Shifting in a Semi Truck #TruckerTuesday
I’ve driven an automatic ever since I’ve learned to drive so I was a little bit nervous when I knew that learning to drive a semi truck included learning to drive stick. And we’re not talking a 5 speed manual here.
The first truck I ever learned in had 11 gears and they go up to 13 gears in our truck now. Not only does a semi have more gears, but you shift a little differently too. In a semi truck you have to double clutch. That means you put the clutch in when you take it out of gear and again when you go into the next gear.
My trainers did tell me that not knowing how to drive stick was actually a benefit because I didn’t have to unlearn any habits I had from driving a manual car. It only took me a few days to pick it up.
Did you know that shifting a semi truck was so different?
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Safe travels!
Once the truck was moving from a stop, I never used the clutch, you just gently back off of the throttle and slide the transmission into the next highest gear. I drove every truck I had like that and I never had any transmission problems Donna. I was too lazy to use the clutch.
My brother in law eventually taught me how to slide the gears in.
This is such a random thing that I’ve always been curious about – that gearbox is more than a little intimidating!
I learned a lot of information on shifting a semi.
I was not sure how many gears a semi had so this was a fun post . Now I can dazzle everyone with my knowledge on trucks! 🙂
Very impressive! I’m not sure I could do that 🙂
wow you one lucky one who drive i used to drive teh tow trucks and they were small but fun