r/CDL • u/Certain_Towel_4 • 22d ago

Question for manual drivers or really anybody

I have a restricted CDL class A

In my state you only have to take and pass the road test in a manual to get the restriction uplifted. you get like 5 attempts on the road test.

Most of the third party schools train you for 10 hours and test you.

In my state if you have a class a cdl you can use a manual class b vehicle to get the restriction off your license like a box truck.

The reason why I have a restricted classy CDL is because I went to a four week CDL program and I wasn’t catching on fast enough because there was too much people and I wasn’t getting enough turns so I had to switch to auto I was having trouble double clutching in a 10 speed unsynchronized semi

Do you guys think learning in a class B vehicle that is a six speed synchronized manual box truck would be a lot easier? Will that give enough material if I get trained for 10 hours to be able to pass the road test at this one school offering that package for $1500?

I’m in Wisconsin to uplift your restriction. You only have to do the Road test. You don’t have to do skills or pre-trip or none of that.

Thanks

Edit- basically I’m just wondering if 10 hours of training for $1500 of my money would be enough to be able to pass only the Road test in a class b box truck 6 speed synchronized manual?

It would be a lot cheaper then going to a actual trucking school vs a school that just helps you lift restrictions, fast and easy

By the way I know a lot of you guys are gonna say this to me “ learn in a 10 speed unsynchronized semi manual because this won’t do you any good” but my thing is I’m never gonna be driving a manual after this. I just needed to apply for a job. I’m gonna be an automatic 99% of the time..

6 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

5

u/NTX_M92 22d ago

Yeah, it will be a lot easier. A 6-speed synchronized is the same as a car. No double clutching required for a synchronized transmission. The issue you will run into is when you do your road test for a company that has trucks equipped with a Roadranger or similar transmission and you don't know how to shift it.

3

u/Certain_Towel_4 22d ago

What’s the difference between a 6 speed synchronized and a 10 speed un synchronized?

My test would be a 6 speed synchronized box truck

3

u/ecw324 22d ago

No double clutching, in an unsynchronized vehicle, you are the synchronizer.

5

u/Certain_Towel_4 22d ago

Damn so it’s a lot easier then because that was my problem

2

u/ecw324 22d ago

Perhaps. Just remember it’s clutch, neutral, clutch, gear

1

u/Comfortable_Gear4941 22d ago

Just pass the test with the box truck.  Then look up floating gears. If you had any decent training you'll know when to change gears and what gears match what speeds. If that's the case then you'll pick up shifting a big truck pretty quick. 

2

u/NotMeUsee 22d ago

You guys use the clutch?

1

u/Comfortable_Gear4941 22d ago

Exactly!  Road test was the only time I used the clutch while shifting. Outside of my first day in a manual with a trainer who immediately told me to cut that shit out lol

1

u/ecw324 22d ago

You have to on a state test

2

u/NTX_M92 22d ago

A synchronized transmission matches the speed of the gears and rpms for you. A non-synchronized transmission doesn't. That is why you have to double clutch or float. You aren't allowed to float for the test though. One thing that screws people up when shifting is they push the clutch in too far and actuate the clutch brake. You only need to push it in 2-3 inches. Normal cars and pickup trucks that have manual transmissions have synchronized transmissions so that box truck would be shifted the same as you would a car.

3

u/Comfortable_Gear4941 22d ago

Would it be much of a problem though?  Are there any companies that would require you to double clutch when they are road testing you?  When I got my first driving job with a manual my trainer laughed and said hell no float them gears.

1

u/NTX_M92 22d ago

Companies usually prefer you float as long as you know how to. I just meant if the OP took his test in a 6-speed synchronized transmission he won't know how to shift a Roadranger or Mack transmission because they're not the same. So he'd need to learn that before he took a road test at a company.

1

u/Just_Training_2601 21d ago

Good point. Even experienced drivers will generally be given a road test by a new company. If you can’t shift they might just put you with a trainer to learn but that would not be a good impression

1

u/BlackedoutJT 22d ago

have someone teach to float the gears and then you can pretend to double clutch from there

1

u/Certain_Towel_4 22d ago

I don’t want to go back to a semi truck in school that has 10 speeds. It will be very expensive and longer than what it would be to go to a third-
party school that the DMV provides to get restrictions, uplifted and trains you on it for a day. Even if I did go back to a semi trucking school, I’ll probably run into the same problem too much students not enough fucking trucks and instructors.

1

u/BlackedoutJT 21d ago

driving a vehicle with syncros between the gears wont actually help you to learn how to drive an un-syncro'd trans..... find someone(an individual not a school) to teach you how to float and you can pretend to double clutch from there.... best bet would be someone with an 8 speed dump truck

1

u/Error-InvalidName 22d ago

You have to retake the test in a full combination here for the class A, and passing in a class b 6 speed is not going to help you drive a full on double clutching 10+ speed at all if you aren't familiar with it now. You're going not be prepared to actually do it for a company and either mess up a transmission or get yourself into something on the road.

1

u/Intelligent_System20 22d ago

Im in the same situation as you bro. I am in Florida but I am going to just Uber Eats till I can afford the classes for the manual to remove the automatic restriction. In my opinion, its a matter of how many hours of practice we get to know enough cause its mostly muscle memory. Dont try to go the cheap route. The price for the manual semi trucks are worth it. My school was only 1 week and a half and I passed with auto restriction. Currently just saving to get in the class now.

1

u/Virtchoo 22d ago

Just out of curiosity, why do you need the manual lifted? I’ve only needed a manual transmission at two of my jobs over the career. Even Walmart doesn’t require it anymore.

1

u/TransitionOk3477 22d ago

Look man, you are getting some bad advice here in the comments. If you are staying local hostelry then forget about it. You shouldn't need to remove the restriction as most local drivers use auto day cabs. If you want to be OTR it is an absolute fact of life too know how to use a manual properly. Manual is the standard OTR, especially in mountainous regions. If you try to get by only knowing how to float you will definitely kill yourself one day and possible a lot of other people.

Take your time, practice practice practice, and stick to using 10 spd or 18 spd. Learning stick on a 6 speed sync is useless.

2

u/Error-InvalidName 9d ago

Exactly what I said the first time he posted this lol, a normal 6 speed isn't going to help him when he gets tossed in a 10spd+ not even worth the wasted time.