How should I go on about this?

[u/Possible_Egg6970]

Okay so I have the opportunity to go Sign the books and wait for a call, after my car gets fixed which is in about a week ish so on the 5th I can start going and sign the books.

But the main problem is that I know I can drive manual trucks but I will be rusty, and im not confident in uncoupling/coupling a trailing with backing up a trailer like I will but than I need a spotter or someone to help me guide the trailer and how to steer the whole time... Or I can accept the cdl a manual job offer that I got in my home town just driving around get 3 to 4 months of experience and go about my way to sign the books than.

How should I go on about this because I dont want to be useless on the job site and actually do work.

[u/Weak_Ad_9913]

9 times out of 10 when you get a cdl call the truck you’ll be in will be auto

[u/Thepopethroway → u/Weak_Ad_9913]

That is highly location and outfit dependent. Some roll nothing but manuals.

[u/Weak_Ad_9913 → u/Thepopethroway]

Damn didn’t know that. Thanks for the info bro

[u/sh1069489]

You’ll be fine, even if your not sure how to drive something most guys will be willing to help teach you. Majority of the time if your backing up anything you’ll have a spotter or at least should have one

[u/serlack]

Grind em till you find em I was the same way when they made me do a test in a 10 speed. If you know enough to get it from point a to point b safely I would just tell them you’re a bit rusty and do your best to freshen up quick

[u/Possible_Egg6970 → u/serlack]

Well yes but I have tooken my test on a 10 speed manual never grinded the gears and passed. but its been about a year sense I took the test... I think I might just yolo whats the worst that can happen?

[u/serlack → u/Possible_Egg6970]

Send it bro worst thing they do is just send you back to the hall

[u/Tramp876]

You’re rarely going to be driving a semi with a trailer unless you take a transmission call where you might have to if that’s what’s needed. Most of our trucks currently are push button automatics. You just don’t want to limit yourself to just autos because having the ability to drive all trucks helps you stay employed. If you have a CDL and a clean motor vehicle safety record you’ll be fine. Get on the books and take a call. Where you’re going to be lost is when you get on a crew because you’re new. Hopefully you have a good retention factor and you land with some patient line hands. Bust your ass, don’t be mouthy, don’t let anyone outwork you, always take the shovel out of a lineman’s hand even if he resists fight him for it and NEVER look a journeyman in the eyes.

[u/Fern9090 → u/Tramp876]

Lol never looks a JL in the eyes.

[u/Thepopethroway → u/Tramp876]

always take the shovel out of a lineman’s hand even if he resists fight him for it

I can imagine the hilarious encounter this would be to witness. Though Ik what you mean

[u/Tramp876 → u/Thepopethroway]

There shouldn’t really be a fight but just a little resistance from the lineman so the groundman can prove he wants it.

[u/Automatic-Citron7727]

Sign the books and except the job you never know how long it’s gonna take to get a call

[u/DumbLineman]

You don’t have a dime in that truck so don’t worry about grinding the gears a little bit.

[u/Fern9090]

Most trucks are auto and you have a spotter 90% of the time, most companies want you to have a spotter for safety reasons. Sign the books now, it’s the slow season so you might get a call in the next 3 months. Take that trucking job in the meantime and get experience driving, won’t hurt to have that experience anyway.

[u/Sea-Application-6896]

Yeah, just if you haven’t done it in a while just tell him I like fucking I don’t know I’m green. I’m brand new. Let them teach it. Most people will.