Manual only company

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by recapped, Jun 30, 2021.

  1. recapped

    recapped Bobtail Member

    11
    19
    Jun 30, 2021
    0
    I've been driving a couple of years in an auto transmission Freightliner. I've been offered a job at a company that has only manual transmissions, but haven't driven one since my CDL test drive two years ago. I'll need to do a test drive on my first day at orientation. I was up front with them, but I still need to do the test drive. I think I can passably upshift, but I'm fairly sure I'll blow downshifting. I've tried and can't find a school that will let me drive a couple of hours before orientation. They are all booked.

    I'm kind of worried that I'll make a fool of myself and am thinking of just going somewhere else. Any advice?
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    75,085
    171,228
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    Try anyway, if you don't pass the road test, then go to another company.
     
    slow.rider and recapped Thank this.
  4. recapped

    recapped Bobtail Member

    11
    19
    Jun 30, 2021
    0
    Your comment is so full of common sense and simplicity, it makes me wonder why I'm sweating it. lol.
     
  5. Hazmat Cat

    Hazmat Cat Medium Load Member

    636
    1,778
    Oct 18, 2019
    0
    no worries, I make a fool of myself everyday.
     
    Speed_Drums, Dave_in_AZ and recapped Thank this.
  6. Dave_in_AZ

    Dave_in_AZ Road Train Member

    57,076
    389,617
    May 4, 2015
    0
    Even after you have 10 years experience........the first thing you want to do is tell people you're new.

    You'll get the easy door / dock. Then when you get it right in there, they'll go " Hey you're getting the hang of it."

    Then after they see you half a dozen times, they'll probably catch on.
     
  7. recapped

    recapped Bobtail Member

    11
    19
    Jun 30, 2021
    0
    Maybe I won't have to say anything, just grind 'em. They say a picture is worth a thousand words.
     
    Hazmat Cat Thanks this.
  8. BigBob410

    BigBob410 Road Train Member

    5,665
    74,100
    Feb 2, 2016
    Beirut on the Bay, MD.
    0
    I had just the opposite experience. I’ve always driven manual. When I test drove an automatic I kept slamming my left foot down when we stopped and kept reaching for the stick. The old guy kept laughing at me.
    As far as a test drive I’d just take it easy. Concentrate more on not running anything over. Most know it takes time to get used to a new truck.
     
  9. Dave_in_AZ

    Dave_in_AZ Road Train Member

    57,076
    389,617
    May 4, 2015
    0
    The clutch is all about the nudge.

    The way of the nudge must you learn.

    You just go down 1 or 2 inches. Nudge it.

    New guys always push it to the floor, this is where the problem lies.
     
    slow.rider, BigBob410 and recapped Thank this.
  10. recapped

    recapped Bobtail Member

    11
    19
    Jun 30, 2021
    0
    Amen to that. I'll be going easy for sure. I don't need to prove I'm anything but a careful driver.
     
    BigBob410 Thanks this.
  11. Linte_Loco

    Linte_Loco Road Train Member

    1,618
    6,485
    Apr 24, 2011
    LA (lower Alabama)
    0
    Just tell them you’ve been auto pretty much since school. If they would give you a few laps in yard to get back into the manual groove. Definitely be honest. Not a big deal imo
     
    slow.rider and BigBob410 Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.