Quote:
Originally Posted by BigDumbDog777
You guys have been awesome so far. I was stressing about some of my skills test like backing into a garage from a 90 degree angle and other skills, and with your tips I aced all the the CDL skills exam. I've passed the pretrip and sklls portion so far.
The only problem I'm having is with the road exam, because simply I suck at shifting. I'm looking for shifting tips, especially down-shifting tips. I've tried using the rpms and it seems hit or miss. Sometimes I do ok and other times I plain suck. a lot of grinding gears and not being able to find the right gear. I think it is a combination of nerves and lack of skill or feeling comfortable in what I know and this leads back to nerves.
So any shifting tips for a newbie? its a ten speed. Doesn't seem to be a progressive shift since it seems I'm shifting same place on the rpm's no matter what gear. Basically I'm just sucking at shifting - any tips or advice?
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What kind of truck is it? Freightliner?
Progressive shifting is a term used to describe the proper technique to use-which has the driver progressively shifting to a gear which keeps the rpm's low--and the truck in the highest gear possible for that rolling speed( (saves fuel)
until you gain enough experience--you should be using the techometer-
with time you'll learn by sound---but if you don't learn WHAT RPM to shift at---and get used to shifting at the noise pitch of say...2000 rpm's(way to high) you'll be doomed to a bad habit for life.
Now, if it's a freightliner--you'll notice the techometer is divided into color regions ---and the 1500 rpms is top of the guage--and the range around it--is colored GREEN.. GREEN is good. 1700-2100 is yellow---this isn't where you're suppose to be running or even rev'ing into---with the exception of down a hill( using the gears & engine to hold you back)
likewise 1200 and less is lugging the engine or low range.
there's a rolling RANGE for each gear--you need to learn what those ranges are--
a good rule of thumb- 50mph or greater is top gear=10th
city gear is ninth---usually a range from 35-50mph=9th
each gear range below is progressively smaller range
one most city turns--you'll want to be in 5th/or 6th
Jump in any time here----current trainers---I'm rusty with these figures.
Downshifting: most of my trainees had the problem with their FOOT-
it can't be on two pedals at once- and they would forget--they got to 'break torque' , rev the engine back up to sync the tranny/engine
First the brake--slow down to the rolling speed/ select the gear for that range/break torque/ disengage/rev up to 1400-1600rpm/ slip the transmission into the proper gear for that speed range.