I've Been In Training For 6 Months And I Still Can't Get The Hang Of Shifting

Wow all I can say is wow.....That trainer sounds like a real piece of work. Without knowing all the factors, I think I'm still safe in saying that guy sucks if he can't find a way to get thru. Negative reinforcement is the all out WRONG way to teach anything!!! And I can't believe you made it six months with someone like that.

Again I don't know all the particulars. Is it just the shifting that's got him saying that or are there other things going on that had pushed him into saying something so stupid? I'd have to really be upset to say that. I bet if you ask my student, he'd tell you I'm a bit of a hard ass with things. I got mad a few times when I would tell him to "take the next left" or take the next exit and he passed them up even after me pointing and repeating " turn here, turn right here!!" Or getting upset enough at him to walk away because he missed roll call at the exam check in after I thought I made myself very clear when to be there.

Bottom line is it sounds like there MAY be a communication issue between you and he. If he gives you instruction, repeat it back. You may find out you didn't hear it the way he said it.

I'm not defending him mind you just offering a possible situation of what might be going on. It seems every issue I have is a communication issue with what I tell my student and what he actually hears.

If all else fails, you can ask for another trainer. Kind of a sticky spot with only 50 hours left. That's about a week of driving as long as you're doing the lion share of the driving like should you should be.

Lastly you say you've been driving for nearly 6 months, how many driving hours do you have in that amount of time? That seems like a long time to be in training.

Trucks vary, too. Our KW T680 10-speed periodically kicks my butt. I'll go fine for hours, get to an exit for a fuel stop/break and seem to forget everything I know! I don't float much but catch my self sliding into gear with a single clutch push. I was worried about my test out at Memphis as I knew I'd be using their truck, but that old Freightshaker treated me right. It's all practice and learning your truck.

Wow all I can say is wow.....That trainer sounds like a real piece of work. Without knowing all the factors, I think I'm still safe in saying that guy sucks if he can't find a way to get thru. Negative reinforcement is the all out WRONG way to teach anything!!! And I can't believe you made it six months with someone like that.

Again I don't know all the particulars. Is it just the shifting that's got him saying that or are there other things going on that had pushed him into saying something so stupid? I'd have to really be upset to say that. I bet if you ask my student, he'd tell you I'm a bit of a hard ass with things. I got mad a few times when I would tell him to "take the next left" or take the next exit and he passed them up even after me pointing and repeating " turn here, turn right here!!" Or getting upset enough at him to walk away because he missed roll call at the exam check in after I thought I made myself very clear when to be there.

Bottom line is it sounds like there MAY be a communication issue between you and he. If he gives you instruction, repeat it back. You may find out you didn't hear it the way he said it.

I'm not defending him mind you just offering a possible situation of what might be going on. It seems every issue I have is a communication issue with what I tell my student and what he actually hears.

If all else fails, you can ask for another trainer. Kind of a sticky spot with only 50 hours left. That's about a week of driving as long as you're doing the lion share of the driving like should you should be.

Lastly you say you've been driving for nearly 6 months, how many driving hours do you have in that amount of time? That seems like a long time to be in training.

I did not start with him, my first trainer was a really good teacher. I've been with this guy only a week . I need only 50 hours with him to finish my training. I'm trying to finish with no problems but everyday get worse and worse.

Sorry you have a Butt Head to deal with for your last 50 hrs... Hang Tough, you'll be through it and on your own before you know it. Follow Daniels advice on shift points and know everybody rounds off a gear once in a while...;) Anyway, most important thing is to try and relax & discover what is causing your problems, simplest thing to try first is adjusting the RPM's of your shift points

Ken C.

I've been driving now for 7 months, 7 days a week with very minimum home time so I can offer my two cents. I still fine tune the way I shift. I tend to float the first five or so and double clutch the rest. I think every Truck is different. The Truck I drove during training acts differently then the Truck I was assigned to. I had to get used to it. I've found that there are some factors when I shift. How heavy I am and If I'm going up or down hill. Is your Trainer double clutching to show you how it's done? If he's criticizing you and all the meanwhile he's floating gears , that doesn't make much sense. And if he is double clutching, does he do it smoothly? Does he talk to you while he's doing it? Do you pay attention to where and under what circumstances he either ****s of downshifts? If he's double clutching real smoothly then maybe he's just not an effective teacher for you. He's obviously getting frustrated. The more relaxed I am the better I shift as well. If I'm hurrying myself or irritated by one thing or another my shifting isn't as smoothly. I'd say either switch trainers if your thinking about quitting or just take it as a challenge to overcome. I still improve and I still double shift from 7th gear on most of the time. My Truck is a little moody. In regard to downshifting, I get better and better at it the more I drive. When I first started driving I wouldn't take a curve at 55 mph to save my life and now I do no problem. All of this is repetition. I'm still fine tuning everything about this job to be honest, backing, shifting, curves, etc.etc..etc.. That's why it's very rewarding and the money gets better and better too. I'm light years better at backing now then when I was assigned my own Truck. Shifting came easier for me then I thought it would but like I said, I'm still fine tuning and getting better at it. I think the cold weather is a factor on my Truck too sometimes when it comes to smooth shifting. Sometimes speed is a factor too. How fast your going into neutral and then into gear. My trainer's Truck I could be very relaxed and never in a hurry and double shift just fine. On my Truck now, I find that I don't have as much time or it'll grind. It's has to shifted a little faster to neutral and then into gear.

I only use the clutch when I leave that stop sign. Once I leave that stop sign, no more clutch untill I miss a light.

Contact the fleet manager that fleet manager is also your fleet manager and tell him/her about this guy and how inappropriate he is. Don't let one person and his rudeness determine your life and what you want to do. Did you try shifting the way I said?

If there is any way to record him, even better. There's your undeniable proof! CYA!!!