Quote:
Originally Posted by codered
Ok, I started driving today....
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First things first: Are we to assume you attended a driving school or did Uncle Bill teach you how to drive in his truck? Or, for chuckles and giggles, did you borrow Uncle Bill's freightliner and are taking it to Texas for the weekend? :shock: Seriously, we need to know what's going on when you say you started driving today.
Quote:
Originally Posted by codered
I think my problem is that when I take it out of the gear I am in, I get very nervous about not being able to stop. I also have a bad habit of jabing the throttle. My biggest issue is on the highway, and I want to slow for a corner or a curve in the road....I take it out, and then I cant downshift it so I get worked up over it and end up using the brakes...which when hauling 70,000lbs, wont take long to eat brakes.
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Short term solution: take baby steps. While you're traveling along
with no traffic behind you, try downshifting to the next lower gear. If you fail, no biggie, get her back up to the speed and try again (
again with no traffic behind you). After a few successes you'll feel more confident in downshifting.
Long term solution: practice in an empty parking lot, (or anywhere there's room to turn around) preferably with an empty trailer. Downshift from 6th to 5th to 4th. Repeat. Again. You can practice with just the tractor but it will kick you around a bit more than if you have the weight of the trailer attached as well. Sure this may look weird going in circles around a parking lot but who cares?! Just do it! :rock:
Keep us posted on your progress.
Remember...the brakes alone will stop you. But for now, avoid the mountains!