Where to rent manual transmission truck for CDL testing?

I have a job lined up with a friend of the family who works for a contractor delivering Class A vehicles and loads to customers all around the country. I have 3 years experience with a Class A vehicle (utility trucks for the electric company in SoCal) Digger/Derrick type trucks with hydraulic booms hauling pole dolley trailers with 35-55 ft poles. When I got hired on with my old company, they put a automatic transmission restriction on my license because thats all they operate. I need to retake my class a written test, at the least the tanker and hazmat endorsements and test behind the wheel of a class a vehicle with manual transmission to get that removed off my license. The BEST way that I have found to take care of this is to attend a 40 hour refresher training course locally for $1000, get the experience and know how of driving and operating manual transmission then schedule a test for a behind the wheel test while renting a class a vehicle locally to do so in. Anyone know of what companies rent manual transmission vehicles for a day so that I could test in one when the time comes or is their a better alternative to do all this? I dont have much time which is why I'm acting now, any help is appreciated.

36 years old from the High Desert in Southern California

 

I will definitely check with them. The only advice ive been given is to go down to the 2 local dmv's that test behind the wheel for class a vehicles (San Bernardino and Lancaster) and look to see if any nearby places rent knowing people are testing in them.

 

Is this a smart route to go? Do people frequently do this sort of thing? My circumstance is a little unusual given the auto transmission restriction yet I got 3+ years driving experience? I know its very different but is their a better faster alternative or no?

 

So basically the best option is to pay the $1900 for the 4 week class in which you learn everything and take the behind the wheel test at the DMV in their own vehicles for school?

 

I guess when you think about it, a company letting me rent a vehicle im restricted to drive kind of goes against what I'm certified for. Ive had about 10-15 hours drive time in 10 speed and 15 speeds and ive been doung farely well according to the instructor who has 20+ years driving. I just dont want this opportunity to pass me by and having that automatic transmission restriction is killing me right now. Other then that im golden on what I need to know book wise for the tests and vehicle walk around/inspection process.