License and Restrictions

Where is your location; state & nearest city? May be some more options.

 

Just tell them either give you an automatic or you’ll hit the road.

 

I had a similar situation as you. I got my CDL and then did not drive truck for 2 1/2 years. I then went to Maverick which is all automatic and drove there for 7 months. I then moved to South Dakota and got a job with a small Mom & Pop company that only had 13 speeds and 18 speeds. I explained to them it had been over 3 years since I drove a manual and that was a ten speed and only in school. They were nice enough to let me Bobtail a truck around for nearly a full day just to get the hang of it. So I guess the moral of the story is see if you can find a small company that would help you out. Best wishes to you!

 

Can you drive a standard shift car? If so you will figure it out then.

 

If I understand the OP's situation correctly, his CDL has the restriction for automatic only. I believe the only way to remove that restriction will be to go back to the DMV and retake the skills and road test in a manual.

In many states there are companies that will rent you a truck to take the tests. They could be found by searching "CDL in a day" or something similar. The cost is about $300-400 for a day. They will bring the tractor trailer to the DMV site, then have an experienced driver walk you through a pretrip and allow you to practice before you take the test.

If you can do that, then the manual restriction is gone from your license. THEN when you apply for a new job you can let them know you might be a tad rusty on a manual, since you have only driven automatics for the last couple of years...or you can shut your mouth, grit your teeth, and fake it.

 

Where is your location?

 

To the op, tell the company too bad and find another one to work for, it is an absolutely asinine demand that has nothing to do with the work or your skills.

By the way, no one forgets how to drive manual.