I Am Starting My CDL Schooling Next Monday 03/28/2016.
Topic 13602 | Page 1
Blake, welcome to Trucking Truth and to your new career!
Many driving teachers prefer people who don't have "stick shift" driving experience because there is some difference between car shifting and truck shifting - you won't have the "bad habits" of a 4-wheeler.
The big issue is in coordination between your shifting arm and what both feet do - coordination of the "pat your head and rub your tummy" kind. Just remember you aren't the only one who's had to learn this from scratch.
There are two main types of schools: the private Truck Driving Schools and Company-Sponsored Training Programs. I went through a company school (Swift). There seems to be a bit more pressure to get your learning down and move on, but on the other hand you are all but hired on the day you start.
Look across the top of the screen for links to more TT resources. Here is some more reading material:
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road Training Program
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Driving a stick is like anything else. It just takes time. You can pick up the basics relatively quick. However it takes time to really get comfortable with it and it becomes second nature. You're going to stall, your going to grind. You're not going to be smooth and your going to think you've broken something. However dint be scared of it and you'll get it.
I have just gotten my permit and medical card. I have never driven stick before. How hard is it to learn on a truck? How hard is the schooling? What should I pay attention to the most?
Grind it till you find it!! Ha ha, jk. I'm in week 3, up shifting is easy, the down shifting is tough. You'll get lots of practice though
Grind it till you find it!! Ha ha, jk. I'm in week 3, up shifting is easy, the down shifting is tough. You'll get lots of practice though
I just graduated from a driving school on Tuesday, here is what my trainer taught me about down shifting
10th to 9th, brake till 45 mph shot of fuel to hit 1500 rpms. shift 9th to 8th, brake til 35 mph shot of fuel to hit 1500 rpms... shift 8th to 7th, brake til 25 mph shot of fuel to hit 1500 rpms shift 7th to 6th, brake til 15 mph shot of fuel to hit 1500 rpms.. shift 6th to 5th... ( flip that dang switch ) brake to 10 mph shot of fuel to hit 1500 rpms shift 5th to 4th brake to 5 mph shot of fuel to hit 1500 rpms.. shift.
did not grind on the final drive test with the examiner.
Good luck Blake!!
Tony M
We mostly use 8 speeds, but they stuck us on a 10 speed and our brains went to mush! Lol
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I have just gotten my permit and medical card. I have never driven stick before. How hard is it to learn on a truck? How hard is the schooling? What should I pay attention to the most?