Thinking about getting my CDL

Most companies are switching to automatics so you'll be OK.

You will need these items with most companies:

cheap work gloves
flashlight
steel toed work boots-slipon style are best.
Zebra fine tip ball point pen with black ink
sleeping bag & pillow(need these while riding with trainer)

 

Welcome!

You'll be fine. If you pay close attention when your friend is driving, you'll learn to 'listen' to the engine. It will tell you when it needs to shift up or down. You can use the RPM gauge or the speedometer to help you out at first. After a while, it will be second nature. Take your time and be patient with yourself. You'll do great.

 

Start any time of the year. Driving in winter months is common sense. Driving on ice and snow just don't use the jake brake or cruise control, and keep the speed within reason.

If you haven't already decided on a company, keep shopping around. Swift does have good training though; I just don't care for the driver facing cameras and sound/voice monitoring equipment in the trucks. Some drivers don't mind this and that's OK, it's my personal preference not to have it.

With that back surgery, stay away from those dedicated accounts that are driver unload. Unloading 2000 cases, 3 or 4 times a week is not what you need.

Check these also that have CDL training:
KLLM Transport
Earl Henderson Trucking - they have a guaranteed minimum weekly income.
Midwest-coast Transport
Con-way
Southern Refrigerated Transport
Celadon

There may be many more depending on where you live; city/state. Put that on your profile.

 

Most of the bigger companies are giving automatics a try. Not saying there are a bucket of them out there - but market share is growing. You should know a bit about shifting anyway... it will help you to understand the truck a bit better.

If you haven't driven in winter conditions, that's probably a good idea. Slow and steady rules the day. Don't outdrive your experience level. Think of your safety and the safety of those you share the road with when you drive in crap conditions. Plan for, drive for and expect the worst, and be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't happen. Leave lots of room to stop. Don't jam up at stop lights... You get the idea.

Listen to your trainer. Go easy. Learn and do the right way every time, even when you're tired, mad, hungry and cold. Make excellence a habit and you'll be on your way to being an excellent driver. Good luck out there and keep her rubber side down.

 

If you get to train in a manual transmission truck, and feel comfortable with it, ask to be put in one for a while when you go solo. I think it would be good experience to bank on just in case you end up moving to another company later on.

 

You're actually probably better off never having driven a manual in a personal behicle,as the transmissions and shifting are different than a semi. It took me a few tries to "relearn" how to drive the unsynchronized gears in a semi. Lol. (unsynchronized is why you can "float" gears,which is to shift w/o depressing the clutch) But don't panic over shifting. You'll be grinding gears by the end of your 1st day in training,probably sooner.Like miss elvee said, the truck will almost tell you when to shift.Good luck,take your time,stay safe,pay close attention to your buddy when he's training you and you'll be fine.