing too and failing. Does that make sense?

Hey John, from reading your comments, you obviously think your driving test has a challenging stretch that you're uncomfortable with. I get that.

The problem is... you need to downshift. That's required on the driving test. Figure it out. You're wasting a lot of energy on trying to avoid it. We understand the issue. All of us had trouble downshifting when we tested. But it's a test - that's why you do what it requires.

When you're out here on your own, you'll figure out your own way of stopping at a quick light. For the test you need to figure out how to at least catch another gear. You can do this. Just be deliberate and make it happen.

On my exam with a 10.sp, i down shifted to 6th gear, stopped and reset waiting for the light to change before taking off again. This is perfectly legal on the MO exam.

Thank you, Trucker Kearsey! I might try downshifting once to 7th gear, but making multiple downshifts on this particular exam route seems challenging for me. It also feels like I’m constantly thinking about the shifter and going back and forth with it in a high-traffic area, where I should be more focused on the vehicles and people around me.

You can stop in high gear like you want, there are 2 issues that I see. 1 is it allowed? The state wants to see you drive "correctly" I believe we had to down shift when stopping on the test.

2nd is timing, if you stay in 8th until the engine starts chugging then push in the clutch you may end up being to far from the light resulting in you costing too and failing. Does that make sense?

It is allowed, my trainers have told me it's fine. I've really just been trying to get confirmation/second opinions on actually doing it. I'm terrified of the idea of stalling out because it's an auto fail. I was stalling out a lot initially during my road training, but that was mostly from forgetting to go back into low gear before starting again.

Yes, it makes sense. I definitely don't want to coast too far because that's also an auto fail. Would there be a way to avoid this if I'm coming to a stop in a high gear? Should I try to remain above a certain speed or RPM as I approach my final stopping point behind a vehicle/line? Thank you, Bobcat_Bob!