No Manual Transmission, No Problem?!

I’ve been studying for my CLP and weighing my options for schooling. I talked to two carriers - Roehl and PAM. I was disappointed that neither carrier offered training on a manual truck. When I asked a local driving school, they told me that I could pay the $5,500 class out-of-pocket and wait on a manual truck to become available for training. I don’t want the automatic transmission restriction on my CDL-A. I was prepared to roll OTR for 36 months, then local for the duration of my career. I think having the restriction on my license makes me less marketable and diminishes the value of any future endorsements I want to pursue. I was prepared to get paid like trash for about a year, then step up in pay. I wasn’t prepared to pay thousands of dollars to learn on an automatic. Am I overthinking this? What do you experienced truckers think I should do?

I’ve been studying for my CLP and weighing my options for schooling. I talked to two carriers - Roehl and PAM. I was disappointed that neither carrier offered training on a manual truck. When I asked a local driving school, they told me that I could pay the $5,500 class out-of-pocket and wait on a manual truck to become available for training. I don’t want the automatic transmission restriction on my CDL-A. I was prepared to roll OTR for 36 months, then local for the duration of my career. I think having the restriction on my license makes me less marketable and diminishes the value of any future endorsements I want to pursue. I was prepared to get paid like trash for about a year, then step up in pay. I wasn’t prepared to pay thousands of dollars to learn on an automatic. Am I overthinking this? What do you experienced truckers think I should do?

Howdy, Mimi! Welcome to Trucking Truth, too!

Have you looked into any other training companies, where YOU won't foot the bill? Apply For Paid CDL Training!

Also, here's a great starter read for you:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Keep us in the loop, ma'am.

Hope this helps a bit! If you add your state, it'll help us, help you!

~ Anne ~

ps: The link with company apps, STILL has some manuals to train on!

pps: If you end up with the restriction, it's easier than many think, to have it removed.

Thanks!!! I’m in Texas. I will add it to my profile. I didn’t know that the restriction could be removed. That’s a relief.

I’ve been studying for my CLP and weighing my options for schooling. I talked to two carriers - Roehl and PAM. I was disappointed that neither carrier offered training on a manual truck. When I asked a local driving school, they told me that I could pay the $5,500 class out-of-pocket and wait on a manual truck to become available for training. I don’t want the automatic transmission restriction on my CDL-A. I was prepared to roll OTR for 36 months, then local for the duration of my career. I think having the restriction on my license makes me less marketable and diminishes the value of any future endorsements I want to pursue. I was prepared to get paid like trash for about a year, then step up in pay. I wasn’t prepared to pay thousands of dollars to learn on an automatic. Am I overthinking this? What do you experienced truckers think I should do?

Howdy, Mimi! Welcome to Trucking Truth, too!

Have you looked into any other training companies, where YOU won't foot the bill? Apply For Paid CDL Training!

Also, here's a great starter read for you:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Keep us in the loop, ma'am.

Hope this helps a bit! If you add your state, it'll help us, help you!

~ Anne ~

ps: The link with company apps, STILL has some manuals to train on!

pps: If you end up with the restriction, it's easier than many think, to have it removed.

You are totally over thinking this. Only 6% of truck sales last year were manuals. Most fleets have turned over to auto and even Old Dominion who claimed they would stay manual are converting over. Your marketability will be based on your clean record and on time delivery as well as your commitment to your companies.

Go to a company sponsored school and pay nothing in many cases, stay the one year or whatever.... Last I heard Roehl was 150,000 miles. Pam is less desirable in my mind and often seen as a second chance company. Why did you want them?

I needed that heads up about PAM two days ago. I didn’t see their reviews until I had already left the driving school. In my opinion, the driving school recruiter basically just pushed me to apply with their carrier partner who offered the highest recruitment incentives - PAM. My first choice is Roehl for their safety rating and training. I was a little turned off by the $7k price (if I fail - which I won’t) and Wisconsin location.

You are totally over thinking this. Only 6% of truck sales last year were manuals. Most fleets have turned over to auto and even Old Dominion who claimed they would stay manual are converting over. Your marketability will be based on your clean record and on time delivery as well as your commitment to your companies.

Go to a company sponsored school and pay nothing in many cases, stay the one year or whatever.... Last I heard Roehl was 150,000 miles. Pam is less desirable in my mind and often seen as a second chance company. Why did you want them?

Location means nothing. I was sent to MO for a week orientation then went out OTR with my company. My dispatcher was in MO but I lived in NJ.

Don't always believe reviews. Most of the time it is what you put into it. You should stay at your first company at least a year because they will forgive accidents and dings more than your second or third company. A year goes by very quickly. Nothing is firm until you sign a contract.

I definitely plan to stay with my first carrier at least a year. I’ve budgeted for lower rates and training pay, etc.

You’re right. It is super valuable to stay with the company who invests in my training, because they’ll be invested in getting me past my rookie stage and into a more profitable/efficient stage.

Thanks for the valuable advice. I will keep the group posted.

Location means nothing. I was sent to MO for a week orientation then went out OTR with my company. My dispatcher was in MO but I lived in NJ.

Don't always believe reviews. Most of the time it is what you put into it. You should stay at your first company at least a year because they will forgive accidents and dings more than your second or third company. A year goes by very quickly. Nothing is firm until you sign a contract.

I needed that heads up about PAM two days ago. I didn’t see their reviews until I had already left the driving school. In my opinion, the driving school recruiter basically just pushed me to apply with their carrier partner who offered the highest recruitment incentives - PAM. My first choice is Roehl for their safety rating and training. I was a little turned off by the $7k price (if I fail - which I won’t) and Wisconsin location.

You are totally over thinking this. Only 6% of truck sales last year were manuals. Most fleets have turned over to auto and even Old Dominion who claimed they would stay manual are converting over. Your marketability will be based on your clean record and on time delivery as well as your commitment to your companies.

Go to a company sponsored school and pay nothing in many cases, stay the one year or whatever.... Last I heard Roehl was 150,000 miles. Pam is less desirable in my mind and often seen as a second chance company. Why did you want them?

PAM/Driver Solutions, hmm.. are you locked in? Did you apply via our site? Apply For Paid CDL Training, A division of PAM (Decker) here in Ohio, is excellent; all dedicated/regional; but no idea, elsewhere.

Roehl is on our site, as well. Yes, their price IS steep, but their required commitment isn't too long. However, from reading our diaries on here, it seems that they aren't the most 'tolerant' before sending one home. Did you get any 'other' hits from our app, above?

How about Knight? It's now Swift/Knight, but ... excellent training; look at all our former Swifties, ie: G'Town, and Davy at Knight.

There's also CFI/TFI (recently acquired Transport America, and the LTL of UPS) that pays to train, or at least 'for' your training. I'm not sure what their contact info is, currently.

Another training company that actually IS in TX, is Raider Express: Raider Express, Ft. Worth, TX.

Always worth a shot, I'll think of a few more, too!

Happy to help,

~ Anne ~