How To Shift Gears In A Semi-Truck! 

Big thanks to Ridge for sponsoring this video! Check it out here >> ridge.com/callthemall

Been driving 20 years and I’ve never met ANYKNE who shifts perfectly all the time. You’re gonna grind a gear here and there especially downshifting.

Here we have a respectable driver, no crappy music (country- rock covers) the steering wheel is on straight and the shifter isn’t touching the ceiling 10/10

Definitely gonna use these techniques in American Truck Simulator 😆

Absolutely the most well explained and best demonstrated shifting video I've ever seen on RU-vid!.Great job. Appreciate the amount of effort you put into making this.

Have been heavy hauling for over 30 years and I just love when someone says I never miss a gear. Yea right ! Great video you got here. Keep on trucking .

Young Man, I've Watched Numerous Trucker Videos, And Could Never Understand How They Shift Through 18 Speeds...While Only Moving The Shifter Into The Same 6 Or 7 Positions. Thanks For This Explanatory Video. Strong Work!

Retired long haul trucker here. Enjoyed your clear easy to follow demo, brought back memories, would be perfect for a beginner. Yes I floated the gears most of the time. Wound up with more shoulder problems that hip. As a gal, having to put the seat so far forward, I was almost reaching behind me going into 8th. Of course it could be from running up and down the side of the cab. :-) But loved my years on the road. Be safe out there.

My favorite Canadian hippy trucker has done it again. Excellent video on shifting the 18 spd and you've explained it all and in a way that anyone can understand. Keep up the good work.

You are one of my biggest inspirations man. I just passed my CDL test with a 13spd, someday i hope to drive a truck just like yours. Now i just gotta find a trucking job at 19yrs old!

I don’t know why, I love this video so much even though I heard “18 speed” for the first time in my life. What a great vibe in this!

Callthemall, thank you, Beautifully Explained. I don't have a 13 gear truck but I try to learned by watching videos from truckers that explain the basics. How to shift a 18 gear truck!

New subscriber here. I've been driving for 10 years and still like to watch instructional videos here and there, and I've gotta say you're one of the BEST. Clear, methodical, to the point and easy to follow - all with a good sense of humor and humility. You sir, would make a fantastic instructor. Keep up the great work!

Finally someone that explained about using the clutch in a way that for me was easy to understand. This was the only part that was kind of confusing to me when shifting a 13 or 18 speed. Now i get it. You were also the first to even mention about pushing the clutch pedal all the way down when at a stop.

I've just started my Class 1 driving. You explained the shift down better than my instructor. Thanks for the great video.

You my friend are a mechanics favorite type of driver!!! Very respectful to the equipment , no abuse. If I were to work on your truck I would show the utmost respect .Thank You

Thanks for taking the time to make this video on shifting, I’m in Trucking school and I guess because I’ve driven gas engine manual transmissions for many years and I’m 57 so trying to get myself to slow down and shift properly has been a challenge, much respect for you and all truckers !

In my driving career before retirement I also drove a 13speed splitter transmission in a Mack. It had low and a conventional 6 speed pattern with the splitter on each of the 6. With a good load each gear had to be split. Like your videos Matt, takes me back to those working days here in Australia 🇦🇺

Thank you for the video, have started school and drive a stick car but, shifting in a truck has sounded confusing! Seeing it helps explain it alot better. Just starting at 63

Beautiful angle. That’s where I wanna put one of my cameras (when I get one, lol) to record me as I drive and shift. Thanks for sharing! I already know how to drive an 18-speed but I watched anyways and you did a very good job explaining all the nuances in the shift patterns, differences between shifting a standard passenger vehicle equipped with a manual transmission that are typically equipped with synchronizers, and diesel manual truck that doesn’t have synchronizers, double clutching versus floating, etc. I think the average non-trucker would understand most of what you explained. Noone truly “gets it” until they’ve been behind the wheel of a semi truck with a real manual transmission themselves. I’m surprised you took the time to explain all the other typical manual transmissions that semi trucks come with, lol. I wasn’t expecting that, based on the title of your video, but I like how thorough you were. You forgot to mention the other two Eaton (less common) manual transmissions - the 15-speed (blue splitter instead of red or gray) and the “Super 10,” though I’ve never personally been a truck with these less common ones. Again, amazing work and upload! It was very informative! I always hope curios non-truckers come across these sort of videos so they can get some insight into what we go through and what it’s like-hopefully in turn to be more empathetic and respectful towards us when zipping by around our rigs or giving us extra room to turn wide when needed, lol.

Great video and tutorial abt shifting techniques for an 18speed! Im retired from UPS after 28years driving the night haul to Richmond, Va. Thankfully the last 7years my truck had the automatic transmission and when i had a manual transmission it was a 10speed. Really appreciate your time and effort making this video. This will definitely help those that have a lot of shifting to do. Cheers from Laurel, Delaware USA.

Mate...you have made an excellent video for all those new to the game. For those of us that have been in the game for awhile this was a very informative video thank you.

That was the first sponsored ad in a vid that I didn’t skip over. It was actually entertaining 😂

The most detailed video on RU-vid till date. You are brilliant brother. All power to you. I’m glad I subscribed. Keep up the good work. God bless!

Watching your videos has helped me learn alot. And this has to be the best video relating how to and why it works like this. Thanks for the great content. Your work and dedication is recognized and appreciated. Keep on truckin

Thanks for the vid. Looks difficult. Love watching especially backing vids. I’ve watched climbing the impossible hill at least 3 or 4 times. Thanks a lot for the enjoyment.

Awesome video man, thank you. Just started driving and having trouble downshifting this is gonna help a lot

Exceptional teachings on 18, 13, 10 , and 9 speed transmission! Easy to follow and everything was well thoroughly explained as well! And every scenario we as drivers would experience was demonstrated, and executed with detailed explanation! By far thee best semi manual transmission tutorial video for beginners and/or brushing up!💯💯

This guy should be a consulting truck driving instructor and have flown all around the world to train instructors 💯

Best video on shifting I've seen. Awesome work!

Really needed this tutorial, love how you implemented an ad for the first time, keep it up Matt!

My nephew learned quite a bit from your video, he says I'm too grumpy to be able to teach and he gets nervous, lol. But it's true, and he's improved 100% on downshifting and rev matching, so thanks!

I have watched many videos know the concepts well and have a decent amount of experience shifting. I still enjoyed watching your video and thought it was one of the best I have seen to date. They way you broke it down into sections was perfect. For the person who is completely new it was nice to not overload them with too much info all at once. Really an awesome job.

Very informative video . . . I learned on a air shift 4X4 back in the mid seventies . . very simple to learn and easy to operate.

I used to drive in the early 80's till around 98. This is a very thought out and very well explained overview.

I watched 4 videos and yours is the only 1 that gave clarity. Thank u. Keep doing your thing bro 💪🏾

Adams family theme song. Best advice I ever got for a full gear change was to click your fingers the same as the song. Each finger click was the shifter movement. Click to neutral, wait, next finger click push it to the next whole gear..worked like a treat and made floating up through the box a dream. :)

Best and most comprehensive truck shifting video I've seen. Well done!

Great video!!! Going for my Class A refresher course. This helped a lot.

"Thank you so much for your time and information,,always have problems coming down in the 4-5 gears, again thanks for everything

Your videos are calming and very informative. Thank you for doing this shifting video with different options. I'm in CDL school and struggling with downshifting, especially getting into 4th, before a stop or turn. This has been a big help.

ive seen this video multiple times and it never gets old.good stuff my friend.

Awesome explanations and video editing mate.

Great video mate! Very helpful

Great video , valuable information . I pick up my truck Friday 6/7/24 . Basic , 10 speed but that's good enough to get started . Thank you for the tutorial and being real about it .

Good video dude. Bought my first 18 speed few months back. It's a challenge for sure. Got most of it figured out, just need a bit of refining. Gonna save this video link.

This is one of the best explained videos of this sort. Thank you very much for such a nicely done video with both theory, examples and different situations and ways of doing it!

You're a natural at such a young age in more ways than one... WOW YOU HAVE TO LOVE IT!!! ❤ I still do love it, 44 years after I started truck driving, is MY PASSION ❤

Great video! Best tutorial I've seen so far. 😎👌

Awesome video mate - I failed my first assessment test here in Australia because I was coming down a steep hill to a roundabout pushed the clutch in at 1000rpm but in doing that the truck speed up over the revolutions to synchronise and I couldn’t find the right gear for the revs so 5 seconds out of a gear is an instant fail - but your video addresses this scenario so I’ll do that next time - so thanks for an excellent video - cheers

Great instructional video! I imagine takes a while to do this smoothly and safely.

I’m gonna use it when driving on American truck simulator, thanks for the awesome class. Take care.

Very will explained, I drove a 13 speed Eaton for years. Good Job!

Good video bro, keep them coming

Great video- thanks for doing it !

A most excellent explanation! 10/10

Very comprehensive guide, man. You rock!

Excellent vid. I've driven 10 speeds, but not the 13s or 18s. This made it easier to understand the difference in the respective shift patters; it's not as complicated as I'd imagined.

My dude, wicked good video of all sorts of situations.

Great Job.. clarity clarity clarity

Wow great video ! Very well explained ! Thanks much !

Well this had to be the best video I’ve seen so far on showing me what’s up. Thanks man

Thank you for posting this video!

Hi. Best "how to" vid I have ever seen on YT. Interesting to see how different folks "try" to 'splain how it is done. Good job!! I learned as a kid, my Dad showed me how to drive big trucks, so kinda grew up knowing, but I gotta say for folks just becoming truck drivers with manual transmissions, and zero knowledge of anything mechanical... it has to be like the hardest thing to grasp. Your video should ease them into it a little smoother. We all know there is no instruction that can get someone "new" to jump in and go off the bat, to anyone new reading this, it takes time to nail it but this video will go a long way to get you started!!

I'm aboout a third of the way through and, so far, I think you're doing a great tutorial (for those who've never driven a big one). It's logical and well explained! Great work!

Great job explaining this.

I never had any formal training on a 10 speed other than a few test drives with another driver who never explained the clutch braking to me. Don't think he knew that. As a result, i would grind every gear.. and forget about downshifting. I never could get that into a lower gear exiting the freeway .sometimes could get into like 8 and just putt off the exit. Don't drive anymore, but I wished i had your knowledge about the clutch. Thanks for your tutorial on shifting. Much appreciated.

Best shifting video on RU-vid! Minor problem was the cab was too dark to see the double clutching in action. People need to see it happens fast in real time. It's tough that you need to demonstrate it in order to get your license. That's when you have the least experience to achieve a unfamiliar technique.

Great video man! Best explanation i’ve seen. 😎

Badass! Best I've seen on RU-vid brother. Thanks for the schooling.

wow ive just discovered this channel and this is very good information and you make it very easy to understand

Best shifting video Ive seen. True teacher.

Your sponsored video was absolutley hilirarious!! Nicely done man. Also love the tutorial.

Awesome video. Thank you so much!

A FANTASTIC VIDEO, ESPECIALLY FOR CURIOUS PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PROFESSIONAL TRUCK DRIVERS!!!!!!!

100% full demonstration. Very detailed and useful.

Awesome. Never been in a big rig, semi-truck, tractor...but I'd love to do that some day. Fascinating, the options for operating such a transmission. Ever since I was a kid, the best thing about big rigs, aside from the air horns (!) has been the Jake brakes. I never knew the Jake was on while shifting up to get that sound (my Harley sounds like that when I shift up). I'm amazed you didn't even tap that pickup! BTW, you have the whitest set of choppers! Thanks for such an in-depth video! Safe travels to you.

Man you’re the only one that helped and answered the question I was looking for. 😎

Thanks for your inputs!

Sure brings back memories. Well done..VERY well done. I’ve driven on & off for a LOT of years, but never OTR..unfortunately, always thought I wanted OUR own rig. Took jobs driving with Halliburton, United Salt/Texas Brine out of Houston, etc. ALWAYS ‘floated’..never double-clutched. Guess it’s sometimes how you’re ‘taught’..in my case, Halliburton. The LAST outfit I drove for was Midway Rental out of Kalispell, Montana. I’m 62 now..and miss it. It gets in your blood. I also grew up in a “trucking family”..a ‘hot-shot’ type outfit. So there’s that. Again, GREAT job!

FINALLY someone explains it! Thank you!

Great video and explanations.

Thanks I dont drive a big rig - Your explanation is really well done -Great job

Hi, This was an excellent video. Thanks for this.

I am so glad my fleet trucks in the company I work for in Aus have Allison Autos.. Less fatigue thankyou :) Love your content brother.

These are few things I had to learn when stepping up into the big trucks from smaller/light semi trucks, that you might touch on with your own advice and technique. Throttle control, not dropping the throttle too much when floating up or down. I drive B double tankers, which fully loaded are 68+ tonnes (150k pounds) GCM. When learning to drive these fully loaded I used to take my foot out of the accelerator far too much, which would cause rough shifts or cause the gear to hold and become difficult to release because the transmission would reload with decelaration forces/weight. I learnt the correct pressure by keeping the jakes on while shifting up, if you let off too much they would activate. Perfect pressure they stay off, the revs will drop and you can float-shift normally. I did this practice in high box, otherwise you could badly miss and potentially have to stop and start over. Gently backing off the throttle when splitting a gear up, letting your foot off the accelerator too quickly/harshly will cause the box to slam the splitter and cause drive train shock loads. Gentle off and gentle on. Missing a gear and half engagements. If you miss a gear, usually from under-revving, don't panic. Hold the gear near the gate (the gear tickle) and quickly and smoothly increase the RPM again and it should pop/suck itself in. On hills you will probably have to go back one or two full gear(s) depending on weight and incline. Half engagements, this happens to me most often going from Low-low to first on take-off, hold the stick firmly in gear and lift off the accelerator gently, it should pop in and you're good to go. Trying to drive it will cause the transmission to violently throw the gear out.

You gave some real good advise, this was a good video, i enjoyed watching it 👍

Thank you bro! It was very interesting for me. There are a lot of differences with manual gear shifting between car and truck. Best regards from Russia.

such an informative vid!! great!

Thx bro, i learned something today. i am just a american truck simulator guy, but that help even with that. thx man, well discribed.

I’m in the uk, don’t even drive trucks or lorries and I absolutely loved this video! So interesting, definitely subscribing as this is wicked! 😃

Great video well explained 👏🏾

Nice bro! You have great video!!

Well explained bud!, Great video man.

Thanks mate i learned alot cheers for making this

Really great video this is good info

As a non truck driver IN UK I've always wondered how you get 18 gears out of 4 positions. Thank you.

This was an excellent video. Thanks for this. I would have liked to see you downshifting while going up a hill, loaded. That was what I had difficulties with when I was trucking (in my previous life!)

Well explained. Thank you

Great video and thanks.