Need help with cdl restriction

Per the FMCSA, if you test on an automatic equipped vehicle, you get an restriction on your license that prohibits you from driving a truck with a manual transmission.

(c) Manual transmission. (1) If an applicant performs the skills test in a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission, the State must indicate on the CDL, if issued, that the person is restricted from operating a CMV equipped with a manual transmission.(2) For the purposes of the skills test and the restriction, an automatic transmission includes any transmission other than a manual transmission as defined in 383.5.

 

looks like (to me) if you want your manual back, you'll have to re-test again, in such a truck equipped with one? then go about your business driving the automatics?

 

Sounds like he already had his full Class A, had to do a skills test to get his passenger endorsement and now they slapped him with an automatic restriction because the bus he tested on was an automatic (who has manual busses in 2016...). I would certainly be getting some clarification from the DMV if this is the case, I don't understand how they could add a restriction if you already held an unrestricted class A and were only testing to add the endorsement.

 

that's right. on the back of my CDL it clearly states , restrictions and endorsements, maybe he misread his?

 

So how do you add a passenger endorsement with out the restriction? Their are almost no passenger vehicals without an automatic.

Sounds like like somebody in the DOL office is inserting their own interpretations of the rules. It is an endorsement, to the commercial license, not a complete new license.

 

I'm confused why he even had to road test at all. My licence covers passenger buses and semis because when I did all my written tests I had them throw that in since it was free. Here they have A for semis B for school buses C for other passenger buses D for straight trucks and so on. I have my AC with air brakes. If hypothetically I wanted to go drive school buses I would only need to do a written test to add the B since I road tested with a tractor trailer and already have my A.

OP where are you located??

 

right, it should have clearly been a P endorsement, not a restriction.

hopefully the deranged minds at the DMV will clear this up.

 

Ya, sounds like a simple snafu... Normally someone testing in auto might get that restriction so that's what they did... Without thinking you didn't have that restriction in place for 20 years.

Talk to people higher up the chain of command and I bet you can get it cleared up. Front line clerk just doing their job. Happened to be wrong in your case.