CDL College

Shifting Basics

Anonymous 8:27 AM

After our pre-trip, seat adjustment, mirror adjustment, and safe start, there is one more thing to look at before we start moving. After looking at all of the gauges, look at the air gauges, and make sure the pressure is close to 120 lbs. Now push the clutch all the way to the floor and move the gear shift to the first gear position. Now push the red and yellow parking supply valves in to release the brakes, keeping the right foot near the service brakes, in case the truck begins to roll.<br />
 Now let the clutch out slowly until the clutch engages, push the accelerator gently and start moving. Accelerate slowly until the tachometer reaches 12 to 14 hundred  rpms, then release the accelerator, tap the clutch in 2 inches and shift to neutral. Then tap the clutch in 2 inches and shift to second gear. Again accelerate gently to 12 to 14 hundred rpms, release the accelerator, clutch to neutral, clutch again to the next gear.We repeat this until we reach 5th gear.<br />
 When we get to 5th gear we pull the air splitter up BEFORE we shift to 6th gear (the first gear slot). The reason we do this, is because the splitter moves the transmission to the higher range of gears (6th through 10th), and it is air operated. There is an air line that runs from the high low selector down along the gear shift shaft to the transmission that switches the transmission to the higher range of gears. When we shift from 5th to 6th gear, as soon as we hit neutral, the air shoots down through this air line. THE AIR DOES NOT GO THROUGH WHEN THE TRUCK IS IN GEAR. It is important to pull the button up before shifting so when the gear shifter hits neutral, the air shoots down right away. This is why we pull the splitter up before we shift, and push it down before we downshift to low range.<br />
 Now that we have pulled up the selector and shifted to 6th gear, we raise the rpms higher before shifting. From 6th to 10th gear it is beneficial to get between 15 and 17 hundred rpms before releasing the accelerator, tapping to neutral, and tapping to the next gear.

Shifting Basics

After our pre-trip, seat adjustment, mirror adjustment, and safe start, there is one more thing to look at before we start moving. After lo...

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Fixing Downshifting Mistakes

Anonymous 6:19 AM

<span style="font-size: 26pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A. Pushing the clutch in too far<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>1. Think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>Tap to neutral,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span>vroom,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  
</span>Tap to gear<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">      </span>(3 steps)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span>Tap the
clutch-----Shift to neutral<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">     </span>Hit accelerator
to 1500 rpms and let come down to 1000 rpms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">     </span>Tap the clutch
and shift to the lower gear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>2. Imagine a
balloon under the clutch. It will bend when the clutch is pushed in a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">            </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>Little, and
break when pushed in too far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">B. Not revving the engine the correct amount in neutral<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span>1. Practice the
correct amount when parked<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>a. Watch the
tachometer and rev the engine to 1400 rpms several times<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>b. Listen to
what it sounds like<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>c. Close your
eyes and try matching the sound<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">C. Downshifting too fast or too slow<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">     </span>1. Find the
rhythm of Tap<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Vroom<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Tap<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">     </span>2. Practice air
downshifting. Sit with the truck parked and the engine running. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">         </span>Hold your
hand above the gearshift and pretend to downshift<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>while actually using the clutch </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">          and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the accelerator.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">D. Not slowing down to downshift<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>1. USE THE
BRAKE<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span>Waiting for the truck to slow
down on its own takes too long. Use the brake</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">           </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>Slow down
to around 1000 rpms, then downshift. Slowing down is part of the slowing down <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">             </span>process.<o:p></o:p></span>

Fixing Downshifting Mistakes

A. Pushing the clutch in too far 1. Think. Tap to neutral, vroom, Tap to gear (3 steps) Tap the clutch-----S...

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Air Brake Test

Anonymous cdl school, cdl testing, cdl training, trucks 6:46 AM

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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FM7qKciYs-M/Up9YHoSaK-I/AAAAAAAAAJo/1Dc0u5lg6sw/s1600/slide-1-638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FM7qKciYs-M/Up9YHoSaK-I/AAAAAAAAAJo/1Dc0u5lg6sw/s320/slide-1-638.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
 The air brake test is one of the few things on the pre-trip inspection that needs to be memorized. It is also the only automatic fail on the cdl test if not performed. There are basically 4 parts to remember.<br />
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 1. Check the truck parking brake. Leave the truck parking brake set (yellow nob out) and the trailer brake released (red nob in). Now put the truck in gear and gently pull against the parking brake.<br />
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 2. Check the service brake. Make sure the brakes are released (both nobs in), put in gear, and slowly pull forward to 5 mph. Now stop with the hands off the wheel and look for movement in the steering wheel. If it turns right or left the brakes are tighter on that side and need to be adjusted.<br />
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 3. Check for leaks. With the engine turned off, hold the brake pedal down for 1 minute and look for no more than 4psi of pressure loss on the primary air gauge.<br />
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4. Check the emergency systems in case of a leak. With the key on and the engine off, fan the brakes and lose the air pressure intentionally. The emergency light and buzzer should come on at 60psi, and the emergency spring brakes should come on (both nobs pop out) between 20 and 40 psi.<br />
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 In summary, there are 4 parts to the brake test, Two with the truck running and two with it off. This test is crucial for the cdl exam, and should be used on a regular basis in the work place as well.<br />
<a href="http://www.idrivetrucks.com/" target="_blank">CDL College</a>

Air Brake Test

The air brake test is one of the few things on the pre-trip inspection that needs to be memorized. It is also the only automatic fail on ...

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Transportation Jobs Offer More than Just a Living: My Experiences as a Professional Driver.

Anonymous 7:11 AM

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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many years
ago when I was in my 20’s going from job to job without any direction or plans-
I was offered a job for a steel company in Massachusetts with the contingency
that I agree to get my commercial license in order to be able to deliver their
products all over the New England area. The company paid well, and had great
benefits, so I agreed to study the manual and go through the necessary steps to
get my commercial license.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">                                                                                                 </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I started
my travels delivering specialty steel materials to our customers, I began to
realize how fortunate I was to be able to see the end use of our many products.
I saw injection molding of silverware, precision made ball bearings that were
used on the Space Shuttle, huge steel ingots heated up and forged into engine
parts for the military, all types of screws and fasteners, computer shielding, large
engine parts for electric turbines, tool and die fabrication…the variety seemed
endless. I understood that my “truck driving” position was more than just a
job. It was an opportunity to see and experience things that I never would have
working on the sidelines. I was not only traveling and seeing some incredibly
beautiful scenery; I was out there meeting people and learning how things were
manufactured. It brought a new sense of meaning to my work and a feeling of
fulfillment and knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the
years of having a CDL, I was able to use it to earn a good living anywhere I
lived. From Massachusetts to North Carolina, to Colorado- my CDL driving skills
and experience has always been able to provide me with both monetary and
rewarding personal experiences. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being a
truck driver, I had expected that my jobs would primarily be freight related.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>But there are so many other services that
require a CDL that never had occurred to me. Among my personal experiences, I
spent 12 years working for medical companies. One company is a large medical
supply provider for hospitals and home patients. I delivered life sustaining
products to patient’s homes all over in multiple states on the east coast and
out in the west. I got to see some of the most incredible scenery and met some
of the nicest people who were dependent on me to bring them supplies that kept
them alive and in good health. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another
medical related job was delivering, setting up, and maintaining a 53 foot
mobile medical lab trailer to small rural communities. It was a very rewarding
experience to be a part of the healthcare of many small and remote communities
throughout the eastern plains of Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My own transportation career journey though
sometimes unconventional, did have periods of time delivering freight: a
chicken plucking machine in North Carolina, a two liter soda bottle labeling
machine to northern Michigan, the US mail to Texas. The types of freight were
so diverse, and the importance of getting the deliveries to their destinations
on time and in good condition was extremely important to me for personal pride-
and to the consignees for their production and services.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In time, all
things change. In the early 2000’s, my professional driving career <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>took
another turn as I was offered an opportunity to be a CDL Instructor and tester.
Now, after years of learning about the many aspects of driving and all of the
experiences I had lived through, I was being given a chance to share my
experience and knowledge with others. This brought a whole new level of
challenges and rewards to me, and the fulfillment of helping another person
learn how to drive a big rig as they started their transportation career <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was extremely profound. There were also many
more places where I traveled to provide driver safety training that I never would
have seen including Alaska.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today, after
32 years since I first took that job at the steel company which started my
truck driving career, I look back reflectively on all the places I saw and the
faces of the many people I met along the way. I never would have imagined that
my journey would be so interesting, challenging, and fun. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A career in
transportation has given me so much more than money. It has at times offered me
an insight into personal experiences that I never would have realized if I had
stayed sitting on the sidelines and never took the steps to being a
professional driver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">    </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Transportation Jobs Offer More than Just a Living: My Experiences as a Professional Driver.

Many years ago when I was in my 20’s going from job to job without any direction or plans- I was offered a job for a steel company in Ma...

Keep on Truckin' »