Alright....A newbie here and just finished up school. The bad part is that the school's truck with manual transmission was broken during my entire stay at school. We were only able to drive automatics. I know it sucks but it is what it is. My question is this. I am considering a couple of companies (Schneider for one) that use manual transmissions. Should I waste my time going to orientation not knowing how to drive their trucks??? Thanks
never taught manual transmission !!!
Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by pinetopfirefighter, Aug 11, 2008.
Page 1 of 4
-
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
Everyone has to start somewhere, alot of people refer to autoshift as automatic, if you can drive tractor trailer you should be able to adjust to any tranmission in a few minutes.
I've driven most transmissions, Mack 5 speed, 6 speed, 10 speed, 12 speed, Duplex, Triplex, Quadruplex (18 & 20 speed.)
Spicer SST6+1 (junk.)
Fuller Eaton 9, 10, 13, & 18. If I can do it, you can. You'll catch on. Just take your time, it will come to you.Big Duker Thanks this. -
Otter-
Thanks. I just wonder though how patient these companies will be. For example....I have read that when you go to Schneider's orientation/training, they have you do a test drive on day one. I can see that not going over well. " Hi. I'm here to drive for you but I have never driven a manual transmission". Sorry- you have to go home. -
Most of these companies will send you out with a trainer for a little while anyway. So it shouldnt be a real issue. I would suggest telling the recruiter your delima and ask them if it will effect your road test, or even if you are required to take one for them.
-
I would think that your school would let you come back for a few days to learn the manual transmission and the proper way to double clutch.
-
Going back to learn would be "the right thing". So....thats not going to happen. I pretty much burned that bridge there anyway. They were short on instructors, all trucks broken for awhile, DOT audits, and it was taking some students months to get their cdl because of the backlog and school problems. I told the director it was bs, called the owner of the company (which by the way is Convict Cargo out of SC) and asked why everything was broken, and told my contact that funded (WIA) my school what was going on. Me going back for anything is not an option. So, I guess I will either learn otj or go with an all auto company.
-
I hope that the school you went to is accredited. If not you might have a tough time being accepted by companies, if your school is not on their list of hiring students from. Good luck.
-
Actually it is accredited. Thank God. I did run into a problem today though. Had a job lined up with Schneider. After I told them the school I went to was unable to train us on manual transmissions, Schneider said I would have to do their whole 2 week course. It gets better.......... AND I would have to pay $4500.00 to go. Nice. I should go and send my old *&%^$#^ school the bill.
-
You might try US Xpress as they use automatics throughout their entire fleet.
-
So does TransAm.
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
Page 1 of 4