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To reduce or eliminate gear clash when shifting that speed transmission, you need to “double clutch” when you shift. “Double Clutching” is the process in which the operator synchronizes the gear speeds manually. “Double clutching” is a process that needs to be done in the “blink of an eye” in order for it to work successfully. Here is how to do it in a nutshell. You mention down shifting under a load. When the engine is under below the speed that the throttle is set at, depress the clutch far enough to release the pressure on the gears but not engage the transmission brake and move the speed lever to a position between gears. Release and re-engage the clutch (again not far enough to engage the transmission brake) and when the engine hits the RPM that matches your ground speed for the lower gear, slip (don’t try to jam it) the speed transmission into gear and release the clutch. It sounds a lot simpler than it really is and takes lots of practice and knowledge of the relationships between the engine RPM and ground speed in various gears. To shift to a higher gear, you need to have the engine at a high RPM, engage the clutch, move between gears, throttle down, and momentarily release the clutch, and then slip the gear shift into the next higher gear when the engine RPM is matches the ground speed in that gear. If you know a truck driver that has been around the 13-speed transmissions, he probably will be able to show you how to shift without even using the clutch! At any rate it takes practice and a good ear for engine speed (or know the shift points on the tachometer) to make a shift while moving without “grinding” the gears. Good luck!
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