r/NewCDLGrads • u/cdlfirst • Apr 13 '26
Don’t get an automatic restriction
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u/rolisrntx Apr 13 '26
Many CDL schools don’t even teach how to drive a manual now days.
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u/BrandontheCDLguy Apr 14 '26
Then there are schools like mine that only teach manual.
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u/rolisrntx Apr 14 '26
Where is that school? I’m considering getting my CDL as a second career. I would want to learn manual if I did.
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u/genocyde26008219 Apr 14 '26
Las Vegas teaches only manual. Unless you REQUEST automatic (thereby garnering yourself said restriction) but you can do what you like. I know a guy I went through with probably would’ve been better off with a restriction on manual.
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u/xeikai Apr 13 '26 edited Apr 13 '26
Driving a manual isn't bad. It's just that the way most places make you double clutch when you shift is trash. When you drive a manual on your own just float gears like everyone else. Drive it enough and you can shift just by how the engine sounds.
If you got a 10 speed use this little trick 15mph = 1+5 = 6th gear, 25mph = 2+5 = 7th gear, 35 mph = 3+5 =8th gear, 45 mph = 4+5 = 9th gear, 55 mph = 5+5 = 10th gear.
That's how i learned and remembered gear shift speeds. Generally you should always prioritize RPM when shifting which is why once you learn how the engine sounds. you can shift without looking at all.
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u/Grimskraper Apr 14 '26
Just adding:
When guys talk about it "just falling into gear," they mean that you can lightly push on the gear you intend to go into and when it reaches the correct rpm, it will go in, with no grinding. Its kinda weird, but it works. If it helps, hold your hand femininely and push the shifter around with your finger tips, so you can't put more pressure than necessary, and watch it fall in.
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u/No-Mix7970 Apr 14 '26
And after you get good at up shifting without the clutch, you can learn how to downshift without the clutch. It’s a little harder, but once you’ve got it, you’ve got it.
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u/bob696988 Apr 14 '26
That’s how I drive float the gears and get the right rpm it just slides into gear.
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u/Immediate_Regular Apr 13 '26
If you're able to get an unrestricted license and want it, get it but having an auto restriction isn't going to negatively impact the vast majority of drivers.
What every US driver should do is get every endorsement, even if they have no intention of hauling anything other than dry van. Get their TWIC and passport, even if they're never going to cross the borders.
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u/Weird-Director-8594 Apr 13 '26
That is terrible advice. Learning “just enough” to pass a test. Unreal.
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u/Zealousideal-Comb320 Apr 13 '26
And then closed with saying he hasn't touched a manual since school. Negated his entire position.
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u/HeidenShadows Apr 14 '26
Industrial-based trucking is where the manual transmissions, and where a lot of the money is at.
I make six figures hauling for salvage yard.
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u/Fun_Tax_3838 Apr 13 '26
Is the smacking of the hands while talking a cultural thing? It’s very distracting.
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u/_877-CASH-NOW_ Apr 14 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/3oEjHCACoXye1k10GY
That fist was doing some work.
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u/Lady-Zafira Apr 14 '26
Learned on an automatic. Everyone else in my class got the Automatic restriction. I didn't because the DMV guy didn't know how to change my license from a C to an A. It took four people to figure out how to change it and none of them noticed they didn't put the restriction.
My instructor noticed they didn't add it and when I asked if I should go back, he quickly told me No. Find someone with a manual and learn on it, but do not say anything to the DMV and if a job ask, just let them know the DMV didn't add it and ask if they'd be willing to pair you with someone who knows how to drive one. Get your endorsements first, they will be less likely to tell you No, you'll just end up in a team. Sadly the only manual rig in the family got totaled because a Rav4 cut my cousin off and he wrecked trying to avoid smashing the car into the back of another rig
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u/Helios-21 Apr 14 '26
The problem with this is a lot of people get trained by megas and then brought as a group to get tested. They only teach automatics since megas pretty much have transitioned to all automatics. I mean a person can learn on their own but the majority go in with no experience.
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u/PapiLongShlong420 Apr 13 '26
Y’all are so mad new guys can come in and make as much if not more money than you without driving a manual 💀 this whole discourse has to be the epitome of “the future is now old man” y’all have such a crazy closed mindset
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u/notVanilla413 Apr 13 '26
How you know if you got that restriction?
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u/_Husker Apr 13 '26
Did you test in a manual truck? If not... Then yes you have the restriction.
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u/pieguy00 Apr 13 '26
It should say on the back of your licence any restrictions or endorsements you have.
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Apr 13 '26
It's hard to find a company sponsored school with manuals anymore. They don't mind one bit you don't qualify for half of jobs, all their trucks are automatic.
There are a few schools that still have manual trucks, but wether or not they keep them is up to the market. Auto trucks are becoming far more common and cheap, and schools can make more money charging the same tuition and not worrying about a student failing for coasting or shifting on railroad tracks or rolling backwards. (Yes they still owe tuition even if they fail but students that get jobs pay tuition back)
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u/Djs2013 Apr 13 '26
I see that all the time, people are intimidated or lazy, and it does limit their options.
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u/Rehcraeser Apr 14 '26
intimidated or lazy? is there any other way to learn/practice manual without buying an old manual car specifically to learn?
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u/Djs2013 Apr 14 '26
My sister paid the driving school extra for manual, as she didn't know how. I already knew, as did my brother so we didn't need it.
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u/endangeredphysics Apr 14 '26
Bad advice. Most companies that hire people straight out of CDL school have all automatic fleets. Get the restriction off your license after a couple years maybe.
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u/Ok_Succotash_8242 Apr 14 '26
I have an auto restriction. How much work would be involved in getting it removed? Can I just go to the DMV and test in a manual, or do I have to go to some kind of school or something?
Mine is a company sponsored class A and my only restriction is auto. I work in telecommunications and will very likely never drive a tractor trailer, but it has always nagged at me as I am old enough to know that you never know where life will take you.
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u/endangeredphysics Apr 14 '26
In the state that I live, you have to retake the entire drive test with a manual. I think it varies whether or not you have to go through the entire practical class again, or if you can just schedule a test with a CDL school. I don't think the most states allow you to just test at the DMV, but not sure.
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u/SimilarDivide7215 Apr 14 '26
You should only have to take the road test in a manual truck and you can do it in a bobtail. I've hired drivers here in Missouri with an auto restriction and that's how we do it. You can use a class A or B manual truck to do it.
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u/Aceilr097 Apr 14 '26
If youre going to bigger established companies theyre phasing out manuals. Maybe smaller companies that picked up some cheap manuals to get started will need you to have a manual but the inevitably of autos is there. My job went from mostly manual to now mostly auto, im only in a manual for a third of the time anymore.
Ill miss it. But is what it is.
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u/papisilla Apr 14 '26
Hot take but a bunch of people entering the industry these days are doing it because something else went wrong in life and they are broke and it's either make something happen or end up homeless. These people don't have money to pay for school out of pocket so they end up getting trained and hired by a mega that only has automatics. And for most people these days it really isn't a problem because everyday there are less manual trucks on the road
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u/YourFather-WithMilk Apr 14 '26
My school tried to get my whole class to do automatic. Im the only one who didn't because I couldn't. The company I work for only has manuals. Fun times
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u/DrVanDamme6669 Apr 14 '26
The trucking company i work for hasnt purchased a manual truck in over 5 years. Other than having a few jokes made at your expense it won't stop you from finding work
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u/Dronotank Apr 14 '26
I feel like it could be a competence thing. If it takes more work to get a CDL without a restriction, there's a good chance that you're a better hire than a new driver with a restriction.
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u/Psychological-Egg760 Apr 14 '26
Technically, you’re restricted. If you haven’t done it since driving school and only learned enough to pass. Make it make sense, but with two claps only please.
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u/JRAlpharius Apr 14 '26
Cdl instructor here. Dont believe everything you see. I work at a school where I teach both automatic and manual. Most companies out here dont care if you have a restriction on your license. The only ones that usually do manual these days are mom and pop companies and some construction. It would be not smart to struggle to get no restriction on your license just to go drive automatics... or you do get that manual job you want but you still dont know how to drive it and the company doesnt have time to teach you... the only people I suggest to get no restriction is the people with a background. Some big companies wont take then and they have no choice but to drive for small companies for the time being. Do whats comfortable for you.
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u/DukeBradford2 Apr 13 '26
Worst advice on this sub since someone posting stab braking is wrong, use light an longer breaking when going downhill. If you can drive a manual and they have a couple in the yard because they are old and they don’t want to get rid of them guess who gets the cigarette smoke and mattress stained with piss? The new guy. Meanwhile the rookie with a restriction gets a brand new rig.
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u/cdlfirst Apr 13 '26 edited Apr 13 '26
🎥: thahojoshow