How to Downshift When Climbing a Hill in a Semi Truck (Without Blowing a Gear!)
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- Dave talks about 2 ways to downshift when climbing a hill in order that you don't miss a shift.
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Automatic guys are like “huh??”
Omg I remember when I first started driving I stalled on this hill in the middle of heavy traffic, I was so shooked. He is so rite,I was letting my rpms drop to low and trying to catch a gear, once you do that you're cooked 😂. I use to be terrified when I see a hill coming but I been driving 13 years now and I have mastered it ,once you get by yourself in a truck you're gonna learn alot, i luv watching Dave videos because he has alot of knowledge on trucking .
I've watched you for 2yrs now. Before I started my Career. I now have 3 trucks and 5 drivers. Thank you for being a motivated mentor.
I'm glad everything's working for you Jason! It really is a great industry if you're working with the right people! I was lucky that way! Dave
My rule of thumb is this, double clutch going down gears, Float gears going up. Make it as easy on yourself as possible.
That’s what I do, lol
Nah lol float all the time
Great advise Dave. Even with as many years as I have sometimes I miss gears climbing a hill. My advice is don't panic, just relax, go to the next lower gear. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Dave!!! Stay safe out there.
Merry Christmas Cassius, and good advice! Dave
I do the same thing, I skip gears , sometimes from 10 to 8 or 10 to 7 depending on how stiff the hill is and how heavy I am running.
Every technique comes with time , thank you David.
1.Never run the rpms to low up hill
2. Keep light pressure on shifter let off throttle the transmission should go in to neutral immediately rev up engine and ease it with your fingers Should go right into gear. This might take some practice
After doing this for so many years, you can tell when to shift just by the way the engine sounds.
Yup! Dave
I got my license in 1972. In my days no automatics. I always loved shifting gears. That was real trucking!
Drive safe and merry christmas everybody.
This guy really knows his shit! Truckers make the mistake of downshifting too late on steep hills with heavy loads all the time. They forget that window is different on a steep hill. The higher the rpm for the downshift, the better! The lower that rpm gets the faster that window closes. So many truckers are afraid to use those higher rpms, mainly due to being taught by these mega companies. You can use the rpms all the way up to 2000 rpms on the high side, but most guys are afraid to go that high. I always suggest guys who came from a mega company to unlearn all of that bullshit they were taught by the mega company. These trucks can do so much more than they think, but they have to push the truck harder. A lot of these guys truck's do not pull simply from them babying the truck. I've driven many trucks where the previous driver told me that the truck was weak, and it was upon first driving it. However, after me driving it for a few hundred miles or so, I always end up pulling that power out of that truck, just by simply using more rpms more frequently on those hills. The truck will only respond to how you drive it, and it also remembers how you drive it. The average driver stays between 1000 and 1500 rpms. I stay between 1600 and 2000 rpms depending on the situation and whether I'm loaded heavy, especially if I'm trying to get the power out of the truck. If i don't need the power, I'll stay a little lower on the rpms. It really just depends on the situation that will determine how I shift. The type of motor the truck has also matters. Knowing what you have under the hood always matters. You can have a low torque motor and be shifting it too high and then be wondering what's wrong. You can have a workhorse motor and shift it too low, and you'll still be wondering whats wrong. Know your truck and its specs at all times and don't be afraid of it! Even the weakest trucks can do a little more than you think, if you just drive it right!
I remember driving a 318 Detroit with a 13 speed when I was a young-un... That truck could smell a hill from a mile away and I would have to downshift 2 gears before I even hit the hill. I learned quickly about downshifting with that old Detroit and it became second nature. Nice videos and thanks for all the tips! I hope Santa made it home safely!
Merry Christmas Peter! Dave
Just getting my CDL permit, your tips and advice will help me once I get a job in trucking. Look forward to more videos of the many years of knowledge you have. Thank you!!!
Thank you! Dave
When I was just a kid my dad had an old 2-ton gasser loaded with corn going up a hill. I was too young to remember if he missed a shift or just had that big a load but we had to back down the hill and go around. It wasn't that big of a hill but my dad always figured if the sides could hold that much corn the truck must be able to handle it.
And merry Christmas dave
Merry Christmas Kevin! Dave
Going from 8th to 7th I learned an excellent trick that worked well for me. You come off the throttle, blipping slightly to free the selector into neutral, back on the floor with the throttle while applying upwards pressure on the selector and it would catch clean
I remember when I was new and still in training I stalled the truck going eastbound climbing Tehachapi in California. Not my best day.
Or you can really screw up and start going backwards hahaha
ouch..... that's when you hit the brakes and start over lol...... in your lowest gear.... hopefully you have an 18 speed so you can split every gear to get your momentum up again.
If the hill is steep you can't break torque by letting off the throttle to get the transmission out of gear. You have to use the clutch.
God bless Dave and his family. RIP, Dave, patron saint of Truckers😢
Tip #3 Shift while the RPMs are high. Don't lug the engine down to 1200 RPM and then try to shift.
I agree with skipping a gear when running heavy and going up a decent grade. Worked well for me.
He has Good advice, I use the 1-2 method floating gears... 1 move out of the gear 2 move it in the next gear. I use to think floating gears scared me half to death, but it is really the best way to go... Using the right rpm for the speed and torque... If you do use the clutch to double clutch your gears, remember & very important "do not push your clutch pedal all the way down" you only want to push it far enough to disengage the torque from the motor to the rest of the weight of the truck & trailer. That is one the thing my teacher trainer didn't tell me, all he said was don't push it all the way, you will hit the clutch brake...
Very Good Advice this is why you need to learn to double clutch. I have seen new guys not doing that.
Seems most guys don't anymore.
I double clutch because that's what I was taught. I've never had this issue. It seems like it would be nice to float gears but it works for me to double clutch so I'm not trying to fix something that's not broken.
@@brentb5303 depends what you haul yanking a smooth bore tank sometimes you gotta float to help control the slosh. I double down on hills alot but speed is everything or your gonna be beating the crap out of yourself.
Double clutching is absolutely useless and unnecessary driving a truck. Just more wear and tear on clutch linkage. After liftoff it's not necessary
This man is very knowledgeable in the field of trucking. I wish he was my instructor.
Don’t forget the speedometer is an essential tool! Know your speeds in each gear at the high and low end. If I’m at 45 and slowing gradually I go down to 8th as 40 is the high end and 30 is the low end plenty of time to catch it. And use that clutch going uphill!
Tried your Advice on the hill was going up a hill on mass pike in Mass, was in 10th gear and staerted to go below 45 mph and tried skipping? I went from 10th and went into 8th gear instead of 9th. went smoothly and no grinding sometimes the truck can't make it up hill depending on the weight of Trailer Thanks for the advice.
I remember my instructor telling me to be in the proper low gear before you start up the hill lol
Yup. If I see a steep grade up ahead I automatically drop down one gear at least. 10 to 9 before hill 9 to 8 towards the top.
ya thats great
but many times you wont even see it or have time to deal with it before hill especially if new road you never drove on
Hate to admit it... I guess. But I just got my first automatic in 12 years and I'm already spoiled to it 😆
If you find a gear that is too low ( in general ) don't let the clutch out all the way
When I used to go up mountains with a 2016 Cascadia with an automatic, I had to use "manual mode" because the shifter would constantly juggle between:
9th gear
7th gear
8th gear
9th gear
7th gear
9th gear
7th gear
8th gear
9th gear
Has anyone else experienced that phenomenon with an automatic?
Thanks. I will be driving 18 speed soon on my new job. I have driven 18 speed before and I had exact same problem not been able to shift smoothly going up hill with heavy load. couple of time stall the truck at Golden BC hill. I will definitely try this method now. thanks for the knowledge.
Stopping for a light, I will clutch it out of gear at about 1000 rpm and then float it in the next gear down. On an incline, I will float it out of gear at about 1250 ( depending on the grade and weight ) and float in in the next gear down. That's what works for me. 10 speed btw.
Great advice👍🏻 been off the stick for a few years and a little nervous jumping back on this coming week pulling 120t+ and the rout has a couple big jump ups😳😳
Thank you👍🏻😊
i have manual Volvo boxes, and they are synchronized boxes so need to use the clutch all the time. you need time for downshifting so have to shift early, but easy to skip gears. oldest truck is 12 years and have done local dump truck work all its life, half the year with a trailer. never had to to anything to the clutch, but its a heavy duty twin disc.
on all the high power engines like the 750hp engine you only have the i-shift as an option. i shift dual clutch you can only get for the 540hp as max.
whats great with volvo engines they have a flat torque line. pulls good from down low.
When I first started driver back many years ago I hauled swinging meat in a meat rail trailer. Even with a good packed load it was a hard but with a loose pack it was terrible but you learned how be smooth shifting up hill and down hill.And on corners.
similar for partial loaded tankers .
@@NWforager Partitioned tankers not so much, smoothbore tankers are terrible. I used to pull 98% pure Sulphuric Acid in Smoothbores, one learns how to handle with a fine degree of finesse.
There was good grade nt far from where I grew up- You could always here the Detroits plain as day when they downshifted-- Sounded like a panic attack when they missed!
Stop treating this horrible job of trucking as something special. It is a crap job for losers (me including) which cant pay enough for the struggle. The less you concentrate on the trucking and more on how much you getting money for doing this job the better you live. This job is not adding years to your lives. Treat this job as the worst job ever. If you treat it that way you would not work for low salary or low rates if you are owner op. There has to be a redistribution of wealth from everyone else to truckers. The best way to achieve it is to be difficult all at the same time. Do not do your best. Be late all the time. If most drivers act that way rest of the industry will treat us better. The less you do the less you will be responsible and asked for.
In 20 years you’ll float the gears and climb the grades loaded and smiling. It takes time.
I can do this with my eyes closed
In fact, it might be easier. I've always said the best trucker were musicians. Timing is just something you gain with experience. I was just speaking of those crunch and slam the throttle kind of guys.
Think smooth and ROLL into the throttle. Shift like you own it. When it comes out of your pocket you'll be smoother and easier. Think,"I'm making the payments, it's gotta last".
When you drive a rig you don't own, don't hesitate to take a rider. Make sure the only thing they can say is "I felt like it was a smooth auto ".
Sometimes when it has to be a fairly quick shift that doesn’t mean it has to be a hard shift.
Down shift- clutch, gas, clutch up shift- clutch, clutch, gas it’s that simple
Jake Cramer your using way to much clutch bro. Only use it when you start or stop,any more than that you’re burning it
It's just that easy until you get on a hill
nice to find your channel, you know your stuff and listening to your candian Accent reminds me of running upstate New York on I 81. The Canadian truckers were always the nicest drivers! Your stories also reminds me of the days when I hauled produce coast to coast loading in California back to Florida. I started over the road running for an owner operator and Produce was his main commodity. this old guy made me a much better driver because boy he was very high standards with his equipment. But I was grandfathered into the business in 1990 so all of my learning experience was on the job! It’s fun to watch your videos they are spot on !!! thanks for caring to raise the bar for the newer drivers! I now pull doubles for an union LTL company. “Wildflower”
I clutch once to pop it out, rev slightly, and float in🤷🏻♂️
same here, i do it at about 12-1300 if i KNOW i need to downshift..i shift down at about 1000 if its iffy as to weather or not i can pull in top gear...sometimes i feather the throttle at the last minute to float out of gear up a hill though
I do exactly the same thing! Clutch it out and slide it in 👍
Some Person I do the same...... and I do the opposite when down shifting down a hill
Float it out. Rev up. Clutch in.....
then the rest is all floating on flat ground
Floating up or down
SANTA had some smoking dope. Why do you think he was so jolly, He'd call for his pipe , load up a bowl , smoke it and say ho ho ho. Until he got to the scale house. Busted
First thing I was told was pick the gear you want before you go up or down a hill. Much less stressful that way lol.
Alan the gear you climb the hill is the same gear or one lower you should be in to go down the backside of the hill
I downshifted going uphill in school. Got yelled at. Thankfully I made the shift, somehow. Believe I blipped the throttle. 21 yrs ago. Up l-26 out of Spartanburg SC
Thank you so much for posting the video. I really like your videos. I'm waiting for my Hazmat to come, still looking for a trucking home to start at.
With you on that Dave. Skip a gear or a half. Drop 2 if too low in the RPM. Be on a ball with downshifting up the hill.
I get the best results by skipping a gear.
Totally me this morning... not proud of it, lol. Steep ass climb in PA, side road trying to get up the hill back to i81. Had just over 42k in a reefer. Most highway hills i rarely drop below 7th, occasionally 6 (i run local, so mostly PA east of i81). But this hill totally sucked it out of me. And i tryed to down shift into 4th, completely screwed the pooch on it... had already lost my momentum, so i stopped and threw it into 1st. Truck wasnt happy about that start, but up we went. Fortunately for the 4wheelers behind me, only a couple more minutes of climbing till the interstate at that point.
Happens to all of us! Thanks for writing in! Dave
It's really hard to explain in text but basically I just shipped faster so when I'm going up a steep hill with a heavy load which is everyday take it out I give it a good Rev and put it back in quicker than I normally would and that seems to work pretty good however if you do miss it here I would drop another beer quickly or I would go down to more quickly there's no reason to really stop on a hill unless you're really bad at shifting
"drop another beer quickly" Oh boy... hold my beer, watch this...
After 39 years of driving I now have the perfect solution to this problem. A new Mack with an Allison automatic. Haven’t missed a gear yet with it. 😁
Good video and great advice. I don’t miss shifting.
This is funny lol. Who looks at RPMS? I just know when to shift
interesting video, makes total common sense. I don't drive trucks for a living, but the concept of skip shifting, shifting on hills etc, this is all stuff i kinda learned driving back in the UK. passing a regular auto drivers test there is more like trying to get a CDL here.
Paul Fisher
Trucks have the non syncromesh transmission while cars have some synchronized rings and gears so it is a very different experience...
Grind it till ya find it!
I've been watching your videos for about the last 6 months. I'm not a trucker, but really enjoy everything you talk about. Especially the stories. Thanks!
Please make a video about the new law they want to pass in California that says Ca trucking companies don't have to comply to meal breaks or rest periods. They say it causes a 3% loss in productivity compared to other states. Supposedly it was brought up Dec 21.
Just finished it! Dave
It's like another driver told me many years ago if you're going up a grade and it's going to stall grab a gear any gear that keeps it going forward.
As always, some very good advice. You got me to thinking when I was learning to shift a 13 speed. Some good memories. Sounds like someone had a grudge against Santa. Still mad about that toy he never brought. Anyway have a Merry Christmas Dave. Thanks.
Merry Christmas James! Dave
Merry Christmas Dave and thanks for the tips. Any chance you can do a "how to video" on downshifting and upshifting when climbing a hill?
Thanks
Great advice Dave especially on an old 13 speed Roadranger. Happy Christmas. PS was wondering if you ever looked up that old English truck movie I recommended. HELL DRIVERS. I think you'd get a kick out of it.
Haven't had a chance yet, but I will! Dave
The frame twists under load and how fast you slack off on the throttle affects your shift timing also.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thank you for a wonderful year of uploads. I really enjoy your channel and appreciate all the effort you put into it.
Peace on Earth, Dave.
Appreciate it! Merry Christmas! Dave
even better than downshifting "on" the hill .. downshift BEFORE the hill .. yes, your RPMs will be screaming .. but u need that screaming to make POWER .. and once u are in gear (5/6/7/8) just ride that sucka all the way up the hill .. don't take it out of gear .. if u r going half the posted speed limit, pop on your 4 ways .. it is a friggin truck .. they are just slow .. get over it
I’ve always found it best for myself to lug it down low, and grab a pile of gears. In 9th, lug it down to 900 ish rpm, then go for 5th. Don’t rush, and she slips right in, then you’re in a gear that will take you up 99% of hills you hit, with 1800 rpm to play with.
Super great advice Dave....as always. Using the clutch on the downsift saves alot stress on driveline! A very Merry Christmas to You and Cathy, and a very happy and prosperous New Year! Stay safe Dave!
Bs .no clutch. You can hear it
I agree. Clutch just causes damage. Just match it up.
Yeah what would the guy that's been driving 40 years know 🤷♂️
Great advice but if you can’t shift going up hill then maybe you shouldn’t drive. This ain’t a game. I understand first time drivers but no company should allow this without proper training your risking your life and others
Horse and buggy technology, that's a manual.
That's a real truck, not a starter truck. Dave
When your shifting up, pay close attention to the speedometer, I drive an 18 speed so my example may differ depending upon your stick. When I’m at 10mph I know I have to be in 4th with the tongue down and on low gear, 15mph is when my tongue is up and I go into 5th gear, 25mph I’m in 7th, 45mph I’m in 9th, approaching 65mph and I go into high gear with the splitter. When I’m shifting down going up hill, while I’m on the throttle about to shift down, simultaneously I push the shifter forward after I let go of the throttle (this was after I brought the splitter back to low to hopefully avoid a full shift down) I push the stick towards 7th from being in 8th and at the same time I pushing in the throttle to raise the rpms, if the truck and myself is quick enough to react (99.9% I’m always successful) the stick just slips in while my rpms are high, I repeat the process if necessary. If I miss a gear which is incredibly rare, I look at my speedometer and because I know how fast I was going while shifting up and I know what gear I need to be in a slip the stick right in after I give it some gas first though. Lol
Arnt you supposed to rev it when ur downshifting ? Clutch neutral, rev, clutch into gear. ?
That keeps the rpm’s up doesn’t it ? That’s what I’m being taught in school anyway
Awesome Video!🎥
DOWN SHIFTING IS 90 % THROTTLE CONTROL..LEARN THROTTLE CONTROL. YOU CAN PRACTICE IN PARK WHEN YOU ARE STOPOED.. IF YOU WERE TAUGHT THIS WHEN IN TRUCK SCHOOL YOU WOULD BE GREAT.
Merry Xmas , guys !
Greetings from France ☺
Merry Christmas to you! Dave
When is really steep, ,practice skipping gear, when you keep doing this, ,you won't notice your doing it. ...it will not take much focus. .. most importantly. ..pick the proper gear 1st before rolling down the hill. Lower gear then it took you to get up same hill
Double down 9th to 7th! Excellent gearing going up.
I have a question when going uphill do you have to rev up the engine to downshift? Because I was told that when going uphill since the hill is slowing you down you don't have to rev up.
This is pretty helpful! Merry Christmas Dave!
Merry Christmas Mackenzie! Dave
@@SmartTrucking As always, Blessed 2019!
Even at 46 I never get tired of listening to good truckin stories. Reminds me of when I was a kid hanging around the shop with my uncles and step dad. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you! Dave
Thanks I have an international ten wheeler with a 13 speed and had learned the skip gear works good for me. I haul hay in my local area . small rig and old but it works for me. Merry CHristmas
Merry Christmas to you Dean! Dave
1800 seems way too high to make a downshift to me. I'm usually down towards 1200, depending on load and how much hill is left.
To piggyback off what your saying. Older model trucks those methods work very well I used them many times myself and had no issues in doing so. With some of the later model trucks “if your lucky enough not to have a automatic truck” I’ve noticed that high range gears tend to stretch. Since many company’s have their trucks governed where you can’t skip gears. The truck doesn’t allow you to rev to high enough to skip a gear like 10th to 8th the truck makes you follow the order of the gears up and down.
I was lucky enough to get my truck to be wide open after taking my boss for a ride along and showing him the draw back with governed trucks.
To bad everything's going automatic because that's good advice I really don't pay attention when I shift now it has kinda become natural .I wish this video was out when I started.
Are we upshifting or downshifting? If rpm's are that high going uphill you"re pulling it no need to downshift
I WAS think the same thing. High torque , low rpm engines I would go down to 900 or maybe 1000rpms verses 700 for typical down shift . The ISX had great torque and made life thru WVA on I64 A BREEZE.
1800 might be a little high but i sometimes will drop a gear at 1600. I drive a 550 series 60 detroit and I weigh well over 100,000 loaded. That engine likes to pull a big hill around 1700. You cannot lug an engine like that for a long time your egt will cook a turbo or a head. I knew exactly what he meant.
@@slr379x9 I know a guy running a series 60 making around 700hp, runs around 2k rpm on hills he said it just likes it more hes about 130k lb though.
Easy way to fix that.. drive a auto
The difference between American and European trucks is that most of American trucks are all manual and I would say 99% of European trucks are all automatic I've been driving over 4 years and I have never tried a truck that has a manual gearbox. You just don't see manuals in Europe
Merry Christmas Dave to you and yours ☃️❄️🎁🎀🎅
Merry Christmas! Dave
Here’s where the splits come in handy too
Don’t recall having issues down shifting but I never “floated” my gears on a grade! You need to eliminate (neutralize) torque in the gear box in order to smoothly “float” to another gear and I just don’t see how you can do this effectively on a grade unless you do it long before you any significant momentum!
Great advice Dave been pulling logs in northern Ontario for 4 1/2 yrs and have had some hires training under me and I have alway told to have a plan before the hill and it doesn’t matter if it work out keep calm and go to your next available gear. Merry Christmas to you and family and keep the rubber to down and the shiney side side up
Merry Christmas Steve! Dave
Merry Christmas from Seattle, Dave you’ve been a big help to me this year!
goochii67 Merry Christmas Dave & Cat,I learned how to drive back in the 70ts when we had 2 sticks,being a farm boy I caught on very fast,but when my truck broke down and I had to drive a 13 speed I sure you were around then,I’m in Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada and I was driving to Vancouver,the trip out was a nightmare I wish I would have thought of skipping a gear back then,thank goodness the trip back was much better,running the mountains on a 13 speed for the first time is not something I would recommend.Thanks for the videos and common sense ,take care!!👋👴🏻
Merry Christmas to you! Glad to help! Dave
If they read the DMV manual for cdl test they would know that it says : it's almost impossible to shift gears of you are down hill you have to shift before it .
Thanks I have an international ten wheeler with a 13 speed and had learned the skip gear works good for me. Merry Christmas
I have a 2014 freightliner cascadia cummins isx with a 10 speed what is the highest rpm I can be at going up a hill without causing damage to the truck were I can keep pulling?
The sissy UPS Cascadias I drive with DD13’s would never have enough power to “blow a gear”
I do this cause is common sense, truck need strong gear to climb, so slow u climb drop to low gear doesn’t matter if you skip the gear down, but give him the power to climb and smooth
Stalling uphill is a bitch. I just climbed a 5 mile hill in 1st gear, the longest 5 miles of my life. I've been driving for a few months, but this trip i got in a different truck.
MERRY CHRISTMAS dave and cat as always thanks
Merry Christmas to you Timothy! Dave
This literally saved my ass. Had no idea what i was doing until i watched this. Thanks.
Glad to help!
Merry Christmas!🎂🎄☃️⭐😇♥️
Merry Christmas to you! Dave
Happy christmas Dave,thanks for all the vids
Merry Christmas to you Michael! Dave
Your videos are awesome keep it up