Whether or not you have you're learners license, you still need to go to class to get your air endorsement.

Once you have your air endorsement and your learners there is no better way to learn to drive than by getting out there and driving.

When I took my road test the instructor wondered how I got there....  I told him my friend dropped the truck off and left  lol. Then I asked him how long the test was going to be, because I needed to be on location a long ways away in a couple of hours.

Lotsa folks will tell you you don't need to use the clutch, but if you learn to double clutch properly you will greatly prolong the life of your drive train, with the added benefit of not having to quite so perfectly match engine speed to tranny speed when down shifting.

Driving is great experience, and I rather wish everyone who got a class 5 would be required to spend a few days in a truck to gain a little appreciation for them. Perhaps then they would think twice about jumping out in front of a truck if they knew how hard they are to stop. And maybe the would realize that trucks have blind spots. Or that trucks run hills for a reason so if they just passed a truck before a hill they should speed up or get out of the way..... 

Do I sound bitter?   lol