As some probably know I decided to take advantage of my clean driving/criminal record and studied for and took the written tests last fall for my class A CDL.

Man six months goes by fast. I just yesterdsay had to renew my Instructional permit. I can only renew it once. So this is it. I have yet to ever get in a truck.

I had no idea how tough it would be to find a truck to rent or pay someone to teach me how to drive!

Lots of "we HAVE trained before, but we are to busy nows" I even have relatives that drive for a living, but wont help a brotha out (or in my case cousin)

I offer cash money, of course their time and fuel costs $$$

Still nada.

So to make a boring story over with a little quicker, I decided to call NT today. National Transportation driver training out of Spokane.

Asked them all the normal questions Im sure, how what where when. Told them I already took my written and have my DOT card they said they could have me in an out in two weeks, just having my written out of the way knocks a week of the schooling and a little more than $800!

120 hrs. 40 hrs actual drive time 60% of that backing.

He said he wont put me on the freeway and have me drive for 2 hours either! He said on the freeway, off the freeway, on the freeway, downtown, etc.
I asked them IF I decided to do it, when could I start and he told me tomorrow 9am.

Yeeps.

From there on, two weeks 7 am to 5:30 pm with Sunday off.

Told him ok before I come to my senses.

Spokane is about a 2 hr drive from here, I figure $400 just for gas, but it is only 2 weeks.

I started this thing, might just as well finish it.
What I really want to do is learn to operate heavy equipment, but everyone here wants you to have a clas "a" FIRST


Thanks to everybody for the help and advice, I really think if I don't want to do otr this is next best thing.

I know this doesn't mean Im going to be able to get right on the job of my dreams, but at least it is a step closer than I am just sittin here trying to figure out what to do.

I'll keep yas posted if you care.
Thanks,
Sammy

Welcome to the forum. Good Luck go for it I did

$800 sounds like a deal to me. I paid $3000 for my schooling. I didn't already have a permit though. did you ask the school if they had lodging so you won't have to drive back and forth each day?

$800 is what Im saving by having my written allready.

It will still cost me $3665.

Yes they have apartments to rent, but it is still cheaper for me to drive back and forth as it will only be 2 weeks.

Sammy

After seeing many student and driving school posts I am flabbergasted by the dough involved in this racket. Thankfully, I was able to make my early mistakes in a truck while driving in a stubble field and grandfathered in. If starting out in this biz were gonna cost me $3 to $5000 bucks I doubt like heck I would have even begun.

I applaud the your determination and that of all the students on this site.

Bull,
Thanks for being encouraging and putting up with all us wannabe/newbie/students..........

__________________


The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. — Albert Einstein

Some get good training and some get hardly any. That's why I believe it's the job of the older drivers to show what they can to these newer drivers so they can have the skills that were taught to us many years ago. You remember those days when you screwed up you got slapped in the back of the head! The drivers took pride in training the new guys and the outcome reflected back on them. I've heard many times another driver would ask or say who trained that guy. Sometimes out of good and sometimes not. But the point is that attitude has gone away from what I've seen and it's a shame because it only makes it harder on the new drivers.

Quick update before I start bbq mothersday chicken. (I have the day off)

Started NT driver training 2 days ago (fri) 9am.

Showed up with my med card and long form, ssc, permit, and $3555.00

Signed my name a thousand times and began class with 5 other students all of which are going to swift after we graduate on the 23rd.

Day 1, dont drink and drive, allllll day , silly videos telling me to not drink and drive, dont quit on them, and the instructer reminding everyone to not drink and drive.

Day 2 Range time from here out. Checking out the trucks, what everything is called, how it works, why it works that way, pre trip, range rules than DRIVING! Also a few reminders that we are NOT allowed to drink and drive.

Straight line backing, forward, then backing with 48' trailer. MUCH easier than I figured, I have never had a camper, boat nothing, but tha instructer gave a few simple tips, (and reminded us we cant drink and drive) and it was lots of fun, THATS why I handed over the money, back and forth, back and forth.

Then coupling/uncoupling. Everything in the book makes more sense now lol.

Fun, no problems.

We were reminded we had mothersday off and to not drink and drive and here I am.

The school is about 85 miles or so from where I live so my day is a little longer then my classmates, but they are all away from home in a hotel and Im still home every night, and its only for a couple weeks.

Class is 6:45 to 5:30 6 days a week.

We are actually going to be on the road tomorrow!
That seems really strange, never having been IN a big rig before yesterday to being out in traffic in one tomorrow.

Instructer says that how you learn though.

Update in a day or two if Im not too tired lol

Sammy

$3665 for 2 weeks?!?!?! jesus tap dancing christ! uh, I'd recommend you shop around, but it looks like you already went for it. I could have gone to the community college for $600, but after 3 years of community college nonsense, I decided to go to a real school.

State CDL test today 2 days before I graduate, Failed the 45 Degree alley dock. Passed the 144 point pre trip inspection...easy.
I was told I would have 40 hours drive time before I enrolled, but I have only had 18 & 3/4s. I told them (the school) I was not ready but they are starting new clases and want me gone.
I did my pre trip well, straight line backing super, then I got stuck in the mud doing my 45 alley dock, used my first pullup getting out, backed her in again and simply thought I had it.
Tough to see almost 60 feet back in my little convex mirrors but I THOUGHT I was in and set the brakes. tester asked if I was done and I said yes.
He looked and looked, finally asked me to shut the truck off and stay put. He came back with his superviser and I heard them talking, said something about a "moved marker?"
Finaly they got the tape measure out and placed a small rock about the size of a golf ball back there and asked me to "please step out and come back here" they said as near as they they could tell I was about 3/4s of an inch short and it was a called a "failure to perform" and I would have to wait 3 days and pay another $100.
So, I scheduled another (dol said it was just a 24 hr wait) test for fri (they were booked tomorrow) and we will see.
I think I am getting ripped by my school that promised ME by myself "all driving instruction will be one on one" is what my book says driving time.
I spend most of my days crammed in the sleeper berth with 2 to 4 other people waiting to get a chance to drive,
Anyway, enough whining, I will try again and let you know.
Sammy