CDL 2025 Automatic Restriction Removal

Had an instructor at my school mention automatic restrictions wouldn’t be a thing coming 2025 in Louisiana. I was thinking of paying for the extra week of training on a manual to have my automatic restriction removed, but just curious if this is even a thing. I’ve tried looking at the FMCSR website and found nothing. Any truth to this because it sounds like a joke, but he seemed pretty certain about it.

FMCSA sets the standards states must follow for issuing cdl’s. I have seen nothing in the pipleine for changing the E restriction( auto transmission only).

I have always felt that the auto restriction was BS. When you obtain any driver license in any state to drive initially there is no auto restriction. If you pass the written and driving exams you have a license period and can drive any 4 wheeler legally. But when you want to drive a big truck they tell you that you have to have a "special" restriction placed on your license. Even though a lot of companies have gone to auto trans. you still should not have a restriction to drive a specific trans.

The standard restrictions make sense such as Haz-Mat, doubles-triples, tankers etc. as they are specialized conditions but what does an auto restriction accomplish? Glad I'm retired as I wouldn't want an auto restriction, electronic logs and all the sensors and computers controlling my driving. I did just fine for 44 years and over 3 million miles.

My thoughts on the auto restriction have changed somewhat from what I used to think. I thought it didn’t matter because I was never going to drive a manual again, right? I don’t have the auto restriction but have never driven a manual since I started solo.

However, just last week I had a chance encounter with a company owner who asked if I would have any interest in applying for his company. But they are a very small, specialized company and only have manual tranny trucks. Thus the potential benefit of having no restriction.

I guess if it’s possible and practical to avoid the auto restriction, it can be beneficial for unseen future opportunities.

I know that Pianoman just went from auto to manual with his new company, so the possibility is always there.

Great point BK,

Another fact to consider even though not a high probability is if you were to break down or needed a rental truck but it had a manual trans you could not legally drive it. Therefore you would be sitting idle and no income. And like you said maybe a great job opportunity could arise and you would have to pass it up.

I've been contemplating getting mine removed.

It’s worth it to not have the restriction if you plan on ever doing anything besides OTR. Typically drivers that have only ever driven OTR dry van or reefer are the same people saying it doesn’t matter and don’t worry admit about getting the restriction. That’s because most OTR big box companies are using exclusively auto transmissions. There are still way more companies than you’d think that still have quite a few manuals.

Even if someone has zero training on manual, and they got in one, after a few days of gear grinding and clutch popping, they might figure it out.

However, the non manual restriction comes from the folks that say you must inspect all your push rods and slack adjusters daily for safe truck operation.

There is also a Class A restriction if you were not trained using a fifth-wheel trailer. I have taught CDL-A for bucket trucks using a pintle hitch. Their shiny new CDL has an "O" restriction - no fifth wheel driving.

The big idea from Washington is all about safety and they don't want drivers stalling in the middle of the road, and God forbid railroad tracks.

ok wow i had no idea what you guys were talking about until i looked it up. What kind of bullcrap is that I wanna know what moron in Washington thought that would be a good idea. I started my career in my granddaddy’s ole b- model Mack where you needed both hands to shift and your leg to steer lol and now cause Pam runs automatics I’m gonna have a restriction on my cdl. That’s just awesome. Man you guys were right the industry has changed big time since I’ve been gone well you better believe I will have that removed from mine as soon as I can. I’ve only ever driven one automatic and I really didn’t care for it of course I’m sure they have changed allot since 2004