Question For Recent Company Trained CDL Members

Could anyone who is out of company training answer a question for me?

If you started company training with no experience, how long was it until you were up & down shifting adequately? I know even the most experienced Driver will miss a gear, I'm talking about practical real world competency.

Same with city driving & backing?

Thanks for any input

Dave

Do you understand what you're doing wrong?

Clutch should be pushed down a small amount- 1-2 inches. If you push clutch to floor you stop transmission rotation. The engine is still rotating. That's why it grinds- because the gears are rotating at different speeds- in this case the transmission rotation is stopped.

I ground a lot the first 2 weeks. I learned fact above. Then I would sit in a chair in a room and practice- going thru the 10 speed pattern while engaging clutch 1-2 inches.

I am in my 5th week of training. I am now doing good. My 1st trainer, at that time the 3rd week , told me I was ahead of others by about 6 days.

Actually I learned abut transmission/engine rotation here at TT. Brett wrote about it.

I trained in an automatic and had one for my first six months. Then switched to a manual. Took me a couple weeks to get used to it

Dave everyone learns and retains skill and knowledge at a different pace.

By the time you complete your road training with your future employer your shifting should be adequate. That's approximately 4-6 weeks.

Backing and close quarter maneuvering is IMO more challenging and has the greatest number of variables. I'll let others chime in but realistically to master backing skills will take the 3-6 months. It depends on the number of times you are required to back.

The question about local, again my opinion, give yourself a full year before attempting a local gig. This can be very difficult work for a rookie driver.

Good luck.

You can always learn to float and just skip the clutch, lol. I started practicing floating my 2nd week with my trainer. I am no where perfect at it. Sometimes I still need the clutch to take it out of gear if I don't time it right. But I just feel my way into the next gear. Floating does seem to shift a lot smoother than double clutching. Plus none of the horrible jarring in the low ranges.

Thanks for the input guys. I've got up Shifting down and feel my down shifting has improved significantly.

Just wondering what the "average" learning curve is. Appreciate the help

Thanks for the input guys. I've got up Shifting down and feel my down shifting has improved significantly.

Just wondering what the "average" learning curve is. Appreciate the help

Dave, How far along are you in your road training? If possible try to keep up posted, not only to lend encouragement but also for the benefit of other readers who haven't gotten as far as you are.

Good luck and safe travels.

Hey Dave, I'm not sure that you could really come up with an average. I've seen some folks really struggle with shifting for a long time, I'm talking for close to a year! I've seen others advance to being silky smooth in just a matter of a few weeks. I don't know that I could tell you what the difference between them was, but anyone who tries to apply themselves and pays attention to the details of how the engine sounds in relation to the timing of their shifting, the relationship of road speed and engine RPM, and just the subtle things like how it feels when you do manage to move the shifter effortlessly into the next gear, should be able to get the hang of it in a matter of a few months.

Shifting these big trucks is a big deal that concerns many beginners, and I understand that - it is radically different than driving a standard vehicle. After you've been out here for a short while it will become second nature and you will soon realize that you don't even think about it anymore.

Hang in there, it will all come together for you!

It took 17 days to get my CDL and I have been otr for 2 months. Roughly 5 weeks Training 3 weeks on my own as a team.

My trainer started to teach me to float on day 3 in L.A . Traffic. By about 20 days later I had it down. But I still forget the Jake or grind a little here and there but it's nothing now because even if you grind a little you're not forcing into gear at wro n time so it's not jerking the truck.

Backing is all about the setup. You can drive the back of the trailer like a pro but if you're setup is trash so will your back. I have been focusing majorly on my setups and about last week I finally got the s turn down and setups down making my backs a breeze.