Should I go back to CDL school to get manual experience?

Those guys that haul containers back and forth from the hay farms on the other side of Snoqualmie Pass to the ports must get pretty tired of that one. Never appealed to me when I lived over there.

 

OH, ABSOLUTELY!!! No doubt about it!!!

Then you can have the pleasure of hearing your dispatcher say that you have to stay in ultra sweaty/humid New Orleans, LA till they can get you a load out of there.

What fun!!

 

I’m not sure how to go about getting the restrictions off. I thought for awhile I wouldn’t bother because everyone was going to automatic’s. But now I’ve heard of companies going back to manual the reason I’ve heard were the automatic wasn’t getting the fuel mileage the truck manufacturers claimed and the automatics were harder on the brakes .So it might be worth it I personally would try to find the cheapest way I think it would be unfair to have to go back to school a pay for that.

 

Where did you hear that? If anything, they are easier on the brakes due to always being in the right gear for deceleration (its the drivers that are harder on them by waiting longer to brake since they don't have to pause braking to complete a downshift), and we are seeing over 8 mpg as a fleet running heavy reefers.

 

Same with tanker fleets. When I was pulling tankers, the company switched to all automatics for the very reasons you mentioned. We ran 48 states and Canada.

 

You must have never run one that puts its self in neutral when coasting. Real dumb idea.

 

E-coast. All of ours do it.

And its not Neutral, it applies the pneumatic clutch.

 

Well sir, you didn't run through Colorado from Nov. to May. We have VERY strict rules on that, and will cost you plenty if you don't. I never "hung iron" either, but confined mostly to the midwest wasn't an issue. Besides, chains do little if anything to help stop, and THAT'S where we need the help.

 

Not going to delve into automatic/manual debate here. Find someone that will let you practice with a manual, no need to waste money going to a school.