Submitted 3 weeks ago by The_Picard_Maneuver@lemmy.world to memes@sopuli.xyz
https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/b82e28d8-e8f0-4a28-8fa6-19eae82cf8ac.jpeg
As a former truck driver: can confirm. It was mostly freeing because I could actually go to Walmart or do laundry in the city without worrying about where and how to park.
Also, without a trailer it accelerates a lot faster. Like, genuinely spending more time shifting than accelerating. Feels weird.
Do you still start in 1st? Do you skip gears?
The truck I was driving had a DT12 (12-speed) and it would shift 1-2-4-6-8-10-12 if I remember correctly. Even with only 6 gears to go through, it still took forever. Maybe it wasn’t actually more time shifting than accelerating, but it sure felt like it lol.
I don’t know anyone who starts in 1st even with a full load. Maybe some very heavy haul guys.
In a bobtail, I would routinely take off in 4th or even 5th, in a 10 speed.
Another thing to consider is the amount of torque available.
I have on occasion went through every gear without ever needing to accelerate. Did you know that in a semi trucks, bobtailing, in top gear, that idling the engine will still have you doing about 40 to 45mph.
And due to all the torque, it won’t really be lugging the engine either to idle in gear while rolling on flat ground.
My only experience with driving trucks is in the Truck Sim games, but I agree.
Semi trucks haul ass when you have 600 bhp, a shitload of torque, and nothing in the back. Just don’t take a corner too fast or you will regret it.
I guess you could skip every other gear or something?
Take off your trailers and burn em Or you can let bo burn em
Muscle memory.
atomicbocks@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
My grandpa was a truck driver. He told me he hated bobtailing (driving with no trailer) because he didn’t get paid for it.