Trucking companies who use automatic transmission?

Question

Does anyone know of any trucking companies that uses automatic transmission on their trucks that are training drivers?

Answer 1

Personally, I don't know any big trucking companies that run automatics. I've been driving 35 years, but have been with the same company for 16, so may be out of the loop. If you want to be a professional driver, I can't imagine narrowing my opportunities that much. It's not hard to learn.

Answer 2

Trans Am in Olathe KS....and USXpress both have automatics.  

But the one answerer was right, you'll likely have to take your CDL test in a manual transmission truck, if you go to a CDL school.    

Swift, Schneider and CREngland are 3 companies I know of that will train you and help you get your CDL.  I *think* I heard that either Swift or CR England had some automatic trucks.....but you'll want to contact them and find out.  

I have been told that if you take your CDL test in an automatic truck, you'll have a restriction on your CDL to "automatic only"....but I am not sure.  Again, something you'll want to check on.  I drove one of those automatic trucks for about a month and a half (our company had one) and I *hated* it.....but, to each his own.  

You'd be doing yourself a favor if you at least learned the manual transmission at a CDL school and then went to work for a company with automatics....helps you out in the long run!  :)

Answer 3

Most of the major companies have automatic transmission trucks and can assign one to you, but you have to learn to drive a truck on a manual transmission and most states give you your CDL test in a manual transmission truck.