Profile For Dave S.

Man, you guys are a tough nut to crack. Reminds me of the "teachers" in trucking school that taught me nothing. I learned from the other students not them. Guys mostly just out of prison trying to reform themselves. I am not one of these, but we created a bond because we all had the same goal.

Why would it matter what state I'm in? I'm on the East Coast near NYC. I answered my own question by having to drive downtown in rush hour traffic and playing with the truck and gears. School of hardknocks. Dropped the load and kept on moving. I wish I could go OTR (even though I do travel to different states most days) would be a helluva lot easier driving on highways all day long. I figure I am getting a lot more experience having to do both city and highway driving all wrapped into one.

Seriously though, this whole keep sh*t a secret and let the guy learn thing isn't very helpful. When I'm on the road there is a feeling of looking out for other truckers...not so much here.

Welcome, Dave.

Practice. That's really what it's all about. You should be downshifting for the entirety of your deceleration while approaching the light. At any given moment you should already be in the gear you need to be in if the light were to suddenly turn green. The only exception to this is when you are within the final trailer length before coming to a complete stop, you can then depress the clutch all the way. Then if the light turned green, yes you would pop in neutral, hit your splitter if needed, and drop into third or fourth depending on your roll.

It gets easier. Just keep practicing.

Thanks for the tips. When you are in that situation where you are ready to stop and light turns green and you pop it into neutral...is the mindset just like floating the gears? Rev it and pop it into 3rd or 4th? Or do you use the clutch? Just seems weird because feet are already on brake and clutch.

As far as running stop signs other people were saying, I was just trying to explain some way that people would understand. I don't run them lol However, I do a lot of city driving and it is obviously not all cut and clean like on a CDL test or something. Do what you gotta do.

Thanks again.

Hey, Dave ~

No, it's not 'cut and dry;' at all.. but laws of the land pretty much are. I'm not getting into the proper 'gear stuff' with you, because many long time drivers get their own set system, as the years and miles tick on. It varies, and is more RPM's and engine specific.

Regarding the rules on 'right on red...' See, I grew up in FL, and then there's my cousin in Cali . . . so many different rules and ideologies.

If you'd add your state (at least !) to your location, people here in the know, sure could help more. Many rules, laws, etc .. re: trucking (as you'll see; tandems, kingpins, etc...) vary widely.

Best to ya!

~ Anne & Tom ~

Welcome, Dave.

Practice. That's really what it's all about. You should be downshifting for the entirety of your deceleration while approaching the light. At any given moment you should already be in the gear you need to be in if the light were to suddenly turn green. The only exception to this is when you are within the final trailer length before coming to a complete stop, you can then depress the clutch all the way. Then if the light turned green, yes you would pop in neutral, hit your splitter if needed, and drop into third or fourth depending on your roll.

It gets easier. Just keep practicing.

Thanks for the tips. When you are in that situation where you are ready to stop and light turns green and you pop it into neutral...is the mindset just like floating the gears? Rev it and pop it into 3rd or 4th? Or do you use the clutch? Just seems weird because feet are already on brake and clutch.

As far as running stop signs other people were saying, I was just trying to explain some way that people would understand. I don't run them lol However, I do a lot of city driving and it is obviously not all cut and clean like on a CDL test or something. Do what you gotta do.

Thanks again.

Hey Everyone,

New trucker here. Been out on my own for less than a month. Drivin' a 10 speed in diff areas from mountains to busy Jersey areas around NYC. Got the double clutching thing down pretty well, been playing around with floating gears here and there. I have no one to train me and no one to ask questions to, I am the only driver at the moment.

Main question is, not sure if I can explain it right. When you are coming to a light or stop sign and don't need to stop all the way but your foot is already down on the clutch and brake, how would you recommend accelerating without coming to a complete stop? I don't want to stop and reset and lose my momentum. I've played around a bit and can sometimes slip it into 3rd or whatever but don't really know what I'm supposed to do. Should I pop it into neutral and try to catch a gear (depending on weight 1st, 2nd, or 3rd)? Or, since your at such a low speed will it slip in without revving the engine and just use the clutch?

While I'm at it, any tips on learning floating the gears? I have just been floating easy ones like 7 to 8, 9 to 10. Strangely enough, I'm finding it easier to downshift while floating than floating the lower gears.

Thanks.