Safety First 05: Shifting and Operating Transmissions

Safety First · Lesson 05 of 30 · Basic Operation
Free safety education based on the federal Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) theory curriculum. This is not certified ELDT training and does not count toward a CDL.

The fifth unit of the federal Class A theory curriculum is Shifting/Operating Transmissions. It covers how to shift gears safely and why shifting matters for control and fuel economy.

Being in the right gear at the right time helps keep a heavy vehicle under control, especially on hills and in curves.

What this unit covers

Under 49 CFR Part 380, Appendix A, this unit introduces shifting patterns and procedures so driver-trainees can safely and competently perform basic shifting maneuvers. Where appropriate, this includes up-shifting and down-shifting techniques on multi-speed, dual-range transmissions. The unit also covers how proper shifting relates to vehicle control and fuel economy.

1. Know your transmission

  • Extra gears. Many heavy vehicles use multi-speed rear axles or auxiliary transmissions to provide extra gears. These are usually controlled by a selector knob or switch on the gearshift lever of the main transmission.
  • Shift patterns differ. There are many different shift patterns. Learn the right way to shift the vehicle you will drive.
  • Automatic transmissions. On a vehicle with an automatic transmission, you can select a low range to get greater engine braking when going down grades.

2. Double clutching

CDL manuals say most heavy vehicles with manual transmissions require double clutching to change gears.

To upshift:

  1. Release the accelerator, push in the clutch, and shift to neutral at the same time.
  2. Release the clutch.
  3. Let the engine and gears slow down to the rpm required for the next gear.
  4. Push in the clutch and shift to the higher gear at the same time.
  5. Release the clutch and press the accelerator at the same time.

To downshift:

  1. Release the accelerator, push in the clutch, and shift to neutral at the same time.
  2. Release the clutch.
  3. Press the accelerator to increase engine and gear speed to the rpm required in the lower gear.
  4. Push in the clutch and shift to the lower gear at the same time.
  5. Release the clutch and press the accelerator at the same time.

Knowing when to shift. Use engine speed, read on the tachometer, or road speed. Learn what speeds each gear is good for in your vehicle.

3. Downshift before you need the lower gear

  • Before starting down a hill. Slow down and shift down to a speed you can control without using the brakes hard. Otherwise the brakes can overheat and lose their braking power.
  • Before entering a curve. Slow down to a safe speed and downshift to the right gear before you enter the curve. This lets you use some power through the curve to help the vehicle be more stable while turning.

Choosing a gear for a downgrade. CDL manuals say to shift to a low gear before starting down the grade. With older trucks, a common rule was to use the same gear going down a hill that you would need to climb it. Newer trucks may need a lower gear going down a hill than going up. Know what is right for your vehicle.

Do not try to downshift after your speed has built up. CDL manuals warn that you will not be able to shift into a lower gear, and you may not even be able to get back into any gear, in which case all engine braking effect will be lost.

4. When not to shift

  • On railroad tracks. CDL manuals say not to shift gears while crossing railroad tracks. For certain vehicles, including buses carrying passengers, vehicles carrying certain hazardous materials, and certain cargo tank vehicles, federal rules (49 CFR 392.10) allow the driver to cross in a gear that lets the vehicle complete the crossing without a change of gears, and prohibit shifting gears while crossing.
  • In turns and intersections. CDL skills test guidance says not to shift in turns and intersections.
  • Do not coast unsafely. CDL skills test guidance calls it unsafe coasting when the vehicle is out of gear, with the clutch pushed in or the gearshift in neutral, for more than the length of the vehicle.
  • Do not over-rev or lug the engine. CDL skills test guidance says not to rev or lug the engine.

Quick check

  1. When should a driver shift to a low gear for a long downgrade? (Answer: before starting down the grade.)
  2. Why should a driver downshift before entering a curve? (Answer: so the driver can use some power through the curve to help the vehicle be more stable.)
  3. What do CDL manuals say about shifting gears while crossing railroad tracks? (Answer: do not shift gears while crossing the tracks.)

Find every Safety First lesson under DRIVE.

This lesson is general education, not legal advice. Follow your vehicle's manual, your state CDL manual, and your training provider, and confirm current rules with FMCSA. Drivers getting their first Class A or Class B CDL, upgrading from Class B to Class A, or getting a hazardous materials, passenger, or school bus endorsement for the first time must, with limited exceptions, complete entry-level driver training from a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry.

Sources

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