MTC Hazelwood MO 2014

Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by ryfry, Nov 18, 2014.

  1. ryfry

    ryfry Bobtail Member

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    1st day - Orientation with Joe and DOT Physical. It took 12 hours to do all this.

    2nd day - DMV class for written test with Gary. Gary is a good instructor he was on time. He will not stand for any stupidity. If you listen then he will like you. I already had my permit but I still had to sit in this class. I wish I could have gotten yard time instead of sitting in the class.

    3rd day - Everyone took there DMV written test. I sat in the classroom watching pre trip on a DVD.

    4th day - First day on the yard with Mr. Eddie. He is a good instructor, however the student per instructor ratio was 12 to 1 and he showed up 1 hour late. I only did straight line backing 3 times in 10 hours. I did not feel I had enough time and got a little discourage. :(

    5th day - Road driving with Mr. Casey. He is an OK instructor and he was 45 mins late. He can get the student a little flustered and he can get a little upset. Student per instructor ratio was 4 to 1. I did not know anything about manual transmission and Gary said I would learn faster then the people who knew manual transmission which is wrong. I was behind the other students. If you come to MTC I would recommend you know manual transmission. If you don't know manual transmission then you will have a hard time here. I felt that did not get enough road time. I had 1 hour and 30 mins road time and that was it.

    6th day - Yard with instructor James. Student per instructor ratio was 12 to 1 again and he was on time. James was the worst instructor but is subpar to ok. I did two straight line backing and one off set in 10 hours. He never paid attention to the students because he was on his phone showing pictures and flirting with the women.

    7th day - Classroom log book and safety training with Mr. Eddie. He was on time and I learn a lot about paper log books. He did teach safety as well. It was an easy day.

    8th day - Yard with instructor Williams - On time and by far the best instructor at MTC. Student ratio was 12 to 1. I did 3 straight line backing and 2 left offsets and 2 right offsets. I was getting pretty good at yard and I was starting to build some confidence. The instructor worked very hard that day in was out the entire time at 20 degree weather for 10 hours.

    9 Day - Road driving with Mr. Casey. The instructor was 1 hour late. The temperature was 14 degrees in the morning and the last instructor who used the truck forgot to drain the air tanks. :( We did not get on the road until 11:00am because Ice built up in the tanks. I was still having a hard time on the road and felt that did not get enough road time. (1 hour 15 mins) Mr. Casey did not have any patience and did get me flustered. We are supposed to be there from 7 to 5:30pm everyday but when it come to road driving we seem to always end at 4:30. Only 8 hours of training.

    10th day is tomorrow and I'm getting really discouraged because I feel that I not getting training that I paid 4000 on my credit card for. I'm suppose to get 160 hours of training but I feel like I'm getting around 140 hours because of the instructors being late, the 12 to 1 student per instructor ratio, and the equipment failure. I only have 2 road driving and 3 yards left before it is all over and I take my CDL pre-trip, yard and driving test. I'm trying to build confidence in myself, but how can I build confidence if I'm not getting the training I'm supposed to. I feel trapped and discouraged and I do not know what to do. I'm beginning to think I went to the wrong school. I will let everyone know how day 10 went.
     
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  3. SHOJim

    SHOJim Road Train Member

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    Mr. Casey sounds like he needs to either get laid or get his ### kicked!
     
  4. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    So you think you're getting ripped off,what do you think you should do about it?You need to go to the schools director he may work something out in your favor.
     
  5. ryfry

    ryfry Bobtail Member

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    Nov 18, 2014
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    Hi Pattyj,

    I did talk to the Director of Education (Joe). My class has this Saturday off and I ask if I could come in and learn some more since they are open on Saturday but he said no because I needed a day off and everyone needs a day off. I want to learn this and maybe get some extra hours so I can get this down but he did say no you can't come in on Saturday.
     
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  6. SHOJim

    SHOJim Road Train Member

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    That's a shame. You paid good money and they should go the extra mile to get you extra time on Saturday. I hope they come around and help you out.
     
  7. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    Ask him what you can do or rather what they can do to get your moneys worth..Can you do some studying and practicing on your own time meaning the pretrip,watch videos on shifting backing that sort of thing.Thats what I did on weekends and after school was done for the day.My school had a simulator which helped on my shifting.
     
  8. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    Don't get discourage,schools only teach students enough to pass the test.The real training is with your first company.The cost of schooling and the cost of a construction project go hand in hand money wise.They get paid good money and the labor is less then 50%.
     
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  9. GreenMonster9669

    GreenMonster9669 Medium Load Member

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  10. ryfry

    ryfry Bobtail Member

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    Yes I'm local.
     
  11. KW Cajun

    KW Cajun Road Train Member

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    I can understand your frustration, ryfry.
    A lot of these trucking schools only care about the big $$$ they make on each student's tuition, and don't give a hoot about really making students anything more than "just passable" in getting the CDL-A. I was fortunate to know quite a bit about truck operation in general before I attended a trucking school,, plus the school was a much better school than most.

    Altho there is NO school that can really teach a student driver all he/she really needs to know (or even close) in the limited 2 to 6 weeks training course, but for the amount of the high tuition they should provide far more one on one hands-on training for each student, or at least in groups no larger than 3-4. A newbie really needs a minimum, imo, of at least 24 total hours actual time behind the wheel, on various road and traffic conditions. Whether its 1 hour per day, 2 hours per day, or whatever.

    The instructors being late, and cutting into your training time, is simply inexcusable and shows the unprofessionalism in that school. I'd be fuming mad also.
    To only be given about 3 straight line backing runs in a 10 hour day is also near worthless. Backing and docking skills take practice,, a lot of practice,, and for them to think that just a handfull of tries is sufficient... is a joke. I hope you get much more "hands-on" backing and on the road training than that, before the end of the course.
    You say its a 160 hour course, but how many days ahead are there till completion? (My course, years ago, was 240 hours)
     
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