How to Drive a Semi

Hi. My name is Colin. Have you ever felt like you wanted to learn how to drive truck? Today I’m going to teach you how to drive a 10-speed semi.

First initial start is to check the oil. Make sure it is it at the mark on the stick if low you will need to add oil. Next check tires be sure they are inflated to accurate pressure which is around 80 psi. Start the engine and let it build up air pressure so your able to release the air brakes. To help build up air pressure faster you can throttle the engine up so it builds the air pressure. Press the clutch in and then release the tractor and trailer parking brakes (90-100 psi). Then you throw it into first gear and then you start rolling, throttle the engine up to 2000 rpms and pop into second gear. You continue to do the previous steps until you are in 10th gear. When you are approaching a stop sign throw on the engine brake and the engine will slow down the semi and then you will down shift. Once it’s down to 500 rpms you will take it out of gear and then throttle back up and put it into ninth gear. Continue this process until you reach first gear. If you come to a complete stop you need to put the clutch in.

Make sure the oil is between the marks. The picture on the left is the oil fill so if you are low you fill it up there. The picture on the right is the dip stick so you know were your oil is at.

You will turn the key on and flip the switch on to the right of the key so it will kick the fan on so your semi won't overheat if its on a hot day.

Once you turn the semi on it will start building air so then you can release the parking breaks. The red button is the trailer breaks and the yellow button is the tractor breaks.

You will press the clutch in and breaks at the same time after you release the parking breaks. And then you will put it in 1st gear and if its hard to get it in 1st gear release the clutch or break a little bit and then try again.

While you are driving you get the semi up to about 2000 rpms and then pop it out of gear and put it into the next gear up. But when you are down shifting you turn on the engine break on so it helps slow it down and when you want to go to the next gear down you pop it out of gear and then rev the engine up to about 2000 rpms and then throw it into the next gear down. When you come to a complete stop you have to push the clutch and breaks in at the same time.