Is going to truck driving school (CDL) an extreme to learning to drive stick shift?

Question

In two days I will be closing on my first car purchase, which will be a manual. I don't have my license and in MD we have to take a 30 hour in class driving course{which I don't mind}, but then we also have to have an additional 60 hours behind the wheel with a parent or mentor. I am an adult and new to MD, originally from NY where I really didn't need a license or a car to get around.

I am comfortable with auto, but I'm getting a good deal on the manual, and I've always wanted to learn. Anyway I don't have any friends or family that can teach me, and the driving schools only teach automatic. Not alot of people interested in learning manual out here.

I really would like to learn, so my plan to bypass all the MD regulations is to enroll in truck driving school where I can learn manual, and get a Class A CDL license. I'm not sure what the price is yet (if anyone has any experience with these schools how much am I looking at?). My question for you guys is, am going to an extreme by doing this? I don't really plan on becoming a truck driver, but I would like to learn to drive manual effectively, and I figured this is the way to go, b/c their training I'm sure is more indepth than anything I could learn from a friend right?

Please offer any suggestions. Thanks

Answer 1

I'd think so, commercial truck transmissions are for the most part more difficult and I'd think you'd be behind the rest of the class.

Answer 2

Yes, I feel that is taking it to an extreme. The only way to become comfortable with a manual is practice. What I would suggest is to start before you drive on any roadways. I would imagine that the dealership has a decent size lot, which would be an acceptable place to practice. Starting is usually the hardest part. Practice that, even if it's just going forward and backward 15 feet. It'll help you get the feel for the clutch. Shifting is much easier. Just push the clutch in, change the gear and release the clutch. You'll most likely feel a jolt, which in time you'll learn to control by adjusting the speed of your shifts. Also, before you start driving anywhere, try to get the feel for the pattern of the shifter. Realize that it centers itself whenever you're in neutral, this will help prevent you from missing 3rd gear and getting 5th on accident.

A few tips:

Always push the clutch fully down. Only going halfway will cause it to wear faster.

Practice when you can. Go to a local shopping mall (they usually have very large, open parking lots) and just practice getting the vehicle moving and stopping. Remember the clutch needs to be pressed when stopping (unless you're in neutral) or else the engine will stall.

Answer 3

   Yes I know you are going to the extreme, because in California Truck driving school cost around 2 to 5 thousand dollars for a 4week course depending on were you go. if you want to spend that much money It would be wise just to buy a junk car with a manual transmission and ask any Joe

off the street that knows how to drive one,to show you. It would probably

take about a week to figure it out, big rigs operate using a double clutch system that would confuse a manual clutch driver. Good luck.

Answer 4

Trucking school costs thousands of dollars... even if you found someplace that sold individual lessons, you'd still be looking at hundreds of dollars.  And besides, cars and transport trucks shift entirely different.  

You can take manual transmission lessons from regular driving schools.  Look into that.  They are out there.    

If you don't ever plan to use a CDL, it is a big expense for nothing.