Manual only company

I've been driving a couple of years in an auto transmission Freightliner. I've been offered a job at a company that has only manual transmissions, but haven't driven one since my CDL test drive two years ago. I'll need to do a test drive on my first day at orientation. I was up front with them, but I still need to do the test drive. I think I can passably upshift, but I'm fairly sure I'll blow downshifting. I've tried and can't find a school that will let me drive a couple of hours before orientation. They are all booked.

I'm kind of worried that I'll make a fool of myself and am thinking of just going somewhere else. Any advice?

 

Try anyway, if you don't pass the road test, then go to another company.

 

Your comment is so full of common sense and simplicity, it makes me wonder why I'm sweating it. lol.

 

no worries, I make a fool of myself everyday.

 

Even after you have 10 years experience........the first thing you want to do is tell people you're new.

You'll get the easy door / dock. Then when you get it right in there, they'll go " Hey you're getting the hang of it."

Then after they see you half a dozen times, they'll probably catch on.

 

Maybe I won't have to say anything, just grind 'em. They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

 

I had just the opposite experience. I’ve always driven manual. When I test drove an automatic I kept slamming my left foot down when we stopped and kept reaching for the stick. The old guy kept laughing at me.
As far as a test drive I’d just take it easy. Concentrate more on not running anything over. Most know it takes time to get used to a new truck.

 

The clutch is all about the nudge.

The way of the nudge must you learn.

You just go down 1 or 2 inches. Nudge it.

New guys always push it to the floor, this is where the problem lies.

 

Amen to that. I'll be going easy for sure. I don't need to prove I'm anything but a careful driver.

 

Just tell them you’ve been auto pretty much since school. If they would give you a few laps in yard to get back into the manual groove. Definitely be honest. Not a big deal imo