First Day Of Shifting And Pre Trip Inspection

Well this is the second week of CDL school and today we started shifting and pre trip inspection. I really really suck at shifting to the point where it got me so frustrated that I feel like I will not be able to learn but I will not give up... I really need advice from you guys on pre trip inspection and shifting gears I have never even driven a manual shift transmission even in a regular car... please help

I was literally in your shoes a few weeks ago. Now I have my license. Crazy how time flies right? The most important factors to shifting are timing, rhythm and proper speeds and rpms. Every truck is different however. I believe the general rule of thumb is to upshift around 1500 and downshift around 1000 rpms. Our road truck shifted around 13 to 1500. Someone suggested that I use the Adams family "snap snap" from the theme song, helped me out some actually. It's a one two motion. Another thing I did was sit in the cab and feel where the gears are with the knobs out of course. I had trouble finding where they were before I could even dream of shifting. It will hit you one day and bring a smile to your face. As far as pretrip, we were given a print out of everything to look for and studied that. Look up apex pre trip on YouTube, very detailed videos.

I was literally in your shoes a few weeks ago. Now I have my license. Crazy how time flies right? The most important factors to shifting are timing, rhythm and proper speeds and rpms. Every truck is different however. I believe the general rule of thumb is to upshift around 1500 and downshift around 1000 rpms. Our road truck shifted around 13 to 1500. Someone suggested that I use the Adams family "snap snap" from the theme song, helped me out some actually. It's a one two motion. Another thing I did was sit in the cab and feel where the gears are with the knobs out of course. I had trouble finding where they were before I could even dream of shifting. It will hit you one day and bring a smile to your face. As far as pretrip, we were given a print out of everything to look for and studied that. Look up apex pre trip on YouTube, very detailed videos.

Thanks alot, so with the truck sitting still and the engine shut off I can sit in the truck and just shift the gears around

Well I think it needs to be running but not sure to be honest. I don't know how your school is set up, but we had 2 to a truck with plenty of time to practice. Considering its your 1st day, don't sweat it at all. I beat myself up pretty good my 1st day because I have high expectations and try to excel at everything. Once I came back to earth I calmed down and started to get things. Also, DO NOT compare your progress to other students. Everybody learns at a different pace, I was almost always the last to pick things up but was told near the end of class I was one of the top students. So keep your head up and don't give up out there.

Well I think it needs to be running but not sure to be honest. I don't know how your school is set up, but we had 2 to a truck with plenty of time to practice. Considering its your 1st day, don't sweat it at all. I beat myself up pretty good my 1st day because I have high expectations and try to excel at everything. Once I came back to earth I calmed down and started to get things. Also, DO NOT compare your progress to other students. Everybody learns at a different pace, I was almost always the last to pick things up but was told near the end of class I was one of the top students. So keep your head up and don't give up out there.

I promise you've motivated me to go even harder, I'm at a school where there is 4 to a truck here in Florida

Another thing I forgot to mention. I had never shifted anything a day in my life. Everyone says that's actually better because I had no bad habits to break starting from scratch. My first day I was basically grinding and stalling all day lol but I figured it out. Pre trip just takes some practice as every state does it slightly differently.

Another thing I forgot to mention. I had never shifted anything a day in my life. Everyone says that's actually better because I had no bad habits to break starting from scratch. My first day I was basically grinding and stalling all day lol but I figured it out. Pre trip just takes some practice as every state does it slightly differently.

About how long did it take you before you caught on to shifting?

I'd say probably around day 3 I managed to get from 2nd to 4th, we were only allowed to go up to 5th on the range. You should try 2nd to 3rd starting out as its just straight down in a 10 speed anyway.

New Man, don't beat yourself up so bad. And as was said earlier you can't really compare yourself to other students. Everybody gets this stuff in a different time frame. Daniel B. - one of the Moderators in this forum drives a double tanker fuel truck, now that requires you to be a smooth operator, but I think he sent some of his fellow students, who were unfortunate enough to have to ride with him when he was first learning to shift, into the hospital with whip-lash!

There is an awful lot going on all at one time when you are first learning to coordinate all those RPM's and road speeds, then you have the different gear positions and that crazy splitter switch, and your two feet are having to do two separate things at once, not to mention watching to make sure your trailer is not rolling over the top of somebody's car - it's all overwhelming! It's frightening, nerve wracking, stressful, and intensely fun, all at the same time!

Hang in there, take a deep breath, and try to relax and enjoy the ride. You are not going to master this in the first two weeks, in fact you will barely be able to drive that thing when they tell you that you are ready to go take your driving test. Think of this as a year long commitment to learning how to handle that wonderful Big Rig. You will soon realize why we are always telling people to commit to that first driving job for a full year. That initial year of driving a truck is a total education. Everybody thinks they are getting a job, when what they are getting is an education.

Welcome to the crazy world of truck driving!

The Adam's Family thing will help you out alot.

Old School mentioned monitoring your speed as well.

Here is a great tip to show you immediately what gear you should be in for a 10-speed rig:

Add up the numbers on the dash and that is the gear you should be in roughly.

1-9mph= 1-4th gear 10-14mph= 5th gear

Now just add the digits together: 15mph= 6th gear ( 1+5=6) 25mph= 7th gear 35mph= 8th gear

So on and so forth.

This is the easiest way to remember and after a while your shifting will become smoother.

Don't get too frustrated and always jump into the seat when the other students are too afraid. More time behind The wheel equals more improvement.

Good luck and have fun!