USxpress automatic trucks and automatic restriction on license?

First of all, "most" is very inaccurate. Yes, some ltl's are and some mega's are. The vast majority of trucks are, and will be for the foreseeable future, manual. Even if all mega's go to all automatics, the other 1,000,000 companies with 2-1,000 trucks will not be. And it's those type of companies you want to build a career with. You do not want to try and build a career with a mega, it will never happen.

 

Careful on CFI Chinatown... the fleet is being migrated over to automatic...many of the trainers are already in them, but as far as I know, Crowder college, CFI's school, still uses manual and that's what the students would take their CDL test on... don't know for sure though.

 

My 2 cents.. you can always drive an automatic..if trained on a manual.. BUT the way the endorsements go.. you cannot legally drive a manual if you test out on an automatic.. this does a disservice to people going through the training and only benefits the "end user" in my never to be so humble opinion.

Note: Even if a company hires drivers with these restrictions. it hampers the drivers. If the company offers both and or they lease equipment, if your assigned truck breaks down and all the lease company has is manual transmission sub trucks available.. you don't work until they can find one or your assigned truck is repaired.

 

As of 9/2017 Prime is making the change over to automatics. All of your big companies are doing this. Say it is cheaper to operate. But who knows.....maybe in 15 years they will change back. I miss manuals in the mountains. Other than that give me an automatic. I have driven, manual pickup trucks since I got my license at 17. This really screwed me doing the double clutch and the rev while downshifting. But, the reason I chose to test with automatics are simple. 1) my age. I will probably only drive 10-15 years. If I was 21 that would be a different story. 2) I do not see me working for a local company. I like being OTR. 3) It is like rubbing my stomach, patting my head and tapping my foot at the same time. And the thing is drivers dont double clutch in the real world. Clutch, neutral, REV, clutch, gear

 

Does Palmer trucking have have a practice range, where I can practice down shifting an extra hour or two by myself? This would be what I need to have in order to get "downshifting" ? I do not want to kill a family while I am trying to get into 6th gear, oh #### I forgot to rev, do not want to drift into oncoming traffic. Driving the tractor is not a concern. Any idiot can do that. ANy help would be appreciated.

 

Prime Inc. is an excellent choice,

 

Most schools have that. From what I can find out, Jim Palmer has an excellent school.
Which company are you with now?

 

leaning towards CR England

 

Which state do you live in?
www.cfidrive.com might be a good choice. CDL school is in Missouri.

 

You want a manual truck in testing. There is a TON of trucking to be done with a manual.

Companies literally deny you a chance to hire if you have just a Auto restriction.

To wit, autos are nice to have Ive had two in my time. The early ones. However... to be REAL trucker you want a manual. (You are still a trucker with the auto, but that pushing one button to go makes one lazy quick...)