Cdl B driver getting a CDL A license

You already said what you have to do. Call the DMV. They are the only ones who can tell you for sure, and even then it's sometimes tough to get a straight answer when it comes to commercial licenses. I would think that it wouldn't matter whether you have already have a class B or not. I live in NJ and when it comes to the DMV/MVC, the two states seem to be pretty similar. The sure fire way to not have to worry about it is just test in a manual. Your school doesn't have any?

 

Hmm. No idea about automatic, but I didn't have to take any tests at the dmv except combination vehicles when I got my class A permit (I had a class B with air brakes and passenger endorsements). No air brake test or CDL test since I already had it.
I'd advise learning on a stick though. It's a very necessary skill to know in this business. Not at all companies, but quite a few won't look at you.

 

I read the New York page on the issue and I would call the DMV and ask them to translate it.

 

One more thing to add. If you don't already know how to shift a truck, getting a license without that restriction will make every company think that you do know how to shift. And there's nothing worse than arriving at orientation and then packing up your stuff in a couple days and going home. Seen a few guys that had to do that during my orientation.

Shifting a truck is nothing like a car. Tell your school that you don't give a #### what the dmv rules are and that you want to learn and test on a manual.

 

That is stupid. When I was learning I came from driving stick car all my life. I had more problems than people that have never done it before. In fact everyone that came from driving stick before had more issues than people that never did it before.

 

Right. It WILL NOT HELP YOU to learn on a car. It is due to the difference between synchronized (car) and non-synchronized (heavy truck) transmissions. The only similarity is the fact that they both have shifters.

 

Yep. Manual in truck is so different from manual in car it's a whole mind shift to stop acting like you're shifting a car. Much easier to learn how to shift a truck than to unlearn instincts on how to shift and train yourself to do it differently.

It's sad now when I get in my car and I can't shift it half the time since I'm trying to double clutch and not pushing the clutch in all the way.. Last time I drove it I gave up and started floating gears in it.