Making the best of a bad cdl school

That’s rough what kind of school charges extra to use a manual truck?? I’d ask for my money back and find a better school. That school sounds jank to me. Unless this is what normal happens in most trucking schools.

 

There are a few options.

Check your training agreement (contract) for the refund policy to see where you stand. Be careful what documentation you sign or initial each day regarding training and driving time.

Does the $200 p/h mean 1 on 1 with the instructor? You wouldn't need a manual for backing practice, or initial road time, but you will for shifting, this might be a value.

Many states require a minimum amount of Behind the Wheel (BTW) time for each student, check the state regs to see if this is addressed, hold their feet to the fire. Your contract may also have information on this.

Lastly, do you know where you want to go to work? Many carriers will help new drivers remove the auto restriction after you've begun work.

 

Your proficiency in driving manual cars will not translate well into trucks. Just a heads up.
Did they give you a reason why manual trucks cost more?

 

So I'm in a very similar position here. I just started CDL school 2 weeks ago. Fortunately I already have Class A's but I'm restricted no tractor trailer, so that's why I'm in school.

The school I'm going to advertises only 10 students per class but they work off the theory that we'll start classes with 25-30 students then after the drug test, physical, background check, and first week, we will only have 10 students.

The last 3 classes have only dropped 5-7 students per class in the first week so we have 40 some odd people standing outside trying to practice maneuvers. I stood in line for 3 hours just to practice off set backing Wednesday. It sucks.

Next week makes my class the senior class on deck so the instructors will give us presedence over the newer classes. Hopefully I'll get more time in to practice and drive now. I know the class that just graduated said they got a lot more time their 3rd week.

Maybe waiting it out might be the thing for you to do to.

As far as the automatic transmissions, I seriously wouldn't fret it too much. Won't be long before every one's running autos.

 

how do you guys pay for this?

 

I told uncle Sam that he could try and get me killed but if I survived he had to pay for me to get an education.

So he paid for me to get a diploma in turning wrenches, another diploma in small business management, and with the last little bit I can squeeze out of him, he's paying for my CDL school.

 

Which state and nearest city do you live in?
Plenty of good companies will hire you at graduation and use automatic trucks.