Some guidance on shifting a Eaton Fuller 13-speed!!!!

So I have an interview with Armellini Express Lines in Palm City, Fl on Monday (7/15/13) and it will include a road test. I wasn't really sweating it until I did some research on there trucks. They run International Pro-Star's and they look quite nice. Excited to get started except for one thing that has me a little nervous. The research I've done on the trucks says they have Eaton Fuller 13-speeds. So being that they are described as the most common and popular transmissions I'm sure Armellini has them in there prostar's. The problem is in school I practiced on an Eaton Fuller 10-speed which I managed to figure out after the third 2 hour session. It didn't take me long. Now watching some you tube videos it doesn't seem to be all that different then the 10-speed I shifted. But I have a couple questions. I noticed there is an extra switch on the side I will call (for sake of argument) the side switch as well as the main front selector switch I will call (for sake of argument) the main switch. Now I gather that the first 4 gears I will go thru just like the 10-speed I was famaliar with. Then flip the main selector up to go into high range after I shift into 4th & before I shift into 5th. Here's my first question? Once I shift into 5th and I'm on the low side of 5th....when I'm ready to go to the high side of 5th I flip the side switch to the front and as far as the pedals go do I just depress the accelerator to break torque and then press it down again or do I also utilize the clutch as well? I'm realizing once I am in the high range of gears 5, 6, 7 & 8 the side selector needs to be pushed back to get ready to go into the low range of the next gear. How am I doing so far?!?!
My second question is can you bypass the high/low ranges on the high side and just straight shift gears 5, 6, 7 & 8 like you would on a 10-speed? And if you can do you leave the side switch in the low position? I most likely won't be shifting that way on my company road test just curious.
My third question is are there any other differences other than the obvious between a 13-speed & a 10-speed. Also one more thing. When I am shifting in the high range (5, 6, 7 & 8...when I'm going between the low end of the gears & the high end of the gears do I shift it at the same RPM's as the whole gears? In other words say for sake of argument a good shifting point for the gears is 1600 rpm. When I go from say 5 low to 5 high do I depress the accelerator pedal at 1600 and then press it again to shift it?

Ok recap on questions....

1) Once I shift into 5th and I'm on the low side of 5th....when I'm ready to go to the high side of 5th I flip the side switch to the front and as far as the pedals go do I just depress the accelerator to break torque and then press it down again or do I also utilize the clutch as well?

2) Can you bypass the high/low ranges on the high side and just straight shift gears 5, 6, 7 & 8 like you would on a 10-speed? And if you can do you leave the side switch in the low position?

3) Are there any other differences other than the obvious between a 13-speed & a 10-speed. Also one more thing. When I am shifting in the high range (5, 6, 7 & 8 )...when I'm going between the low end of the gears & the high end of the gears do I shift it at the same RPM's as the whole gears? In other words say for sake of argument a good shifting point for the gears is 1600 rpm. When I go from say 5 low to 5 high do I depress the accelerator pedal at 1600 and then press it again to shift it?

Everyone on here has been so helpful in the past couple months since I started my professional driving journey and combined with you guys & gals and what I've seen and did both in school, the internet and hopefully with Armellini I can't wait to get started. Thanks again & safe travel's!!!!

Scott

 

I know I won't be 100% but if I can shoot for and achieve at least 75% or enough to pass the road test I will be happy. I will certainly let the gentleman who will be going with me for the road test know that first of all I haven't drivin a tractor-trailer since 6/25 when I graduated school and did my road test and that was on an automatic. I haven't shifted since a week prior to that. I'm pretty confident I will get back into it just fine.

 

I've only driving a 10-speed. It was an old Jevic Freightliner with an Eaton Fuller.