I drove a standard today for the first time since CDL school (October 2021). I was OTR ever since in an automatic, and at the start of March signed on with a food service company. Road tested in an automatic, shadowed another driver for 2 weeks in an automatic, drove a few routes in an auto straight truck after. I told them when I was hired on that I only drove an 8 and a 10 speed in cdl school and the on the road portion lasted less than 2 weeks, but that I was pretty sure I still remembered how to properly operate a standard 10 speed, which 4/6 of their tractors are, the other 2 being autos.
Today I was (luckily) paired with another driver who only planned to drive the first half of the night, then would switch off with me. I immediately made it apparent I had no idea what to do, as double clutching just didn’t seem to work based on muscle memory and everyone else just floats gears because that’s just the way its done. I psyched myself out and stalled at a light after trying to get going in 6th instead of first, and swapped with the driver after getting to the restaurant. I’m feeling really discouraged, and I plan to relearn this shit if the company will work with me, but I currently feel like a moron steering wheel holder. In an automatic I can fit a 53′ anywhere. I’m not sure why I’m posting this, just wanted to get it off my chest and maybe hear from anyone else that went through a similar experience after moving on from their first driving job. I really like where I’m at and want to make it work.
