Automatic Or Manual Tranny?
Topic 699 | Page 1
I doesn't make any difference if you have driven a standard transmission or not. In fact, it may help never having driven a standard shift. It may take you a short amount of time to learn the coordination aspect, but you won't have to reprogram your brain from a standard clutch to double clutching. Besides, one you get out on your own you will "float" the gears and only use the clutch to start and stop. This issue is the LEAST of your worries. Relax and enjoy the adventure!
Double Clutch:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
Double Clutching:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
I think it will be better if you don't know how to drive a manual. Its not the same as driving a manual car. If you go in having driven manual cars they will have to reprogram your brain to get out of the car shifting and program you for truck shifting. Starting with a clean slate will be easier for them. Sure it may help a small bit if you understand the principles of shifting but overall its probably better if you don't have the bad habits of a manual 4wheeler. Don't worry about that aspect. There is going to be plenty of other stuff to stress about.
I totally agree with everyone above. Do not be concerned. Truck Driving Schools and Company-Sponsored Training Programs are designed to take people straight off the street without any knowledge of truck driving whatsoever, and that includes shifting.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Great Thanks everyone, I feel alot better now!
I totally agree with everyone above. Do not be concerned. Truck Driving Schools and Company-Sponsored Training Programs are designed to take people straight off the street without any knowledge of truck driving whatsoever, and that includes shifting.
this really put my mind at ease
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Have no fear and be thankful you have not driven a manual. I have driven a manual all of my life and am have a very hard time with double clutching. I grind the gears like a champion. Lol. I have a lot of bad habits to break from single clutching to coasting in neutral. Its not easy to retrain the brain after 25 years of doing it" my" way.
Double Clutch:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
Double Clutching:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
Yep what everyone else says.... Every time I put my 4 runner in reverse it goes forward... LOL I have done this more than once..
Agree.
Walked into trucking school with the notion that driving sticks for the last 40 years would be an advantage.
IT WASN"T.
Except when it came to floating gears. But you gotta double clutch for the road test.
It's all MUSCLE MEMORY. Once you get it ingrained - it happens without thinking.
Rick
Floating Gears:
An expression used to describe someone who is shifting gears without using the clutch at all. Drivers are taught to "Double Clutch" or press and release the clutch twice for each gear shift. If you're floating gears it means you're simply shifting without using the clutch at all.
Double Clutch:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
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Hello,
Im sad to say I don't know how to drive manual. Is it still possible for me to join a company, do CDL school and be successful if I don't know how to drive manual? Im worried that if I have to learn manual about doing that and learning all the truck driving stuff at same time. Should I try to find a normal car school that would teach me manual first?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: