The best way to remove my automatic only restriction

I will try -although i thought everyone did a good job of trying to answer you.
sounds like you have 3 options --CDL school with manual shift trucks.
Training co,s with both auto's and manuals who are willing to hire you and train you and license you.
Or what you said about renting a truck and testing for a manual shift.

 

I trained with Crete Carrier for 8 weeks June 2004 thru July 2004 and my trainer explained to me how some people had Class A CDLs but they would need to go out with him to learn how to drive a manual transmission. Check with Crete Carrier to see if they will hire you.

 

I know when automatics first started making inroads into OTR companies US Express used to advertise that their entire fleet were auto but think that has changed. Not every state places an automatic transmission restriction on your CDL--as far as I know CO doesn't .

 

You got the answer buddy, that you don't like it is another matter ...your complaining is like a guy that goes to his MD and gets a high cholesterol diagnosis and then blames the Doctor rather than his diet of beef brisket and buttermilk biscuits.

 

They asked you if you were wanting to go OTR or not because it makes a huge difference. You didn't answer. When driving OTR experience is measured by how many years you have been driving OTR in the last 3 years. If you drove local you have zero experience and will have to go out with a trainer. In that case yes they will help you retest. A wild guess, roughly 10-20% of OTR companies use automatics.

A local job is not in the business of training or hiring someone not qualified. If you want another local job and then you have to find a truck on your own to retest in. Of course there might be a rare situation of some nice guy saying sure I'll take you down there. We can't answer that as a normal question.

You said you have experience in a manual? How did that play out when you have an automatic restriction?

 

I would try to rent a class B straight truck with a 6 or 7 speed manual, they operate much like a pickup truck does so it will be easy to remove the auto only restriction, or if you do not already have a passenger endorsement maybe you can find a cdl school that has a manual shift school bus type vehicle to rent and take your passenger test with the manual shift bus. This will move the auto only restriction while also opening up other job options. Just remember, you will need someone with the correct license that does not have the auto pnly restriction to accompany you to the test site, as you will be on a permit even though you have a valid cdl.

 

Check with Watkins & Shepard; they're getting some new automatic transmission trucks and they have 2 terminals in California.

 

I still don't understand how/where you got so "proficient" with a manual non-synchronized truck trans.
You list less than 1 year Class A experience and say your employer has no manual trans trucks.
You do realize this type of manual trans is not anything like a manual trans in a straight truck or car, right?