Comparing the shift knobs between truck and passenger car, you may notice something is different.

Passenger Car

Truck

If you cannot find any difference, please look at above pictures focusing on the position of each gear shift.
There is a small difference which is the position of Reverse gear and also other gears between truck and passenger car.

If you look at the shift knob of passenger car, the order of shift is like below.
And Reverse gear is positioned to the bottom of right side.

On the other hand, the one of truck is located to the top of left side.

If some people who ride the car with manual transmission drive truck, they might be confused to this shift position.

Surprisingly, there is the reason that this shift position is adopted to trucks.

Hewland Shift Pattern

Originally, this shift pattern that top left is Reverse gear are called “Hewland Shift Pattern” (or some also call “Racing Pattern” in Japan).
Hewland is the company name, Hewland Engineering, and develops and manufactures transmission in the U.K. This company developed this shift pattern, so the company name is used as the name of pattern.

This transmission pattern was used for sports cars. This is because while driving race, it is often switched between the second gear and third one, and the first and reverse gear are not used so much. (First gear is only used when the vehicles start running.)

Why does Truck have Hewland Shift?

What gear do you usually use when you want your vehicle to move forward?

Many of truck drivers around the world use second gear, not first gear. (This is standard, so if it is an empty large truck, they might use third.)

If you start from the second gear, using the number of shifts is reduced, the shock feeling is reduced, and you can shift up smoothly and comfortably.

Otherwise, the first gear is called “Super Low Gear” in Japan, and the situation that first one is used is when the truck starts run with full of heavy cargo, or move forward on slope, because the driving forth is very strong at the first gear.

The opportunity to use first gear is very limited, that’s why trucks are adopted Hewland Shift pattern. (Old model of light vehicle like SUZUKI CARRY has the same shift pattern as the passenger car, but you sometimes see the Hewland Shift pattern with the newer model.)

Please be noted that we do not recommend you to always use second gear when you ride the passenger cars and start running the vehicle, because if you always use second gear to move forward, it will take a load on the engine / clutch and they can be damaged. If those parts are broken, the repairing cost will be more expensive.

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