Should I Choose A Company That Trains On Automatic Transmissions And Have That Restriction On My CDL?

We had thirteen guys test for their driving test in school.

11 qualified on the auto.

I was one of two that chose the 10 speed.

Glad I did, but it appears for naught.

Drive a 12 speed Eaton Fuller auto now, but I'd give anything to have my 9 spd. manual back. But thats personal preference I guess.

Still trying to confirm weather or not CFI has shortened the length of CDL school and is now requiring the schools to train and test on automatics. However our fleet is all automatics.

Now some of my thoughts. I don't think it matters to have the restriction. If you do what is recommended and stay with your first company for one year, getting the restriction removed will be easy. You could either find a local school to give you a lesson in shifting and a truck to take the test again with. Or you could find someone without the restriction to rent a truck that you pay for and have them show you a bit and test with the rental truck. And maybe the new company you are trying to get hired by will train you. After a year or more of driving, handling the truck will be easy. Only having to learn basic shifting will be much easier.

My $.02 here...

New student... couple of days in simulators... about to get in a bobtail on the range... enjoying the challenge of learning to double clutch , looking forward to getting an unrestricted CDL , and HOPING LIKE HECK TO GET PUT INTO A RIG WITH AN AUTOMATIC!

we learned and made a few mistakes along the way but we survived.

Let's be clear about something. You survived. Not everyone survived. Yes, those were different times. Much more dangerous times, in fact.

No, I would not want a restriction on my license, either, and I'm sure no one does. But in today's world with all of the automatics taking over it's not a big deal.

My $.02 here...

New student... couple of days in simulators... about to get in a bobtail on the range... enjoying the challenge of learning to double clutch , looking forward to getting an unrestricted CDL , and HOPING LIKE HECK TO GET PUT INTO A RIG WITH AN AUTOMATIC!

we learned and made a few mistakes along the way but we survived.

Let's be clear about something. You survived. Not everyone survived. Yes, those were different times. Much more dangerous times, in fact.

No, I would not want a restriction on my license, either, and I'm sure no one does. But in today's world with all of the automatics taking over it's not a big deal.

I'll have to admit, all this talk about hills, mountains, and missing a downshift has made me think I would prefer an automatic, even if it makes me not a real truck driver.

Personally, I would prefer to be trained in an automatic (no idea if I will be, not something I've asked; I'll learn however they choose to teach me). As long as my company knows what they're training me in and will give me an appropriate truck, I would vastly prefer to not have to deal with the extra hassle and attention I'd need to pay to clutch and shift. And it's probably easier to learn to drive a truck without having an extra thing to worry about, since there's already enough things demanding our attention when we're first learning. Testing for it later, if necessary, would mean learning just one thing after being familiar with driving in the first place.

Here is what I confirmed today. CFI trainees who go to Crowder will train in 3 weeks. Not sure if it will be all on automatics.

My $.02 here...

New student... couple of days in simulators... about to get in a bobtail on the range... enjoying the challenge of learning to double clutch , looking forward to getting an unrestricted CDL , and HOPING LIKE HECK TO GET PUT INTO A RIG WITH AN AUTOMATIC!

we learned and made a few mistakes along the way but we survived.

Let's be clear about something. You survived. Not everyone survived. Yes, those were different times. Much more dangerous times, in fact.

No, I would not want a restriction on my license, either, and I'm sure no one does. But in today's world with all of the automatics taking over it's not a big deal.

I'll have to admit, all this talk about hills, mountains, and missing a downshift has made me think I would prefer an automatic, even if it makes me not a real truck driver.

I’m in an automatic now & wish I had the manual back. I had so much better control on the hills & mountains. But I also was in a condo & now in a lightweight. The compression difference is huge. I throw on the jake & it revs to 1800+ rpms. I’m slowly getting it but don’t get enough loads out West yet to really get the hang of it. Cabbage had me so puckered up that I even smoked the brakes at the bottom. After seeing 2 trucks on fire at the bottom of Monteagle, I almost had a heart attack. Like they say, practice makes perfect I guess. Just need lots & lots more practice.

My $.02 here...

we learned and made a few mistakes along the way but we survived.

I'll have to admit, all this talk about hills, mountains, and missing a downshift has made me think I would prefer an automatic, even if it makes me not a real truck driver.

I’m in an automatic now & wish I had the manual back. I had so much better control on the hills & mountains. But I also was in a condo & now in a lightweight. The compression difference is huge. I throw on the jake & it revs to 1800+ rpms. I’m slowly getting it but don’t get enough loads out West yet to really get the hang of it. Cabbage had me so puckered up that I even smoked the brakes at the bottom. After seeing 2 trucks on fire at the bottom of Monteagle, I almost had a heart attack. Like they say, practice makes perfect I guess. Just need lots & lots more practice.

Splitter.....I love ya to death and am so pleased to.see you making your way out here. 👍

But.....I have to call Bulls**t on ya bud!!

This post confirms everything that Old School was saying in reply to your statement about 'needing less than a year to be proficient'.

Please stop with the rubbish about less control with an automatic....it needlessly worries other newbies ..

You have exactly the same amount of control in an auto-shift as you would in a manual. It just takes a small.adjustment in technique. I have been up and down Snoqualmie, Cabbage, Donner, Grapevine, Black Mountain, Tehachapi and numerous other significant grades all over the country...numerous times with 40,000 lbs plus loads and have NEVER even come close to 'smoking the brakes' and having a near heart attack!!

The problem is not the equipment; it's operator error...pure and simple!

So; to all the new folks out there....dont let this stuff scare you off! It just ain't so.

Not sure what happened there! lol

Apologies....long day and I'm tired!

😜😜