Auto Trans.

Ptl will also have you serpentine an empty rig (forward)through a series of turns to see if you can maneuver and are watching your tandems. That tractor was not an automatic. They will also see if you can get the truck backed between two trailers in an alley dock manuever within seven minutes. The trailers are twenty feet apart. If you cant do it in seven minutes your career is over at orientation. The timer is stopped for you if you G.O.A.L (get out and look) They encourage you to do this. Ther is plenty of room in front of you once you get started in the hole to pull up between two trailers if you need to so it really isnt that bad. You pass that and you will do 5000 miles with a trainer(about three weeks) to get through phase one. You can go home for a bit before starting phase two(two to three months) if you choose. Phase two you will drive mostly out to texas and califormia to rack up the miles to get you running solo. You will do this phase with a fresh newbie like yourself not a veteran driver. Any time that truck moves backwards in phase one you will be backing it no matter whether you are out of hours or not. Your trainer will be outside as this is their policy if that truck moves backwards your co-driver is out to make sure you dont hit anything.

They do have female trainers and you could wait for days in their hotel to get one so coordinate that with your recruiter if you choose to go there time your orientation with the arrival of a female trainer if that is important to you. You can choose not to drive the northeast with PTL. You will make ok money in phase two just remember you are making .14 cpm not the .17 they tell you because you are west of the mississippi river AND in training you are getting paid for all miles that truck runs even if the trainer or co-driver is driving. That means your check will seem bigger but when you go solo you will probably notice a pay difference.
Weekend dispatch is an issue to watch for so you dont sit all weekend with no load until monday. PTL also may give you three days to deliver a 500 mile load. Those kind of runs hurt your paycheck.
You will not get rich and it will be tough. Take your time and make an informed choice. Whatever you do dont let the recruiters of any trucking company sweet talk you into a lease purchase program. PTL is all about saving a buck on fuel and they will ride your posterior about idle time and fuel consumption. This is the main reason they run mostly automatics. When I was there they gave you a choice of auto or manual upon completing training.

 

I don't think it will bite you unless you test in an auto. Test out in a standard that way you can do either. Then nobody cares.