I'm Good Until I Miss A Gear

It's crazy. I can get everything right, cruise right along on the service roads, good trailer path on turns, down shift correctly and at the right time, but let me miss a gear and all of a sudden I don't even know my name. I'm going to have to get over this "trauma" I go through every time I grind a gear.

It's crazy. I can get everything right, cruise right along on the service roads, good trailer path on turns, down shift correctly and at the right time, but let me miss a gear and all of a sudden I don't even know my name. I'm going to have to get over this "trauma" I go through every time I grind a gear.

That happened to me too while I training. I felt more nervous being with the trainer. Just take a deep breath and recover. If you need to put your hazards on then do so... Stop of u need to.

Also consider the truck itself might be at fault. My trainer had a much older truck than I was given. Went solo and bam... shifting better!

It takes time don't give up.

Oh you'll totally get over it. It just takes time and repetition. if you miss a gear while upshifting and you're coasting for a little bit your best bet is to try to return to the gear you just came out of. Sometimes you'll be accelerating, miss a shift, and while you're trying to get it into the next gear the truck slows down just a little bit. Now you're a little too slow to be in the gear you were going to so it's best to go back to the one you came from and try again.

Everyone misses gears, even if you've been driving for 20 years. Don't think anything of it. Just relax and take your time. Don't get in a hurry trying to find a gear. You'll just make it worse. Relax, think it through, and work through it.

Thanks Rainy and Brett!

When you grind usely you drop Rpms or you pick them up depending on the road all ways know what gear your phone in I usely rev up put in gear or back back to the gear I left

Sorry bout the typeo don't know how to edit it

When you grind usely you drop Rpms or you pick them up depending on the road all ways know what gear your phone in I usely rev up put in gear or back back to the gear I left

Jason I suggest hitting the "preview" button before hitting send and proof-read your reply and make corrections before it's published.

I think some really good advice was already provided; "return to the gear you came from when a shift is missed".

Today was much better. I was either able to Rev my rpms higher to get the desired gear or return to the previous gear, every single time.

Thanks everybody!

Today was much better. I was either able to Rev my rpms higher to get the desired gear or return to the previous gear, every single time.

Thanks everybody!

Makes tons of sense...each day will tend to get better as you gain more repetitions, confidence, and learn how to relax.

Today was much better. I was either able to Rev my rpms higher to get the desired gear or return to the previous gear, every single time.

Thanks everybody!

When you finish training and get in a truck of your own, you will learn your truck's quirks. What RPM do I need for X gear at 55 miles per hour on this upgrade/downgrade?

For example, in my 8-speed freightliner, if I want to smoothly hit 55 miles per hour, I need 1500 RPM in 7th gear (climbing), or 1200 RPM in 8th (flat or downgrade.)

After about six months solo, I still sometimes try to go into 5th gear a bit early and lose pulling power. I think it's because my original training truck was a ten speed, and fifth gear in a ten speed is very different from fifth gear in an eight speed. When that happens, I grumble and drop back into fourth.