Do I need manual endorsement on my cdl A?

All of the local transport companies near my home have pretty much converted to automatic.

 

It depends on which segment of the industry and where. The big multi-thousand truck companies pulling drvy vans and reefers and hiring almost anyone with a pulse are virtually all using automatic trucks for that work. The smaller the company, the older the trucks, or the more specialized the work the more likely you see manuals. The thing to remember about a lot of these questions (what's the average pay, what's the average schedule, what's most common this or that) is you work for one company at a time. It matters what they do or require. I stopped recommending newbies make sure to avoid getting the auto-only license a few years ago because autos may be 80% of the general OTR part of the industry. You can easily get good work at good companies for your whole career with an auto-only license. If you can afford the time and money to get rid of the auto-only license, I would get rid of it. You never know when a really good job will pop up but require a manual skill. Every day it's a smaller and smaller issue to worry about.

 

I stand (actually I'm sitting) corrected.

 

Not busting your balls, just pointing it out.

 

If possible, get the license without the E restriction. All the restriction will do is potentially close the door to an opportunity in the future.

For example: We have 8 positions in our company that require the ability to drive a 10-speed manual, all of them are home daily, local positions. Say your future employer has something like that and you encounter a major life event hat requires your presence home daily. You wouldn't be able to take one of those positions because you do not possess the proper license.

Aside from that, a vast majority of new trucks come with AMTs. Something along the tune of 95+%. That means you can drive 95% of them with the restriction.

 

No offense taken. I didn't know, now I do. Thanks for the info!

 

In my experience dealing with new drivers in the industry, I wouldn't fret over it. Most companies still running manuals are smaller companies and they arent your best option as a new driver anyway. By the time you have 2-3 years under your belt there will barely be any manuals left. I know the super truckers hate it, but AMT transmissions are the only options manufacturers can even hope to stay in business. EVERYTHING is tied back to emissions now and manuals just cannot get the fuel mileage and meet emission standards that AMT transmissions do.

 

Mine is an automatic..


It automatically goes into the gear it’s selected to go into.
That’s kinda the same thing, yes?

 

Definitely will come in handy.
If you're working for yourself better to have manual it's easier to spot and fix the transmission.