Hello,

Getting geared up for school in September I have just a few old trucking questions.

1. How Precise do I have to be when shifting in school?


I have driven a few trucks and took one down the road. I always start in Low second and then forth then High seven and so on. OK in other words I don't follow a shift pattern.

2. How should I stop a truck on a flat road?

Asking this question I will tell you I know nothing about Jake brakes. Well I know how they work (in writing) just not how they are used. Also note that I've only driven down the road bobtail and no trailer. I have though backed up a trailer with a big ass 89' International w/ sleeper and did not a bad job LOL.



Thanks James

 

why not just follow a shift pattern??? :roll: :roll:

 

1. Most schools don't expect perfection in shifting but they don't want you to dump the clutch or overrev the engine. My advise to you is to follow the shift pattern. I always start out in 4th gear or if I'm on a hill 3rd gear. Learn to shift by the engine rpm's it is alot easier. Upshift at 1500 or 1600. Downshifting is a little bit harder. Downshift 1 gear at 1000 rpm's or you can downshift 2 gears at 800 rpm's. At school they will always want you to downshift atleast 1 gear before you come to a stop.

2. It depends on the amount of space in front of you. ( I always double down, going down 2 gears at once on a flat road to stop.

Your jackbrake is control by fliping a switch on the dash. It slows your truck down to a certain level of rpm's to keep it from stalling.

 

you have to follow the shift pattern and you must double clutch, you also need to downshift when stopping.when you slow for a turn or a curve you are expected to be in the right gear without hunting for it

 

No offense, but forget everything you THINK you know about driving a truck or shifting. In school, and on your TEST, you will need to exhibit the ability to go up and down through the gears, while "double clutching."

If you are pulling an empty, you may get away with starting in 3rd. Then hit every gear whether you need it or not!

When coming off the road to a stop, downshift to 9th as soon as you can. Then hit at least 7th, then 5th, then coast IN GEAR until it almost stalls, then hit 3rd as you approach the light. They DON'T want to see you coasting OUT OF GEAR!!

You MUST be "in gear" as you approach a light, or it is a FAIL!

Once you've "jumped through the hoops" for the school, you can do what you KNOW to do on the road!

On a flat road, you stop the truck with the "service" brake! But, BE IN GEAR! Don't use the "jakes." And, DON'T coast!

By "coasting" I mean, don't be OUT OF GEAR. If you have downshifted to 4th gear and are slowing down, you can depress the clutch and coast to a stop, using the brakes, IF you are still "IN" a gear! Just DON'T be in neutral "searching" for a gear.

 

another thing. if you skip gears and shift like you described on a road test for a job. you will fail EVERY TIME

 

I think you should just forget about what you think you know and just do what they tell you to do when they tell you to do it.

Not to come off like an expert but some things you've just been told on here will get you a failure on your drivers test, just let your instructors teach you like you are paying them ( A lot) to do.

If you want to get prepared, I'd suggest reading the state manual.

 

This is the best advise. The instructors are teaching and preparing you to pass the oral and roadtest to the state standards. Do not deviate or improvise from what they tell you. Once the roadtest is behind you and you are hired onto a company and go through company training, then you can start learning "other" techniques. Until then just do as you are told/shown.

 

you know, you are right, I misread the question, I thought he was asking what to do on the driving test. of course a driving school instructor should tell him how it is to be done, if he doesnt then it aint much of a school

 

name one thing he has been told that will make him fail