Some Basic Driving Questions

Howdy everyone. I got some basic silly questions and I was hoping someone here could help.

I've failed a few CDL road tests in a manual transmission semi the past couple of weeks. Never driven manual before all this and I keep making mistakes. I have a job lined up and I need to get back to work ASAP, so I'm going to just take the restriction for now and test out in a full auto truck next week. Haven't driven the auto at all, though. I saw that the shifter in the auto truck just has Drive, Neutral, Reverse, 1, and 2 on it. I was told 1 &2 are only generally used for off road driving. The only other thing I was told was that the autos are just like driving my car, but I'm confused about some things having been trained in a manual for so long. I can't seem to find many posts or videos anywhere that give me insight on automatic tractor trailer operations.

- Do I literally just use the service brake pedal to slow down and come to a stop now? I'm so used to being told not do this and downshift in the manual truck. - How does the engine brake work on an auto? Will it just kick in on its own and start slowing me down once I let off the accelerator? Does this also work the same way going down a steep hill? I normally use my brake pedal going downhill in my car, but I'm so used to being told to downshift and never use the service brake going down steep grades in a manual truck now. - What is the proper order to engage and release the parking brakes? Would engaging be = 'brake in, shift to neutral, push in parking brakes'? Would releasing be = 'brake in, pull out parking brakes, shift to drive'? I never really knew while driving a manual, either, and often found myself engaging the parking brakes both before and after putting the truck into neutral.

- Do I literally just use the service brake pedal to slow down and come to a stop now? I'm so used to being told not do this and downshift in the manual truck.

- How does the engine brake work on an auto? Will it just kick in on its own and start slowing me down once I let off the accelerator? Does this also work the same way going down a steep hill? I normally use my brake pedal going downhill in my car, but I'm so used to being told to downshift and never use the service brake going down steep grades in a manual truck now.

- What is the proper order to engage and release the parking brakes? Would engaging be = 'brake in, shift to neutral, push in parking brakes'? Would releasing be = 'brake in, pull out parking brakes, shift to drive'? I never really knew while driving a manual, either, and often found myself engaging the parking brakes both before and after putting the truck into neutral.

Last paragraph of my original post was all jammed together. Spacing it out to make it easier on the eyes to read.

On an automatic, whether you put in gear or neutral first and then release your parking breaks, you will have your foot on the break pedal first. When you stop and set your parking breaks, just remember to shift to neutral. Your Jakes will either be on the stick, dash or steering wheel. Turn your Jakes on when needed Shift to drive to go forward and reverse to go backwards.

It's very simple. Just remember your driving an 80,000 pound death machine that's about 70 feet long.

Matt, I think you are making a good decision to go with auto. It is so easy and you slow down with the service break and the Jake break. I’ve driven auto for 3 years and never once used the manual mode. Just keep extra stopping and following distance and you will really like auto. Conservative driving is the key, don’t be focused on the number of miles you want to drive. You may want to get 600 miles per day, but be satisfied with 500 if that is what keeps you safe.

I loved the auto's (FLs) I set the jake to 1 sometimes 2 and let it do it's thing when it needed to. Besides, both companies I drove for had the manual option not available to use. My guess is too not let some drivers create more problems than it's worth, messing with manual mode lol

Do not use the jake on the road exam.

And are you sure you can test now that you failed " a few times". MO and NJ have a 3 test and you are done rule.

On an automatic, whether you put in gear or neutral first and then release your parking breaks, you will have your foot on the break pedal first. When you stop and set your parking breaks, just remember to shift to neutral. Your Jakes will either be on the stick, dash or steering wheel. Turn your Jakes on when needed Shift to drive to go forward and reverse to go backwards.

It's very simple. Just remember your driving an 80,000 pound death machine that's about 70 feet long.

That's basically what I've been doing in a manual, too. I just wanted confirmation. It doesn't seem like the order really matters as long as my foot is on the brake while shifting and setting/releasing the parking brakes. Thanks.

Matt, I think you are making a good decision to go with auto. It is so easy and you slow down with the service break and the Jake break. I’ve driven auto for 3 years and never once used the manual mode. Just keep extra stopping and following distance and you will really like auto. Conservative driving is the key, don’t be focused on the number of miles you want to drive. You may want to get 600 miles per day, but be satisfied with 500 if that is what keeps you safe.

Thank you so much. I'm really disappointed about it, but it's just too much for me on the road test. The nervousness of somebody watching me is definitely a big part of it, too. I never really wanted to drive a manual truck ever again anyway. At least now I won't have to worry about getting a loaner someday that I'll have to figure out how to drive home. Clutching in city traffic is a real pain in the rear end, not to mention my leg. I don't get any sort of ego boost from doing it. I already know about the super truckers and they're take on drivers who can only drive autos. None of my reasons for getting into trucking are to feel more manly, though. I couldn't care less. I'm going to the yard on Monday to get a better look at the inside of the auto trucks they have. I didn't see any shifter for the jake brakes before, just a Drive/Neutral/Reverse/1/2 shifter where a manual shifter would normally sit between the seats. But I wasn't really looking too hard because I planned to test in a manual at that time. I'm just running out of time and options now; I really need to hit the road and start earning a paycheck. No to mention that sitting around and wasting money on these retests is getting me frustrated and depressed, too. I have to wait a week between each one.

How are the jakes usually engaged on an automatic by the driver, though? Or is it literally just automatic in conjunction with the service brake? I've seen a lot of YouTube videos where the trucks have a shift handle where the wiper blade usually are with different brake levels; usually up to 3 or 4. But those handles also usually have D/N/R on them as well. I've seen videos/talk about 2 different types of automatics: "automated manual" and "full automatic". I'm wondering if maybe the auto trucks at my yard are full-auto and have no additional braking method besides the pedal? They seem pretty old. There's really only one very brief steep downgrade on my test. I'll probably just use the service brake regardless to pass, but it would still be nice to know. I literally can't seem to find info one these basic questions anywhere. Everyone mostly talks about manuals even though they're essentially being phased out based on everything I've heard and read.

I loved the auto's (FLs) I set the jake to 1 sometimes 2 and let it do it's thing when it needed to. Besides, both companies I drove for had the manual option not available to use. My guess is too not let some drivers create more problems than it's worth, messing with manual mode lol

I think I'll love autos, too. And I'm sure you're right about that! I'm a pretty good driver in my personal vehicle and I'm able to slow down without even touching my brake most of the time by just using the grade of the road to my advantage or letting off the accelerator in advance. I'm always focused on what's around me and up ahead of me. I feel like the manual is taking away from that, though.

Do not use the jake on the road exam.

And are you sure you can test now that you failed " a few times". MO and NJ have a 3 test and you are done rule.

Yeah, like I said, I'll probably use the service brake exclusively just to pass. I'd like to say that I'm concerned about the state of their truck, but I'm more concerned about the state of my bank account right now. Also, I had two instructors tell me it drives just like my auto car. I never use anything on my car to slow or stop except the brake pedal. Thankfully, my state allows unlimited retests. But I absolutely know what you're talking about having lived in a state previously that has the 3 strikes road test rule. I'd be crushed under that kind of pressure right now, lol! Thanks again.

The jakes are controlled by the driver with a stick/lever coming out of the steering column above the wiper blades control stick like you mentioned, on both Volvos and the FL I've driven. Mine have all been A 1 2 3 B. A is Automatic, so whatever speed your cruise is set at, it will activate a certain amount of MPH above that. The Volvos I could set it from 1 over up to several over. I think the FL had it set to 5 over. 1 2 3 were the levels you decided, 3 being the strongest. B acts as what I call a superjake, it's the strongest. They're all a little different depending on type of truck. The Volvos' jake efficiency are nothing to that of the FL I drove, in my experience.

The jakes are controlled by the driver with a stick/lever coming out of the steering column above the wiper blades control stick like you mentioned, on both Volvos and the FL I've driven. Mine have all been A 1 2 3 B. A is Automatic, so whatever speed your cruise is set at, it will activate a certain amount of MPH above that. The Volvos I could set it from 1 over up to several over. I think the FL had it set to 5 over. 1 2 3 were the levels you decided, 3 being the strongest. B acts as what I call a superjake, it's the strongest. They're all a little different depending on type of truck. The Volvos' jake efficiency are nothing to that of the FL I drove, in my experience.

That's what I thought. All the instructor's told me was: "it's just like driving your car". I think they probably want me to pay $200 for 1 hour of additional training or something. They haven't been very forthcoming with information, especially now that I'm road testing. I'm just going to abuse the heck out of their service brake during my test, whatever. I'm not impressed with this school and, besides wanting to get my CDL , I also just want to be done with this place.

Automatics are totally unsafe. I will never drive one again! Not until tomorrow at least.

They are more like flying a plane. Nothing like driving a road vehcile at all.

Are we being trolled a lot lately... or am i just suffering from menopause????