Shifting Gears, Canadian Style

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Jim Park’s Truck Talk
Volume 1 Number 15

Everybody is concerned with fuel economy these days, but what about performance? We got calls and e-mails from more than a few Canadian drivers saying the recommendations offered a few weeks ago by some American engine experts may work for American trucks, but they won’t work here in Canada with our heavier loads — especially in the Rockies.

Actually, the principles are the same. Fuel economy is best at lower revs, and you can safely pull heavy loads up even the biggest hills at low rpm — if you do it right. Andy Roberts, owner and chief instructor at Mountain Transport Institute in Castlegar, B.C. explains how the proper shifting technique can improve fuel economy and performance, while preventing harm to the engine.

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Jim Park was a CDL driver and owner-operator from 1978 until 1998, when he began his second career as a trucking journalist. During that career transition, he hosted an overnight radio show on a Hamilton, Ontario radio station and later went on to anchor the trucking news in SiriusXM's Road Dog Trucking channel. Jim is a regular contributor to Today's Trucking and Trucknews.com, and produces Focus On and On the Spot test drive videos.


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