Do Truck Driving Schools Teach Manual?
With the decline of manual semi-trucks as the norm, many trucking schools are foregoing the teaching of manual transmission as part of their coursework. Some trucking driving schools, like Coastal Truck Driving School, teach both manual and automatic. Learning how to drive a truck with a manual transmission, as well as automatic, ensures that you have the best chance to succeed in a trucking career.
Why You Need to Know Manual Shifting
Going to a truck driving school that teaches manual shifting can only benefit you as you step into your new career as a commercial truck driver. If you don’t train and get certified on a manual semi-truck, you’ll have restrictions on your license. You’ll only be able to drive trucks that are automatic.
Since most new trucks rolling off the lot are automatic, this doesn’t sound like a big deal. But, if you apply for a job with a smaller company or go into business yourself as an owner/operator, you may be limiting your opportunities. Newer, automatic trucks can be more expensive, which may price out smaller companies or owner/operators, forcing them to buy a used manual transmission truck. Automatic transmission commercial trucks can cost upwards of $10,000 more than manual shifting ones.
An independent trucking company with a fleet of manual shifting trucks won’t even consider hiring you if you aren’t certified to drive a manual transmission.
Find A Trucking School That Teaches Manual Shifting
If you aren’t licensed to drive a manual transmission semi-truck, you’ll need to get certified to drive one. Avoid needing to go back and get tested on manual shifting by going to a truck driving school that teaches manual transmission as part of their trucking course. Coastal Truck Driving School has a reputation for helping people start their careers on the right foot by offering exceptional training and testing for both manual and automatic semi-trucks.
We have 7 locations across Louisiana and offer free dormitory housing for our students, should they need a place to live while enrolled. We have fantastic truck driving schools that teach manual shifting in:
- Alexandria, Louisiana
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Hammond, Louisiana
- Harvey, Louisiana
- Lafayette, Louisiana
- Monroe, Louisiana
If the trip to Louisiana is out of the question for you, find a truck driving school in your area and ask if they teach manual shifting.
You Can Learn Even If You’ve Never Driven Manual
Even if you’ve never driven a stick shift, you can learn to drive a manual transmission semi-truck. In fact, having no experience might be better. Drivers who are used to driving a manual car typically have to unlearn bad habits because the skills from personal vehicles don’t transfer to manual transmission semi-trucks. Cars are forgiving of minor errors, while commercial trucks are unforgiving.
At Coastal, we’ve actually found that students who drive manual cars need more time to learn the ropes of driving a manual transmission. But don’t worry about how difficult it may be. Our instructors help you learn how to operate a manual semi-truck safely and professionally, whether that truck is a 10-speed or 14-speed transmission. We offer hands-on training that will give you the confidence you need to start your new career.
Choose a truck driving school that teaches manual, so you have every opportunity to succeed. Get the unmatched training and testing for manual shifting and automatic shifting trucks you need by choosing Coastal as your truck driving school. On top of exceptional CDL training and testing, we help graduates of our program find jobs through our Job Placement Program. Our students sing our praises, and soon you will too! Contact us today to get started on your new career.