Question:
Hi all i'm new to the forum everyone calls me tiny (i'm 6'6" and 280 lbs) i am 20 yrs old LOL but to the point i am going to be driving a dump truck for my dad soon probably the first of september....i passed my written cdl test but i'm not read for the driving part just yet i need some seat time with my dad...i drove with him this past weekend (down a back road) he said i done good but i needed to work on my downshifting and i must admit i did grind twice upshifting..heres my question is it harder with the clutch or without...and do you have to worry about grinding with the clutch and rpm matching ?? my dad seems to think its easier w/o the clutch but hes been driving since before i was born lol i havent tried shifting with the clutch yet just wanted some opinions before i try...if it helps any its an eaton fuller trans 8 speed in a 99 mack ...thanks everyone Tiny

Answer:
Using the clutch adds another step into things and for some it just makes it harder for them to learn, but on the plus side using the clutch gives you a bit more leeway on your shifts.
Answer:
do you have to double clutch everytime on up shifts ?? i had a 92 chevy pickup with a 5 speed in it i can drive a stick but semi's are a little more challenging thanks again tiny

Answer:
Yes you have to double clutch every time upshifting or the clutch will not doing anything. First in takes it out of gear and the second time allows it to go in the next gear. Trucks aren't like your pick up. They do not have syncronized transmission gears.
Most likely the driving test will require you to use the clutch. Most states do. Learn with the clutch first then after that learn without it. It is actually easier without the clutch but you'll need it for now.

Answer:
Did Pop explain the clutch brake to you? If not, I will. The clutch has a brake the engages when fully depressed (peddal to the floor). Only depress the clutch completely at a stop. The brake will allow you to put the tranny into a low gear with minimal if any grinding. While double clutching either on the upshift or downshift, only depress the clutch halfway so the brake is not engaged there by reducing it's life.
If the clutch pedal has to come out near all the way to engage, then make sure you release it that far to help mesh your gears. I have seen people who can shift a ten speed have problems getting used to the eight speed due I think to the taller gear ratios. Especially on the high side, you need to have those RPM's down to catch the next lower gear.
Learn how to shift it with the clutch first then learn clutchless on the upshift followed by the downshift.

Answer:
thanks for the info..pop did tell me about the clutch brake he said the previous owner had just about wore it out it will grind just a tad bit going into gear but we are going to fix it thanks again for all the help everyone Tiny

Answer:

Pressing the clutch far enough to engage the clutch brake is necessary from any standing stop.
But you can also float it into low gear just before coming to a full stop -- at maybe 1 mph. This is very common in stop and go traffic since it gets you in gear faster and easier than waiting till you reach a full stop and then using the clutch brake.. Float in in low gear just before stopping completely and then depress the clutch part way until you're ready to move again. If you need to make a quick start-up, you're already in gear and ready to engage power quickly.
The only time you usually use the clutch brake is when releasing the parking brakes or when reversing direction. The rest of the time, the truck's supposed to always be in gear. It's faster and easier to grab your starting gear while the truck's rolling to a stop. Then keep the clutch depressed part way until you're ready to roll again. Never sit at a stop out of gear unless you've set the parking brakes. The truck must always be in gear or changing gears when the parking brakes are released -- that's the standard you're supposd to be tested to.

Answer:
Double clutching is nothing to be afraid of, and yes, on the road test portion of the dmv test they will want you to use the clutch. If you already know how to drive a standard transmission it shouldn't take you more than an hour or two to get the coordination right.
Also, you will need to pass more than just a road test at the DMV in order to get your CDL. Depending on your state you will also have to perform a 4 point brake test, a skills test, an in cab inspection, and a pretrip inspection as well as the road test.
You definitely will not pass just by driving the truck.
Eddie

Answer:
thanks for the info Eddie i know about the brakes and pretrip inspection and in cab inspection i am confident i can pass this i just need to work on smoothe shifting thanks again Tiny

Answer:
Don't worry about all that down shifting and trying to get it in first before stopping stuff. You don't need to do it on the driving test. You won't fail if you come to a stop in 10th gear and then put it in first. Just keep it in gear and stop then select your starting gear. Practice the double clutching and smooth shifting. You'll need to learn down shifting later.
It sounds like your fairly well prepared so I wouldn't worry to much about the shifting part. It doesn't take long to learn it. After the test you can do floating the gears. It comes fairly easy also once you have clutch shifting figured out.
Florida deducts one point if you grind the gears on the test. Doesn't matter if it's once or a hundred times you loose only one point. I made it a point to grind it before I started. Less to worry about later.

Answer:
I don't know what state you live in but in California you have to downshift every gear you can only coast the length of the truck. So when you see a red light up about 1/4-1/8 of a mile away and your doing 45mph you have to brake and downshift brake and downshift and at the very end you can just press in the clutch and stop then put it back into first. Main thing to remember is you have to double clutch on your upshift and downshift and don't shift over RxR tracks its an automatic fail, and you can't coast in neutral for the length of the truck (say your having trouble putting it into gear) and also don't hit any curbs thats an automatic fail as well. Shifting just takes practice and patience and don't freak out or panic if you miss a gear. My truck driving school took me on a long stretch of straight country road with no traffic and my instructor just had me start in first and shift all the way to 9th and then downshifted back to first and I did that over and over and over for about 2 days and shifting was second nature after a while. Just have fun and good luck.

Answer:
Florida and you don't have to down shift for the test. But you can not coast in neutral at all. Simply leave it in gear and hit the brakes. It was much easier that way and less chance of missing a down shift. Missing a gear and coasting is automatic failure. So there was/is no need here to chance it.
But you need to do it while driving. I hardly ever down shift all the way but I do 3-4 gears.

Answer:
WOW this is good info yes i am in northwest FL and shifting is going to be my only challenge but after a day or so of practice with my pop i'll know how to do it thanks everyone for all the information...by the way the drivers license place when i took my permit test for a class A cdl said i would have to go through a 3rd party to do my driving test what does this mean and is it costly thanks agsin Tiny

Answer:
Schools use 3rd party testers for the ride along and pre trip test. Their usually DMV employees who do it on their off time. I took mine on a Saturday. The cost can be $25.00 to 75.00. I would contact the DMV and ask them if they have a list of 3rd party testers. if you go to a school they will probably charge you more.

Answer:
When you get to "going clutchless" remember you have to be appling power as you take it out of gear. If you get off the power before you shift, as you would in a car, it will not come out of gear. It took me a long time to figure this out, so I would just 1/4 clutch to come out of geat. Its all in the timing.
Don't know why anyone would ever shift with the clutch.
Good luck on the "dumper" and keep the wheels on the ground.