Does your license have an “E” restriction on it?
You might be wondering what it means. Or if you’re like most truck drivers with an E restriction, you only find out what it really means when applying for jobs, and suddenly a recruiter tells you that “We can’t hire you because you can’t drive a manual truck.”
Don’t stress. This is one of the most fixable CDL issues, as long as you know what the restriction actually means and what steps remove it.
This guide breaks it down in plain language and focuses on what you really want: how to remove the E restriction.
What Is The E Restriction On A CDL?
An E restriction means you’re restricted to operating vehicles with automatic transmissions (not manual). That restriction shows up on your CDL and can limit you from driving certain trucks, especially in fleets that still use manuals or require manual capability for certain roles.
In plain English: E restriction = automatic-only
How Do You Get An E Restriction On Your License?
Truck drivers get this restriction if they completed their CDL skills test in a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission.
It doesn’t matter how skilled you are on a manual truck. If you took the CDL test on an automatic truck, you get an automatic restriction.
This happens because you didn’t demonstrate the ability to operate a manual transmission during testing. Therefore, your CDL license is issued with the “E” – No Manual Transmission Equipped restriction.
This policy is based on federal standards established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which require commercial drivers to be tested in the type of vehicle they are certified to operate.
This is why it’s so important to make sure the vehicle you take the test in, is the same type of vehicle that you want to drive in the future.
How To Remove The E Restriction On A CDL?
The way to remove it is simple in concept: you need to train and retest in a manual transmission truck so you can demonstrate that you’re able to operate manual equipment.
What do you need?
That's it...
When it comes to taking the CDL road test to remove the automatic restriction, you only need to complete the driving parts. That’s right, you don’t need to do the Pre-Trip Inspection again!
Once you pass the skills test in a manual truck, the automatic transmission restriction can be removed and you’ll open up more job options, especially with fleets that still require manual capability.
Driving Academy Can Help You With Manual CDL Training
While you technically don’t need to undergo full FMCSA approved CDL training, if you’ve never trained on a manual truck, you’re almost certainly not going to be able to pass your CDL road test. Even if you know how to drive a manual car, driving a manual CDL truck is a whole other beast.
You 100% want to practice driving a manual transmission truck before you re-take the CDL test.
In order to legally practice, you will need to be with a licensed CDL holder who doesn’t have a manual restriction.
That’s where Driving Academy comes in.
At our CDL schools we have training options specifically for getting the “E” restriction removed. These half courses allow you to do all the training you’ll need. It includes time behind the wheel and training in our state-of-the-art truck driving simulator. This simulator lets you practice shifting gears without worrying about blowing the transmission on the open road.
Our expert instructors teach you proper techniques and shifting patterns so on the day of your road test you’re ready to pass with flying colors.
Does the E Restriction Really Matter?
Whether you should remove the E restriction or not depends on your career plan.
The E restriction may not matter if:
- The companies you’re applying to only use automatic trucks
- You’re doing local work where the employer runs automatics
- You’re fine staying in the same job long-term
The E restriction matters a lot if:
- You want the most job options
- You’re applying to fleets that still use manuals
- You’re aiming for certain local/regional roles where manual is common
- You want to stop sweating “manual required” on job postings
If you’re seeing manual requirements in your target jobs, removing the restriction is usually worth it.
Get The E Restriction Removed With Driving Academy
If you want to remove your automatic restriction without fear of failure, Driving Academy can help you map out the fastest path based on your experience level and timeline.
Click the button below to contact us, and we’ll tell you what you need, how long it will take, and which training option makes the most sense for your goal.
With Driving Academy, you can get rid of the “E” restriction and continue down your Road To Freedom.
