Three Methods to Recover Missed Gears

Gear recovery can be learned a few different ways.You don't always have to come to a complete stop if you miss a gear.
By becoming very familiar with your gear pattern and by paying attention to general speeds for each gear, you can use 3 different methods for gear recovery.

The Rev-Match method involves giving the throttle small blurps while gently trying to push the shifter into gear. The clutch is not used in this process.

The Tickle Method does not involve the clutch either, but uses slight pressure on the shifter while slowly pushing the throttle to find the gear hole.

The Go-To-Gear is when you master a midrange gear and wait until your road speed slows down enough to hit that gear.

Always try to remain calm and avoid forcing it into gear.

[timpope]

I’m retired and decided to get my CDL so we have to double clutch to pass the test and for me after many years of shifting gears in gasoline engines it’s a struggle to correctly shift these 10 speed with diesel engines, I find myself trying to shift to quickly and over reviving the engine, I have been extremely humbled in this trucking school and have tremendous respect for Truckers not only for their talent but all the regulations and red tape that goes along with being a Truckers, so thanks for taking the time to make this video and thanks to all the Truckers out there doing what needs to be done you are the very heart beat of America !

[JohnJohn]

I'm getting my CDL in March. My Uncle sent me this video. Glad I watched it.

[TASK_]

Thank you Sir. I needed this video. Finally someone who explain how to make it easier to down and up shift. Thank you so much Sir. Now I got confidence behind the wheel.

[ryanmorrison]

Every truck is different and likes to shift at certain points in the rev range. Most important thing is to get to know your truck and when it likes to shift. Once you know your truck’s personality, then you can start floating gears and recovering them. It gets easier the longer you spend driving a certain vehicle.

[Kiowan]

I learnt on 18 speed synchronized transmission, drove those for 10 years, then moved into an auto for 8 years and am now for the first time trying to learn to drive an 18 speed non synchro transmission, problem is I'm weighing 140, 000 lbs and going up big ass hills while doing it. It's extremely stressful as I've never been taught, I know the theory, watched a million videos but they just dont help at all, doesn't matter how well you know the theory you simply have to practice to learn. I lost the gears going uphill today grossed out at 140k lbs, I lost speed so fast I could not recover it so I had to stop and start again from lo, luckily I caught all the gears taking off again. The longest throws are the hardest, 4th to 5th and 6th to 7th. I also end up in a different truck, diff engine and transmission every time which is making it feel next to impossible to learn as nothing shifts the same. The stress is unbelievable.

[choward]

Thanks for the time that you put in your videos. You are a good teacher. I’m currently in school and double clutching kicking my butt. I watched your current video and your video about double clutching. Both videos are great and easy to understand. Thanks again.

[iBackshift]

Great Tutorial vid on "finding gears". I trained on a 392 gas jobby dumptruck w/a 5x4. Sometimes Frank [trainer] would smack the main out of gear into neutral. A big smile on his face, yelling at me "find the gear, find the gear" and I would go into near panic mode and start grinding. Frank laughed hard every time saying "quit grinding coffee, find the gear". After he had a belly full of laughing, then calmly he'd say "hold the tach at 1200" and he'd grab the main stick and slip it into gear with a click. [i'd sit there in awe of what just happened] Then he'd ask what gear are you in? 3. Ok what rpm do you need to get to put it in 2? 2200. Ok, do it. He taught me to pick a lower rpm to slide the shifter into gear, then start downshifting to get into the appropriate gear to accelerate the vehicle again. That skill Frank taught me helped my shifting for when i was hauling tree length logs [140k#'s] on bush roads where you had to skip 2 to 3 gears on a steep hill.

[Whatitdo]

I’m not sure if anyone else uses this method but I would add the two numbers together 😂 for example
15 mph ( 1+5 ) = 6th gear
25 mph ( 2+5 ) = 7th gear
35 mph ( 3+5 ) = 8th gear
45 mph = 9th gear
55 mph = 10th gear

[derekclardy]

Great video, Im getting ready to test. I would recover by revving my engine high then tapping the clutch and trying to throw it in gear when the rpm’s starts falling. I just learned this technique the other day and it’s way more easier thank you.

[LaPantera]

Thanks man, this video was very informative, I too just got my CDL with no restrictions, I’ve never driven a stick shift in my life, and I’m learning right now with a peterbilt 8 speed. I’m also a self taught, all the rookie mistakes u mentioned in this video, are the mistakes im making right now haha, but I know with time and experience, I will surely master this or at least I hope so. This video made me feel better and was very helpful. Now the next thing I need to learn is how to approach hills. Also how to do turns. I usually hold the clutch down and just make the the turn, then I have trouble finding the gear to put into to keep driving. I’ll def check out more of your videos man thank u!

[PocketRockett]

Thank you for clearing my conscience. Hi I am a new driver 22 years old fresh out of school and I have my own authority in my own truck. I got lucky finding a short haul local driving job where my dad and brother used to work and I have been struggling a little bit with upshifting and down shifting in certain weather conditions such as rain particularly I have a hard time downshifting when it’s raining I guess I panic a little bit and I grind it just a little bit. I don’t ever force it in the gear and you really help me clear my conscience about hurting my truck, I try my best to be gentle with it

[aaronyoung]

Going for my state exam tomorrow. It's my 2nd try. I had a problem on the road portion and couldn't get it in gear and had to come to a stop three different times. Learning gear recovery and just practicing how to to approach different situations by watching videos like this makes me feel more confident. Thank you!

[magdoguimaraes]

Thank you so much for this video, I’m taking my CDL and these information helps a lot.

[losingmyfavoritegame]

6:33 I like the part where you discussed how you thought missing a gear was the end of it. Gotta start from first! 😄 😀

[MilkyWayGalaxyy]

These videos are amazing man! I hope I get a sleeper teammate as nice as you. Thank You!

[TRUCKERAbdurRahmanbinbailey]

How you doing brother, self taught! you came along way.I like your (3) methods, qualified to be a CDL Instructor, 5 stars.

[aaronjecelynshepherd]

I have a problem with the down shift. Can you make a video about down shift and how to recover when cant go in the gear that you want on down shift. Thank you

[wnfm]

Very nice video on how to fix things. I run a CDL school and see the panic that comes over new shifters. And your explanations on ways to recover are very good. I was self trained trucker to 35 years ago. Wish i had some one giving me tips like your sharing. Good job. Thanks for the video
👍🙌

[skyleec]

Thanks for this video. I test out this weekend but have trouble finding gears sometimes. Especially 2 to 3 and 5. I think my problem is i have it revved up way too high when moving down the road and with traffic around you it is nerve wracking to learn. But going out on the road again today so will give it a try with your video in mind.

[johnnyleon]

Thanks for your insights. Preciate ya.