I have never driven stick before, never had to. Always had automatic trans vehicles. Anyways, I am going to be starting school next week.

I've been told by one trucking company that you're actually better off not knowing stick when you go to train on a big rig. You learn fresh, don't have any bad shifting habits.

Now one guy from another school told me today that if I don't have any stick shift experience, that it's going to take me a lot longer and that I couldn't take their shorter 40 hour course. Long story short I think this jerk has an agenda against me personally, but that's for another time to explain. Anyways, this guy sounds full of **** and wants me to drop an extra $2,500 to take another 45 HOURS. Just sounds like a bunch of horse****.

What do you guys and gals think?

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

shouldnt be allowed a heavy vehicle licence unless you do stick shift

 

I agree. Unfortunately, DOT here doesn't. 40 hours for a CDL course? Am I missing something here? I thought the minimum was 200 hours for a Class A. What school is it?

 

Driver's with experience who need only a refresher course, can expect 1-2 week course to qualify.
If you need full training, you can expect at least 4 weeks of training.

I can see them tell you, without shift experience, you wouldn't qualify for the shorter refresher course.

 

The company that told you your better off not knowing anything about shifting gears is correct. If you already drive a stick it takes some time to break what your used to doing, a truck takes a different approach to shifting than a car does. You will pick it up correctly if your fresh, faster.

 

There are more and more states that are putting restrictions on licenses. Here it is an E restriction.. if you have the restriction, you cannot drive a manual transmission. I had an applicant the other day who we had to turn down. We have automatics in all of our tractors... but when one of the tractors goes down, the leasing company will almost certainly send a manual transmission. All new drivers should strive to get ALL the endorsements with no restrictions as it opens the door to more opportunities.

 

I test drove a manual-shift car a couple of months back. Had to go with an automatic because I kept trying to double-clutch the car.

 

normally I'd laugh but I tried to drive my kids Honda the other day and I had a helleva time floating or double clutching. I wonder how the gear teeth are now?

 

Times like that, you have to let the 'Force' be with you.
...lightly tickle the gears, and feel for the hole...

careful not to spend too much time doing that... then you really do have a problem.

 

...gert-gert-griiiiiiinnndd GERT-GERT-GERT ~ Klunk...

Oh that's right... just manhandle her...