...though I might flunk it, myself! 
I went on a trip with my uncle once in a 1970s Mack R model. It had 2 sticks too. If I remember right (not a commercial driver, so be kind), one was to shift the transmission and the other was high-low-reverse. Due to that configuration, it had 5 (maybe 4?) speeds in reverse.
I think, to scare me a bit, he would sometimes reach over and shift both at the same time with no hands on the wheel.
Similar to this, but it had a box, and the cherry picker was on the back.
hitch-hiking to and from Norfolk I'd quite often get rides with truckers .. back then many of them had 2 sticks ... I still remember one ride ... a dynamite truck ( to this day I'm not sure if he was loaded or not ) and he would shift both sticks at the same time ... steering wheel.. no hands ...
as to the load, as often as he was shifting I'm thinking it was loaded .. this was on a 2 lane mountain road ( US 74 then NC 9 from Forest City to Black Mountain NC )
2 stroke diesel ohh yeah
Well, Earl grabbed on the shifter and he stabbed her into fifth gear and then the chromium-plated, fully-illuminated genuine accessory shift knob come right off in his hand. I says, "You wanna screw that thing back on, Earl?"
I love that video, that truck sounds amazing.
However, I see your Diamond T and raise you this. (about 2:30 in)
BoostedBrandon wrote: I love that video, that truck sounds amazing. However, I see your Diamond T and raise you this. (about 2:30 in)
Oh I like that! 
Am I missing something, or was he doing most of that shifting, both up and down, clutchless? What's the story on that?
And, man, I had no idea those 2 stroke diesels sounded so cool.
In reply to alex:
Power shifting. He only needed the clutch a few times. I do a lot a clutchless shifting out of habit.
N Sperlo wrote: In reply to alex: Power shifting. He only needed the clutch a few times. I do a lot a clutchless shifting out of habit.
I tend to want to do this in my Accord 5 speed. It is easy when you match the revs......
What's the little lever on the dashboard he moves?
Lever or switch ? I was wondering that too.
iceracer wrote: Lever or switch ? I was wondering that too.
Might be for the "Jake Brake". I don't know why he would turn it on, then off, then on, etc.
But when he takes his foot off the fuel, it sure sounds like a "Jake brake".
That 2 stroke exhaust note is teh sex.
Man, I'd probably lose track which gear each lever is in.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IKPecdbis0&feature=fvwrel
So, if I understand correctly, there's 3 gearsets, each with a 5-speed shift pattern within them? And when you shift to the higher gearset, you have to return the other shifter to the '1st' gear position? Damn you, GRM, you make my head hurt 
Maybe that's what they were thinking of when they filmed The Fast and the Furious. After the first few shift I had no idea if he was even going up or down. Don't think the switch was a Jake brake, could it be another Hi/Lo air shifter?
GhiaMonster wrote: Maybe that's what they were thinking of when they filmed The Fast and the Furious. After the first few shift I had no idea if he was even going up or down. Don't think the switch was a Jake brake, could it be another Hi/Lo air shifter?
Definitely a Jake Brake, the owner said so in one of the comments.
Twin_Cam wrote: So, if I understand correctly, there's 3 gearsets, each with a 5-speed shift pattern within them? And when you shift to the higher gearset, you have to return the other shifter to the '1st' gear position? Damn you, GRM, you make my head hurt
There's a transmission with 5 speeds (we'll say).
There's a separate transmission (called an Aux Box) with low range, 1:1 direct drive, and reverse. Almost like the transfer case in a 4x4, but instead of just high and low ranges, it also houses the reverse gear too.
One stick for each transmission. Because there's some overlap in the gear ratios, there are times when he switches gears in the Aux Box between low range and direct to fill in the holes.
It's sort of like a bicycle with 2 chain rings up front and 5 cogs (in this instance) out back. You can stay in the high or low range on the front chain rings and use any cog out back. But there are some ratios in the setup that overlap The ideal ratio for your situation may involve you shifting to the other front chain ring and moving a few cogs over on the back to get your ideal cruising or climbing gear.
Probably because the manual brakes in a '48 Diamond T are less effective than the Jake Brake.
FWIW, the g/f's parents' '48 Diamond T 1.5T has a 2-speed vacuum switched rear end. IIRC, the transmission is a non-syncro type, so I understand the clutch is only really used from a standing start. Sadly, they don't drive the truck much anymore.
In reply to carzan:
DOES WANT!!
akamcfly wrote:Twin_Cam wrote: So, if I understand correctly, there's 3 gearsets, each with a 5-speed shift pattern within them? And when you shift to the higher gearset, you have to return the other shifter to the '1st' gear position? Damn you, GRM, you make my head hurtThere's a transmission with 5 speeds (we'll say). There's a separate transmission (called an Aux Box) with low range, 1:1 direct drive, and reverse. Almost like the transfer case in a 4x4, but instead of just high and low ranges, it also houses the reverse gear too. One stick for each transmission. Because there's some overlap in the gear ratios, there are times when he switches gears in the Aux Box between low range and direct to fill in the holes. It's sort of like a bicycle with 2 chain rings up front and 5 cogs (in this instance) out back. You can stay in the high or low range on the front chain rings and use any cog out back. But there are some ratios in the setup that overlap The ideal ratio for your situation may involve you shifting to the other front chain ring and moving a few cogs over on the back to get your ideal cruising or climbing gear.
Eureka! Ok, I get it now, good analogy. Thanks.
Is that dog engagement or sliding gear?
iceracer wrote: Lever or switch ? I was wondering that too.
My vote is with Jake Brake.
On back roads to conserve gas, you don't want that engine slowing you down, but coming up to a turn you don't want to waste brakes when its not necessary, therefore shallow turns, idle down to speed, deep turn, Jake down to speed. Of course you can take that line of thought and apply it to any ordinary day driving situation.
Ever clutch down to speed in traffic [in gear] vs popping into neutral or holding the clutch down?
Similar, but more effective.
EDIT: just caught up, so now I know.
My experience driving "Big" trucks is with newer ones but the lever on the left is for a "Gear Spliter" It can double or triple the number of gears the truck has. A 4 speed becomes an 8 speed.
On modern trucks most transmissions have 5-6 gears but with the spliter they end up with 10-12 speeds and some can have up to 15+ gears. On modern trucks the shifting of the spliter is accomplished with a simple switch on the transmission shift lever. Usually up for high range and down for low.
Most times you shift through all the gears while in low range and then shift to high and go back to what is normally 1st or 2nd gear (Depending on the trans.) and start over until you reach top gear.
With the high torque engines we have today a simple 10 speed is all most trucks need, unless they are used in hilly/mountain areas. And with the shortage of truck drivers many companies are going automatic to make the driving part easier for newbies!
Anyone remember the Dodge Colt with a twin stick transmission? 
My brother bought one new way back when - not nearly as complicated as the trucks but interesting nonetheless.
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