Clutch knee?

I could have told you I was old! My body tells me every time I start to do something!

 

Not too terribly long after I started driving, I blew out the tendons in my left knee while trying to lift a truck transmission. It was ugly, is all I can say about that. A long time ago, no insurance, didn't go to the hospital. Didn't walk for a month, either. At least, not normally.
When I finally got back into a truck and start pushing in that clutch, the bone would literally come out of the socket to the side. Although it didn't hurt, I had to let go of the clutch as I couldn't push it in.

It took a long time (as I said, if I had insurance, I would have gone and had the knee surgery and it wouldn't have been an issue) - even a year after that incident, my knee would come out of the socket, it was plain freaky. Forced me to abandon double-clutching and taught me to downshift to the point my brake usage was - as little as possible, cause' I did NOT want to push that clutch in if I came to a complete stop.

Although I never did have the knee "fixed", I don't have a problem with it now. Then again, that thing about downshifting never left me - I just don't use the clutch that much. My knee creaks here and there, but that's the extent of it.

Ever try using your right foot to push the clutch in? Lol.

 

as far as auto's go for training you want a manual. if you train and test on an auto you will have an auto restriction (you can only drive autos) on your cdl. when i went through my training my left knee did hurt but pain killers (otc) worked my personal was tylonal (sp) now my left leg is stronger than my right and i some times find my self walking in circles (lol) when you go to the gym the first time you cant bench press 300 lbs and 100 lbs makes your arms jelly then after a while 100 lbs is nothing and you can do 300 lbs. it all comes with exercise

 

may pain killers be your friend find what works the best for over the counter products and stock up. not ideal but you wont have the pain

 

Hmmm...I don't know how true that is everywhere. My hubby's bestfriend took his CDL test here in Texas in an auto and he does not have a restriction. As a matter of fact he is now driving for J.B. Hunt and does not have an auto.

As far as what companies use autos - I know that USXpress does and so do IDC. Other than that I am not too sure.

 

Unless you drive a slow wagon for Swift, that is. When you drive for SwiftQuit, you'll also strengthen the muscles in your light-switch hand. This comes from signaling all the drivers who pass you at night.

 

I tested on an auto when I had my CDL renewed, that was the only truck they had. They said it didn't matter and I would get a regular CDL. I passed the test and did not receive any restrictions on my CDL.
BTW, I HATE auto tranny's in trucks, especially on hills and would never want to drive one again.