Question:
I have difficulty with downshifting. In the city, I start out in 2nd, and leisurely shift up through each gear, until I get to 6th, or so (Eaton Fuller 13). However, as the next intersection approaches, I don't seem to have enough time to shift down through each gear, until I get back to 2nd. I was thinking that a solution may be to shift down through two gears at a time, but to do that I would have to memorize the proper gear for each roadspeed. Incidently, I was taught to shift mostly without the clutch, because they wear out quickly and are expensive to replace, and so I have to match the rpm's exactly. Has anyone got any suggestions to solve this problem? Thanks for your help!

Answer:
Originally posted by calgarynewbie:
I was thinking that a solution may be to shift down through two gears at a time, but to do that I would have to memorize the proper gear for each roadspeed.
You answered your own question. With road time you will develop a "feel" for what gears to grab.
In the meantime give yourself a little more room and forget the "finger shifts" with that 13 speed. Just brake and remember you have to raise the RPM 400 revs for "stick shifts".
Downshifting and deadheading I run my 13 like a 9 speed alot of the time.

Answer:
Skiffman, what is the difference between a "finger shift" and a "stick shift"?
I should mention that I took 10 hours of lessons from a guy from India, but then failed my road test. I think language was a problem, and also he couldn't see things from a student's point-of-view. Also, he taught me how to hit the greens, but you can't count on greens during the road test, and I blew the first intersection.
In the city let's say I'm driving in 6th. At an intersection, I'll have to shift down to 4th or 2nd, depending on whether I hit a green or red (I'm hoping that I can skip 5th and 3rd). If you guys think that this will work, I'll try to find a school that will let me take the time to record the roadspeed for each gear over its rpm range. Thanks again.

Answer:
it's not really necessary to memorize - look at the speedometer. 35 mph=8th gear (3+5=
25mph=7th (2+5=7) etc.

Answer:
35 mph=8th gear (3+5=8)
25mph=7th (2+5=7) etc.Etc.? 20 mph=2nd gear (2+0=2)? 15 mph=6th gear (1+5=6)?

Answer:
Stick shifts= when you actually move the shift lever/stick.
Finger shifts= when you shift with a switch, such as high to low range.
As far as your example; 6th on down, I rarely go below 5th with my 13 speed and just brake to a stop from there. Ground speed is below 20 so its not like you are heating up your pads. Always be in gear as you come to a stop.If I come to a stop I just "finger stick" to low range and move the stick to 2nd or 3rd, depending on load or hills. Remember to not depress clutch to the floor to save wear on your tranny brake. Depress clutch fully if needing to get in a gear from neutral at a stop.If the light turns green before I come to a complete stop I usually grab 4th or 5th to keep rolling. Rarely need anything lower unless you are below 5MPH.
Hope this helps. Been awhile since I taught and my terminalogy is probably not correct.
Hopefully someone will jump in and make this clearer. I just do what I do, and havent done it in 6 months. Wow, it WAS May last time I was under a load!
[This message was edited by skiffman on September 29, 2002 at 13:42.]

Answer:
No offence go back to driving school if you where tought by a east indian instructor you were no doubt taught wrong. Geez that pizzez me off that these conartist driving schools run by east indians are allowed to operate.
I know its racist but god damn they have caused so many accidents here in B.C. is unbeleivable and their trucks are appaling. There is a accident thats going through court now over a east indain dump truck that crashed and killed a bunch of people. In the report the "F"in truck only had one brake that partially worked all the rest were way out of adjustment and the pup trailers brakes didn't work at all the brakes were disconected.
Lets ask some questions :
Do you know what a pretrip is ?
Did you get a air endorsement ?
How many hours of training did you get ?
As for shifting it takes practice and seriously I would go to a proper driving school they will teach you the proper way to shift.
Stepping off my soap box now
GL

Answer:
I know you are required to down shift for the test. But after a while it becomes pointless unless as skiffman said the light changes green. I use to do a lot of down shifting but soon realized there is not much point in it. You can come pretty close to stopping before you'll feel the enginge start to lag. Then I just push in the clutch and stop. As a trainer friend of mine always say's to his student. "Forget about shifting, stopping is more important".
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"

Answer:
Thanks to Skiffman, Jeepers, Paladin, Green Leaker, and Stuffiu. Skiffman, I'll try your method of staying in a fairly high gear as I break to a stop. Someone also suggested that, once I drop the rpms to 700 or so, I should be able to skip a gear. And, lastly, there is the possibility of learning the gear for each roadspeed for each truck.
I bought 10 hours behind the wheel plus an airbrake course for $650. The equipment was well-maintained, but next time I'll look for someone who speaks English as their first language.
Thanks again everyone!

Answer:
Oh I don't think that was a very good school you went to if you name says your from Canada you should be looking at atleast 2500 dollars for class 1 training. I only have a class 03 as thats I need for dirt hauling and it cost me 860 dollars 5 years ago I already had a air endorsement and that course was 250 dollars.
My class 03 training was 16 hours of driving time 8 hours of knowledge and I already had a air ticket but that was 16 hrs of training. Just for my practical and driving it was a total of 3 8 hour weekends. I may go upgrade to my class 1 thats another 800 bucks a bit of change but its well worth going back to the driving school.
Just something to think about true truck training should entail more than 10 hrs of training.
I hope you keep practicing shifting with you being in Alberta it should be a piece a cake to stop a loaded truck. Driving on the hills here in B.C. takes some real skill you blow a shift on a steep down grade man it canbe a scary ride.
You don't need to progressive down shift you can skip gears if your traveling around the city in stop and go you shouldn't be traveling that fast anyhow. When I drove in the city of Vancouver there was no need to downshift into lowrange coming up to a light you flip to lowrange when your stopped.
Good Luck
GL

Answer:
I bought 10 hours behind the wheel plus an airbrake course for $650.
You got RRRR-I-P-P-E-D!!!

Answer:
Hey Green Leaker. Agree with you re E. Indian drivers here in Vancouver!!! My husband has heavy hauled over 50 years. Now works for movie industry driving in Vanc. Trying to Email you but it did not go through.
darla

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I'am glad I don't drive much in Honcouver and try not to even go into little India (Surrey) the lowermainland is getting bad. I was raised in and still live in a rural area on the Westcoast so going to Vancouver nerve racking.
GL

Answer:
I was reading a post on another trucking forum, $9000 for School. That's the highest I've seen so far. I've seen a figure around the $6000 mark several times. I don't know what school it was, I didn't ask. I think most of the schools are a ripoff in the first place.

Answer:
Hi again Green Leaker. Who do you drive for? You may know my husband, Grant Flack? We have to go into Vancouver today (through Surrey!). Dreading the trip and traffic!
darla