Newbie to trucking

[nhlphi24]

I'm a student currently at ALL-STATE CAREER IN LESTER PA, A MILE OUTSIDE OF PHILADELPHIA PA BY THE AIRPORT.

IT IS A 24 WEEK COURSE AND i HAVE COMPLETED 6 WEEKS TO THIS DATE. 10 WEEKS CLASSROOM 14 WEEKS RANGE / ROAD TRIPS INCLUDING THE CDL FINAL.

COMING IN B4 I STARTED CLASS I HAVE A CDL B WITH AIRBRAKES AND ENDORSEMENTS S,P,X,T I HAVE ALL ENDORSEMENTS.

I DO HAVE MY CDL A PERMIT AND CANT WAIT FOR THE ROAD FINAL AND FINALLY GET OUT THEIR.

I CHOOSE ALLSTATE THEIR THE BEST TRUCKING PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY. BY GOING HERE TO THIS 6 MONTH PROGRAM I WILL HAVE 6 MONTH OF EXPERIENCE WHEN I GRADUATE WHICH IS BIG FOR COMPANIES.

IVE BEEN IN THE TRUCK 2 TIMES SO FAR DOING COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING AND TUG TESTS. ALSO STARTED TO LEARN HOW TO SHIFT.

IF ANYONE READS THIS AN CAN OFFER HOW TO SHIFT CORRECTLY THAT BE GREAT.

BASICALLY WHAT I UNDERSTAND IS PUSH THE CLUTCH HALFWAY DOWN THEN MOVE TO NEUTRAL, THEN CLUTCH ALL WAY DOWN SELECT GEAR AND RELEASE CLUTCH AND DRIVE LIKE U NORMALLY DO. I ALSO KNOW THAT U NEVER USE BRAKE WHILE U SHIFT. ALWAYS DOWNSIFT BEFORE U START GOING DOWN AND NEVER SHIFT GEARS WILE CROSSING RAILROADS.

ILL BE POSTING MORE AS GO ALONG BUT WANTED TO LET ALL WHO I AM AND IM A TRUCKER AND RESPECT EACH AND EVERYONE OF U AND WANT TO BE PART OF THE TRUCKING FAMILY

LOUIE LOU ROCKING IT WITH YOU

[jerryh_PREV (deleted)]

`What you are talking about is double clutching that might be good at first. But your legs are going to get tired . Have you instructor teach you how to shift the gears by RPM and you don't need the clutch. Only for starting to move the truck is all. Good luck out there.

[poptart47]

`Keep up the hard work and commitment to what your doing. Yes you should ask your instructor about shifting without the clutch. You will enjoy it much more. Take care and enjoy the road!!

[nomadphx]

`You're taught double clutching at schools for the DOT test. DOT requirements for trucking is strict! After you get your license drive like you want.
Double clutching is a kind of rythem. It's easy, just have to practice.

[katrinarucker_PREV (deleted)]

`Clutching is the best way to learn and the prescribed method by the manufacturers. It is what they will teach you in any school and don't try "Floating" the gears while in School, they will fail you. 23 yars experience here and never a school but i can tell you, once you get out there, don't be a superhero. If you don't know, ASK! Some may pick on you for it but ultimately, experienced drivers will have more respect and willingness to help you out if you admit you don't know over being a smart alec know it all. Once you finish School the ask your instructor or an experienced driver how to "Float" gears. It will save your legs (And knee's) especially in city traffic!

[grizz]

to answer your question push cluch half way in go to neutral then release cluch push half way in put in gear and release cluch if you push cluch to bottom you will engage cluch brake that is for when you are stoped and as far as shifting without a cluch you can but with a heavy load like what i do you need to push in cluch half way to take it out of gear atleast it is no fun when you have 100000 pounds on the trailer and you are setting on the side of the road waiting for a coupple of tow trucks to get there because of you trans.

[longhaul6444]

`double cluching is required to pass the driveing test. if you have problems picking up the rythom , sing the adams family song to your self and when the finger snaps come in shift. you'll get the hang of it. you don't have to push the cluch all the way down to go into next gear, the release point is differnt on each truck becuase of wearing on the cluch. it takes pratice and lots of it when you first start. oh and don't hold the cluch down for the next gear, when in neutral release it, that is why it is called double cluch ( you use it twice to shift to the next gear) when shifting up let the rpm drop when down shifting raise the rpm higher to get trany matching the engen speed. befor long you will be able to tell by sound when to up and down shift .

[rhetoryk]

"Double clutch"??? I thought one of them was the brake.

[hiway2890 (deleted)]

`Do what they are teaching you in school,thats what the examiner is going to look for and grade you on.Once you get a job and go out with a trainer (yes your training isnt going to be finished when u leave school) have him teach you how to float the gears,its alot easier then double clutching I still teach my guys double clutchng first then floating.Your going to enjoy this lifestyle you meet alot of great people out here and see some awesome sites.Good luck on the start of your career...