I got the chance to drive a KW T2000 for about 30 miles today! I was helping my friends dad fix a bracket for his APU on the side of his truck and he wanted to take it for a test drive so we got in, and about 5 miles out of town, he pulls over to the side of the road and tells me to switch seats with him..so im thinking he just wants me to flip switches for him or something while he gets out and checks something, but instead, he gets in the passenger seat and starts telling me how to shift and I realized he wanted me to drive it...it took me awhile to figure out how to shift the thing through its gears..it's a bit more complicated than our little trucks, but once you get the hang of it, it's easy. One thing that got me is how much it swayed from side to side once we got going and hit a few bumps, but it really wasn't that hard to drive! It was nice sitting up higher than everyone else on the road too. I can't imagine what it would be like to drive that with a 80k load behind you....it was a lot of fun to drive though!

 

I remember the first time I drove a rig, I was 16 years old in a Mack RS600 with a double stick 10spd. Got my commercial license with that truck.

MikeyB

 

B61 Mack with 10 and 2. 58 MPH wide open on the governor. Too many years ago to tell. Got good enough that once I left the clutch out in first, never needed it again until I started coming down or stopping. That included splitting and all.

 

Did my learning on an 02 volvo with an eaton 10 speed , and an 02 international 9900ix with a 560hp cummins and an eaton 18 speed.

I hauled B trains as heavy as 136 000 lbs gross weight.

 

I learned on a Volvo day cab, with a 13 speed Eaton Fuller. Something I will never forget. This past week, I have been driving a Freightshaker (Freightliner) FL60 with a 3126 Cat and a auto tranny, due to a recent construction project I've been running. I could do without the auto tranny but it is nice to get back in a commercial rig.

 

I learned on a International medium, a 4000 series I think. I was only a 5speed, but my dad would overload the heck out of the trailer. He'd drive from fl to tx loaded, I'd drive back empty while he slept. I was 14-15. Never will forget the first big truck that I drove, it was a pete...

 

Back in the early 50's a Ford F8 5 speed, split rear end, 4Hi was higher than 5Lo. Of course they never told me that, what a supprise. Also a '49 White. Worked with "Wildcatters." Fun for a kid. Also did some spotting trailers in a yard.

 

I can't remember for sure, but I didn't drive my first diesel big truck until my freshman year of college, drove C-60 Chevy gassers since I was 12, but it was an IH grain hauler with a pup, interesting experinence. I'm driving a Pete right now with a 3400 gallon tank, 10 speed split eaton, hauling fertilizer and water. It gets real fun with it half empty rocking and rolling down the road.
I got off work Friday evening after @10 hours, jumped in my Dodge to go home and caught myself trying to split shift it!

 

I'm in truck driving school right now! trying a change of careers on for size. I tell ya being the one pulling 80k lbs all over the country sure would put a smile on my face, then being able to back it up to with 1/4" of the loading dock would be nice too...

 

78 frieghtliner day cab over with a 350 cummins and a 13 speed road ranger. it was on its second million miles. never used the clutch other than to take off from a dead stop.

 

volvo day cab with 10 sp. never learned or tryed to double clutch, always floated them. try it from a dead stop with a heavy load on up a 5 percent or better grade to test your skills!

 

Started in a Kenworth with a Super 10. After you get the hang of it, it's easier than a regular pickup.

 

78 ford 9000 cabover 350 cummins eaton 13spd
72 ford 9000 6V92 (or whatever that LOUD thing is) 5spd + 4spd browny
92 kenworth t600 series 60 eaton 13 spd
00 Pete C 12 10 spd

I learned on all of those.