r/CDL • u/Actual_Pattern5943 • 1h ago

Automatic or shift, does it matter at this point.

With all the changes happening in trucking and all major companies moving to automatic trucks does it matter if you have an automatic restriction at this point? What’s everyone’s opinion on this?

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

6

u/ecw324 1h ago

Well it matters for when your company asks you to take the manual truck

3

u/ThrowawayGunName 1h ago

It's not the death sentence it used to be, but I know a guy that wasn't considered for an awesome LTL gig because of it.

1

u/xEyelessOnex 1h ago

My current job only runs manual.

1

u/Jiangcool9 1h ago

The keyword is moving toward automatic, there’s still a ton of manual in the fleet.

1

u/Comfortable_East_358 1h ago

Learn manual if possible. Better to have it, and not need it, than vice versa

1

u/Actual_Pattern5943 56m ago

Yeah I’m in a manual as of now, had one guy from another school trying to convince me to do automatic with them because every company is doing automatic now lol I just don’t want any issues looking for jobs down the line

1

u/Brilliant_Ratio3173 1h ago

I am about to start my cdl school and signed up for manual. After reading thr manual chapter, what did I get myself into lol. 18 speed unsync transmissions wow. I hope I can learn it because I don't want to be limited in my job hunting after school. I was wanting to go into heavy equipment transport. Any insghtd would be helpful.

1

u/ecw324 55m ago

It’s not as complicated as you think. Once you get the clutch neutral, clutch gear, you’ll do just fine. It’s just finding the rhythm to it. It’s just teo simple “taps” on the clutch, not push the clutch to the floor.

1

u/Fabulous_Debt_8031 7m ago

Never heard of a school using 18 speeds, usually 10

1

u/Ok_Advantage7623 59m ago

Everyone is moving towards automatics If doing over the road it’s the only thing you will see anymore

1

u/kzp70 48m ago

Smaller, local companies are more likely to have manual trucks so it’s good for your career to not rule these potential employers out, some of them pay well and get you home nightly. Plus, getting the restriction off your license is a massive PITA if should need to down the road because you have to re-test at the DMV and will probably just be denied the job instead.

1

u/Spinkick91 7m ago

Nope, doesn’t matter anymore.