Got my original DL in 1964. Didn't go to any Driver's Training course, got taught by an Uncle who was a commercial million mile safe driver. Probably much superior to most DT courses. Taught me that the head is always on a swivle when driving. First thing to do before starting is check the mirrir positions. Learned to drive on his 64 Buick Wildcat, Let me take it up to 125 once, on an open highway. Also, did my parallel p[arking test with that barge. First car was a 57 Chevy 150. Good city car, not a highway cruiser back when the Ohio Turnpike had an 80 mph limit. As a lesson, he advised me to drive on the nearly bald tires till I had the chance to drive it in the rain. Home town had a section of brick paving (smooth) on the main street. Haven't let my tires get down to the wear indicators since.
Got my Class A CDL in 1994, after having a Chauffer's license for 4 years. Have also held USAF Driver's and flightline equipment operator's tickets, Libyan DL, Pan American, and an International license. Can't say how many, or remember all the makes and models I've driven in 42 years workng in the automotive industry, but most remember my Falcons and Mustang, a 1970s Maserati, a couple different Rolls (RH and LH Drives), a 3 cylinder DKW, and a Citroen. Probably the most excitement, since passing my Driver's Test, was having brakes fail at 50 mph while doing a brake test on a frozen lake in Northern Sweden. I can identify with those guys on Ice Road Trucking. When other guys talk about their trucks like Chevy C10s or Ford F150s, I can talk about KWs, Freightliners, Petes, and the like. 6 speed manual trannies? try 13 and 15 speeds.