The best way to remove my automatic only restriction

To answer the OP's question, I have to ask a question.

When I was my state about this automatic restriction, I had to carefully ask it to be about automatic transmission, not an auto-shift or an Ultra-shift which are manual transmissions. They said the restriction is about automatic transmissions, not auto-shifts or ultra-shifts because the latter has a clutch.

So does the OP mean an auto-shift or an ultra-shift?

 

Not to pick nits, I'm just clarifying, but both have a clutch and it's the former, not the latter that has the clutch pedal.

 

How big is the company and do they have any sub trucks with manuals and are they willing to help you obtain this? Is this a temporary lay off? If its permanent, you may have to contact a school or third party tester in your area (if they have them), but to remove the restriction, you have to do the CDL skills test and pre-trip all over again. This is the problem of acquiring the CDL with such restrictions.

 

creeves, I'm also from California. I checked into the option of renting one of those "CDL In A Day" trucks at one point in my process of regaining my CDL this year. Depending on where you live the rate can vary from $500 to $800. For their most expensive package they will take you out in the truck with a trainer to "run through the gears" and familiarize yourself with the truck and run you through the pretrip inspection on that rig, then you can take the test with the rig same day using their appointment. Go to your local DMV test site and I'm sure you will find one of their rigs parked there waiting for folks who have rented it. Go talk to the instructor on the truck and get the scoop. I regained my CDL without going through a school by getting my permit and medical card on my own, then retraining in my brother's truck (an O/O). Our problem getting the drive test done was that it was difficult to make appointments weeks in advance, because we never knew when we would be back in town, so we would go to the DMV real early and hope to get a standby spot. At one point we were so frustrated showing up but not being able to take the test we contacted the CDL in A Day to see how much they would charge just for us to use their appointment time.... $200.

Good luck with your CDL upgrade.

 

We can't help that we have given you answers you did not want to hear. Were being honest. You're restriction really hurts you in this industry as even if a fleet is entirely automatic what happens if s truck goes down and they have to rent one that is a manual? You can't drive it, you are no as useless as a bump on a log to them. Will they bring you on with the restriction all you can do is call and ask. We can't exactly take time out of our days to do the work for you.

Most of us got our cdl through a school which trained us on manual trucks, the rest of us rented or borrowed a truck that was a manual to avoid the restriction being placed on there. Am I saying that your company getting you a restricted cdl was right? In my eyes no but they trained you for what you would drive there not the rest of the jobs in the world.

Getting frustrated with the rest of us because its not what you wanted to hear does you no good and puts it out there that you don't want our help. You seem to be forgetting we don't have to help you or give you advise, we can simply leave it alone period the end and you would be back to square one. If you don't want to rent a truck, pick up a phone and start calling companies. Its not really that hard. If you want to rent a truck penske rents them for 115/day and you can get a trailer for 35/day both will cost you for milage as well but its cheaper than paying somebody to sit in a seat with you and tell you how to shift.

Best way to learn is to grind it toll you find it. That's how I learned still grind gears on occasion but we all do anybody that says they don't is full of it. Good luck to you sir.