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Offered a great paying job close to home, but manual trucks only.

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by longhairdontcare, Mar 20, 2018.

Page 1 of 38
  1. Mar 20, 2018 #1
    longhairdontcare

    longhairdontcare Light Load Member

    78
    144
    Sep 4, 2016
    0
    I found the perfect job for me. Starts at $80,000 a year and get to be home everyday with weekends off. It's hard to get on with this mom and pop company because no one ever leaves. I applied a few months ago and got a call this morning telling me a position just opened up. I have 3 years experience, but unfortunately, all of their trucks are 10 speed and I don't know how to drive a stick. I've been driving auto the entire time. They asked me if I would be able to start next monday and me being afraid I was not going to not have another opportunity with company, I told them I would be ready by monday. They told me that I will have to hit the ground running because they have a lot of stops I have to deliver to. I'm panicking looking at youtube videos on how to drive a 10 speed hoping I will get the hang of it by the time I go in.

    Can any of you give me some tips on upshifting/downshifting so i wont stick out like a sore thumb?
     
    longhairdontcare, Mar 20, 2018
    longhairdontcare, Mar 20, 2018
    #1
    born&raisedintheusa Thanks this.
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  3. Mar 20, 2018 #2
    Vic Firth

    Vic Firth Road Train Member

    1,823
    4,259
    Jan 19, 2016
    Indiana
    0
    Did you go to CDL school and if so didn’t they have a manual for you to train with?
     
    Vic Firth, Mar 20, 2018
    Vic Firth, Mar 20, 2018
    #2
    Lepton1, mitmaks and CrappieJunkie Thank this.
  4. Mar 20, 2018 #3
    CrappieJunkie

    CrappieJunkie Wishin' I was fishin'

    3,962
    18,325
    Mar 9, 2014
    In a van down by the River.
    0
    Um. Contact local truck rental place and practice.
     
    CrappieJunkie, Mar 20, 2018
    CrappieJunkie, Mar 20, 2018
    #3
    Lepton1 and Vic Firth Thank this.
  5. Mar 20, 2018 #4
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,437
    143,477
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    If you learned on a stick shift in cdl school, you'll be ok.
    During the road test; "This truck shifts a little different from what I'm used to; but I'll adjust to it."
     
    Chinatown, Mar 20, 2018
    Chinatown, Mar 20, 2018
    #4
    JOHNQPUBLIC, tscottme, bottomdumpin and 3 others Thank this.
  7. Mar 20, 2018 #5
    Sublime

    Sublime Road Train Member

    1,529
    1,896
    Jan 18, 2013
    Twin Cities, MN
    0
    I can't believe they didn't do a road test.

    I also can't believe you lied to them, not a great way to start out.
     
    Sublime, Mar 20, 2018
    Sublime, Mar 20, 2018
    #5
    calnca, mitmaks, bryan21384 and 6 others Thank this.
  8. Mar 20, 2018 #6
    joesmoothdog

    joesmoothdog Heavy Load Member

    737
    1,144
    Aug 5, 2013
    OTR
    0
    You're not qualified. Why screw yourself?
     
    joesmoothdog, Mar 20, 2018
    joesmoothdog, Mar 20, 2018
    #6
    DTP, diesel drinker, mitmaks and 5 others Thank this.
  9. Mar 20, 2018 #7
    shogun

    shogun Road Train Member

    6,075
    72,150
    Jan 23, 2009
    Doing a regen
    0
    Better go and let them know you can’t drive a standard. They might be willing to train you in a day or two since it’s easy to pick up.What you don’t want is to explain why the driveshaft is twisted or the input shaft is snapped. Multi stop loads are stressful enough.
     
    shogun, Mar 20, 2018
    shogun, Mar 20, 2018
    #7
    DTP, diesel drinker, bryan21384 and 5 others Thank this.
  10. Mar 20, 2018 #8
    mugurpe

    mugurpe Medium Load Member

    395
    274
    May 5, 2013
    Arlington, MA
    0
    either fess up or get a lot of practice in between now and then. Heck, call up a local truck driving school and get a refresher. That's probably best. Maybe they've got a couple different trucks you can try to start getting the hang of the different feels you might encounter. For what sounds like a good job, I think it's worth shelling out a couple hundred bucks to make a good impression. That's what I'd do.
     
    mugurpe, Mar 20, 2018
    mugurpe, Mar 20, 2018
    #8
    bryan21384, driverdriver and CrappieJunkie Thank this.
  11. Mar 20, 2018 #9
    Hoofbeats

    Hoofbeats Road Train Member

    1,250
    1,990
    Jan 27, 2010
    Iraq
    0
    Like having to move this stick thing to change gears.
     
    Hoofbeats, Mar 20, 2018
    Hoofbeats, Mar 20, 2018
    #9
    Camelclutch, cdgoza and Getsinyourblood Thank this.
  12. Mar 20, 2018 #10
    Grumppy

    Grumppy Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    2,809
    9,038
    Dec 11, 2010
    West Monroe, La
    0
    ummm.... by Monday???? You WILL stick out like a sore thumb. Learning to up shift is going to be a chore in itself... down shifting... If you cant up shift, you certainly wont be able to downshift, without being noticed. If you can get out of the yard, I'd try to avoid getting around any co-workers for a while.

    I would have taken the job also in your shoes but.. I cant believe you took the job & cant drive a standard transmission. I really do wish you good luck. I hope you can manage to get the hang of it pretty quick but without any training, its gonna be a learning curve for you I am afraid.
     
    Grumppy, Mar 20, 2018
    Grumppy, Mar 20, 2018
    #10
    Lepton1, snowwy, Woodys and 3 others Thank this.
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