How to learn manual transmission?

1) Yes. Some truck driving schools offer courses that can teach you manual transmission. I think in some states you’ll need to downgrade your license to the permit again so that you can retest. Specifically the road portion I think. It has to be in a truck with a manual transmission.

2) Learning manual gives you a lot more options down the road in your career. A lot of fleets are going auto / are auto, but a lot are still in transition. Those companies typically require manual transmission experience and/or prohibit automatic transmission restrictions on the license. LTL is like that (LTL jobs are pretty good.) I have an auto restriction; there are some good jobs I’d want but don’t qualify because I have that restriction. Is it a dealbreaker, something I’d give up a job opportunity for? No. And it’s not something I worry about so much as to feel the need to get the restriction removed. I make good enough money. I know there’s jobs with only autos that make even better money. But if you can go to a school and learn manual now, you should. You’ll be better off learning at a school over a company training program regardless - no contracts or reimbursement stipulations, and there are quite a few good companies that hire CDL graduates but not CDL trainees. If you can’t afford a school, KLLM is a good option.

(Also recommend getting all your endorsements hazmat/doubles/tanker now while you’re in training. Also pickup TWIC and your Passport to really open up opportunities down the road. Easier to do all that now than later when you needed it done sooner.)

3) Yes. Driving a manual truck is different from driving a manual car. You’ll need to learn how to double-clutch, float gears, and how not to roll on hills, etc. Not difficult or anything, and having manual car experience might help some.

Hope that helps

 

I would go somewhere that teaches manual if I were you. An auto restriction will hurt your future job prospects.

 

Tanker test is pretty easy, you can find that info in your state’s CDL manual.

TWIC is Transportation Worker’s Identity Card, it’s issued by the TSA. It allows you access to normally restricted areas, like ports. Might not be necessary for KLLM but it can be handy in the future. No need to rush out to get it.

Ask away if you have other questions.

 

Learning how to drive a manual car gives you the basics of hand and foot coordination, which is pretty important. This also allows you to learn how to shift up and down.

Second, you do not need help with the tanker endorsement or anything else. These are really really easy tests, I mean easy.

Read the CDL manual from your state cover to cover a couple of times, take some practice tests (here), and just go for the permit. Once you get that done, then the biggest thing to get through is the pre-trip; memorize the components, not just the list order.

 

I know it is not the best but you can go to YouTube and watch videos how to shift a manual transmission.

 

IMO, a lot of people way overthink the difficulty of driving a manual. Yes, it is different than a manual car. No, it is not harder. The basic principle is the same, just saying, the quicker you learn to float gears, the easier it will be for you. I rarely touch the clutch pedal, basically to get in 1st, or reverse. And YouTube may be able to help, but there are a lot of wannabes on there who slam gears, not shift smoothly. Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. I rode with dad a lot when I was a little tot, and he liked to say, a good driver can set a full coffee cup on his dash, and not spill a drop taking off. I’d be lying to say I’ve never flown outa town grabbing gears, but that smooth logic hasn’t been lost. 8,10, 13, 15 (which are not very common anymore) , and 18 all have the same basic principles

 

1) yes, call, or go in person to a CDL school near you, and get that information, maybe then can charge you for only those lessons....

2) no, do not hold off..."what if" you get fired from your job that had automatics...?? then you're going to go nuts finding a school to learn..be prepared now

3) almost "like it"...just not exactly....we used to say in our CDL schools (i worked at 2 of them), sometimes it best to have NO shifting experience, so we can teach you truck transmissions specifically. sometimes, people get "confused" from driving sticks in cars, to sticks in 18 wheelers.

but once you get the basics down, its like riding a bike, and frankly, you won't forget how to shift, even if you are in an automatic for years.