A method and system for controlling movement of an actuator fork of a transmission through a pre-synchronization phase of a synchronization event at a pre-synchronization fork velocity includes adjusting the level of fluid pressure applied to an actuator operatively attached to the actuator fork to control the pre-synchronization fork velocity within a predetermined range of a velocity target. The method determines, via a controller, the fork velocity during the pre-synchronization phase of a current synchronization event, compares the determined fork velocity to a velocity target, and adjusts the pressure level of fluid applied to an actuator piston of the actuator to control the velocity of the actuator fork within a predetermined range defined by the velocity target during a subsequent pre-synchronization phase. The velocity target may be defined for a shift type, such as a fast or slow shift, where the shift type is determined by the controller.