Stick Vs. Auto?

Hello all. I am going to school in a couple months. I chose my company for a couple reasons, both involving licensing. Hopefully you guys can verify or disqualify the info I have. After a little research I have found that almost all states will limit you to an auto-only CDL if you test on an auto. So, how much does that truly matter? I know that a lot of companies are converting to autos. If it's going to be an industry-wide change, that's one thing. But if it's not, I have just pigeonholed myself by training and testing on an auto. My dad just started driving an auto. He hated it at first but is now "warming up to it". In dad terms, that means he really likes it and doesn't want to admit it lol :) The company I chose is slowly converting to all autos, but their OTR fleet is still mostly stick. They also will dispatch me as a solo driver after school which is fantastic. That'll give me behind the wheel training for 4-6 weeks with a trainer before I have to get my CDL. Nice little bonus. With them, I have a guarantee of a trainer in a stick truck. So how important is it really to not have a restricted CDL? I ask this question for a very specific reason. I have not yet committed to the company I chose, and I found another company that I really like. Their entire fleet is auto. So...If I go through them, I will definitely end up with an auto-only CDL. The second company has a very sexy pay scale for both rookies and vets. I'm tempted to switch. But again, worried about the CDL restriction. What do y'all think?

Oh, by the way...I am not looking at this second company because of money. There are a few things I really like about them. I am never going to let starting pay be my deciding factor. I thought I should mention that. I just reread that post, and realized that it looks like my decision is financially based. It's not. Still very happy with my first choice even though the pay is less. It's all about me making the best move now for the future.

You absolutely do not want that 'auto' restriction on your license. I don't know if you asked them specifically, but even the companies that are fully automatic fleets or moving to them will still train drivers in a regular stick shift so they know how to shift and so they can avoid that restriction on the license. So even though the company you're considering is fully automatic they should train you to shift in a stick and you'll use that for the testing. Verify this with the company.

Under no circumstances should you accept training where you'll be restricted to automatics. It does look like many of the major companies are in the process of changing over but you will likely never see everyone change over. There will always be people who prefer a standard shift no matter what.

Thanks Brett :)

I agree with Brett, the only thing i would add is its a federal thing now as of 2015 that if your skills test is in an auto you have the auto restriction.

I have driven both and both have upsides and down sides, However learn how to drive in a standard, as once you know how to do it, you are opened up for all trucking companies regardless if they run standard or auto.

Well, I spoke to the second company, and then a third. I'm sure you guys have heard this a million times, but this is a really tough choice. Pretty sure I'm going to go with my first choice. It has a very "family" feel. All 3 recruiters were extremely nice and well informed. But my first pick still feels like a very comfortable pair of jeans. I might as well just dive in and go for it. So...bottoms up. Thanks for your responses.

Tim, why are you hiding your choices? Maybe another TT member drives for them and can help you decide.

What companies are you thinking about?

I am juggling a few things w companies also. I am going w the first one which I believe is your first...! Feel comfortable w them!

First, to Errol. I have spent a ridiculous amount of time researching companies and speaking to recruiters. I went to MATS with my dad to do research there too. MY wife accuses me (and she is completely correct) of spending too much time on research. The only reason I will not list the names is because my brain will explode if I get any more input. I am not trying to be evasive or illusive but I just want to grab and go. If I don't, I'll drive myself nuts. Also, the companies I have contacted are amazing, and any driver here in those companies could sway me and I just wanna go with my gut. Plus, I surely don't want to offend anyone if I don't choose their company. All 3 of them are wonderful.

Second, to Chris. Yeah, man, you caught me. That's where I think I need to go. Submitting my paperwork tomorrow (or the next day) and getting the ball rolling. I already have a spot reserved, and the bonus road time before the CDL test is what has me sold. I had a chance to speak to someone that was in the company for a long time. He bought his own truck and moved on but LOVED that company. You and I are gonna have a beer some day, and it's gonna be on me :)

I have spent a ridiculous amount of time researching companies and speaking to recruiters.

Considering you're only 2% of the way through the High Road I would certainly agree. Do you know how much time I spent researching companies over the course of my 15 year career? Maybe 10 minutes. Maybe.

It's impossible to get the idea across to people that all of this fussing over choosing the ideal company is a complete waste of time. I've tried to explain that all these years but to an outsider it makes perfect sense that you should pound the research hard to find that ideal fit. But anything beyond the type of freight you'd like to haul, the home time you'd like to have, and the pay & benefits is mostly a waste of time. Here's why...

For one, this is a performance-based industry. Those who perform get great miles, get home when they're supposed to, and get special favors from time to time only reserved for the top performers. If you're a great driver it won't really matter where you go to work. You're going to do well there.

Another reason is dispatch. Your relationship with your dispatcher will make or break your experience at any company. You can research companies until you're blue in the face but in the beginning you have no idea how companies work on the inside or how to develop a good working relationship with your dispatcher. I don't care if you're the safest, most reliable driver on the planet. If you get a lousy dispatcher or you fail to develop a good working relationship with them you're not going to get the miles, home time, and special favors the other top drivers will get. I've said many times that if you let me pick my dispatcher I'll go to work for any company out there. Doesn't matter. I know how to handle the driving part. Give me someone who knows how to keep putting the miles on me and everyone is happy.

A third reason is the constant change you have at trucking companies. They'll change software, logistics infrastructure, equipment, management, and customers almost continuously. Go to work for any company and you'll find they pretty much reinvent themselves about two or three times a year it seems. Policies will change, opportunities will change, your dispatcher will change, and it's all impossible to predict.

I could go on for days with all the reasons why extensive research is mostly a waste of time, especially for new drivers. You have no idea what type of trucking you'll want to do and you have no Earthly idea yet how these companies work on the inside. You're not going to be able to turn the big miles consistently the way experienced drivers do and most companies wouldn't give you quite that many miles for quite some time anyhow.

What you should be doing is working your way through our High Road Training Program in a big way. Before long you're going to be trying to navigate an 80,000 pound rig down a 7% grade that's 6 miles long in the rain. If you use the Jake Brakes wrong or put too much force on the pedal or brake too hard going through a turn you're going to end up at the bottom of a ravine. It's easy to switch companies if you find a better opportunity elsewhere. It's not so easy to learn hundreds of pages of materials so you don't lose your brakes or crush a weight-restricted bridge or waste logbook hours logging your time wrong or get nailed for being overlength on the bridge law.

So pick a company and then stop worrying about that. Worry about learning the materials.

High Road Training Program

Learn The Logbook Rules (HOS)