I just got home from C-1 Indianapolis and I had a good time...it wasn't easy. I liked the instructors and they were willing to help out. There were some things that could be complained about I guess but I tried to keep a positive attitude about things.

It was like a lot of places people who were breezing through and people like me that struggled a little and then people who struggled more. I had class mates that complained and sometimes they had valid complaints. My main thing was that I was there to get a CDL and then get on with my OTR trainer. So there wasn't going to be any magic wand to fix anything.

All things considered I was happy I went there and was a little sad when I left. Which reminds me I have to try and give my class mates a call tonight.

On the whole the C-1 in Indianapolis was a good place to get the CDL.

I took my own car up there from NC...14 hour drive or something like that. It gave me a little more freedom and also I got to know the people that rode with me. We stayed at the Port O' Call Apartments . Not 5 star accomodations (was that a big blood stain on our living room rug or was it soda). I did have some one scratch a friendly greeting in the hood of my car (should come out with rubbing compound and my wife hasn't noticed it yet). My room mates were cool and so it was a good experience.

I transfered my license yesterday so I'm a lot poorer (hopes these fees and licenses can be itemized), took the Hazmat test, and contacted my carrier and waiting to hear about getting picked up for training.

I'm signed with Decker Transport and so I'll be looking through the forums for info on getting on well with my trainer and DM.

I've got 2 kids and a wife and well it's going to be hard and I'm going to keep things loose, work hard, and hope that things go well.

Also if anyone wants any tips about C1 Indianapolis (ie short cuts, places to go, where the freaking Wal Mart is) i'd be happy to help out.

I live just South of Indy and drive by that school all the time. It looks brand new, and has lots of trucks. I know a couple of people who have gone there, including my cousin. He liked the school and really likes driving for Decker.

Anyway, how many students do they start there a week?
Did you drive up to Indy from NC?
Who are you driving for now and do you like it?

hi starting school may 12 08 driver solutions Indiana campus comeing frome nyc with out my car need ride to and frome campus can help with gas my name is Earl but nothing like guy on tv Im just a cool brother frome nyc trying to get his cd---L if you can help me .will be comeing on the geyhound bus ps will be doing my one year time with p.a.mhow is the budget hotel and how is the night life not come to party but you never know

I went through the one on one training at C-1. Hot everything done that I needed to in two days. I found out that if you just listen to what the instructor says and do as he says it makes it a lot easier. They have some older trucks there but they all work and run.

The night life in Indy is not on the south east side where you are. It is mostly on the west side or the north side, which is a nice drive from the part of Indy.

Wow you was right down the road from my home when you stayed at the apartments. Actually mymommy lives there.

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"Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then."

I just finished C-1 in Indy. The Budget Inn is not a top of the line place but then again you won't be spending hardly any time there anyway. The rooms have mini fridges and a very small microwave. The room I was in did not have a remote for the TV which was no big deal anyway because there is only about 5 tv channels to choose from. The hotel next to the Budget has a hotel bar in it and is not a bad place to snag a beer or two if you have to get one. THERE IS NO ALCOHOL ALLOWED IN THE ROOMS OF THE BUDGET INN - you WILL get kicked from school if it is found in your room. If any is found in your room BOTH people will be kicked from the program.

One thing I will urge you to do is go to the class prepared to take all your CDL tests (Indiana operators, General Knowledge, Air Brakes, and Combination) because you will be sent to the liscense branch the first Tuesday to take all the tests. If you pass them the first time you get to spend more time that week on the pretrip which is a huge part of the whole process and is the primary reason most people fail the C-1 and state testing.

DO NOT LISTEN TO YOUR RECRUITER when they say something will not be an issue (prior medical stuff, prior tickets, prior convictions etc). Get letters (notorized if at all possible) for ANYTHING in your past. They are infamous for putting people on hold until letters arrive. Being on hold means you can not test on the C-1 road test until you come off of hold. I was not the only person to be held for quite a while. I could have been out of there on day 7 or 8 if not for the hold due to having some headaches in my past. Even though my neurologist cleared me and their doctor cleared me and gave me a 2 year med card I was still on hold due to the situation until day 15. I tested out on both C-1 and state in less than 3 hours of coming off of hold. When I left there was still one guy from our class that was still on hold due to them not being able to get in touch with one of his prior job references so make sure you let those folks know to call back from the messages they leave too.

Keep in mind on Day one you will take the urine test as soon as you get here. All you need to know is PAM and Decker in the left line and all other companies in the right. Once you come out of that line it is straight to the urine test. You may want to hold off on that morning trip to the toilet until you get there because they start looking at you as refusing to take the thing if it takes you longer than 30 minutes to pee. We had one guy that was supposedly unable to pee within 3 hours and they considered that a refusal (or so he said) and he was dismissed.

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Stupidity is choosing not to renew your CDL because you THINK you will never again want to drive.

thank you for info on the test and the hotel good to now let me know how your otr trainer was a man or a women and how it went did you run like a team or did he or she teach you something good luck

thank you for info on the test and the hotel good to now let me know how your otr trainer was a man or a women and how it went did you run like a team or did he or she teach you something good luck

No otr training yet. I just graduated on Apr 18th. I have Swift orientation that starts on the 28th.

From what everyone is saying Males train Males and Females train Females exclusively with PAM, USA, and Decker. That way there is very little chance of any sexual harrassment. One girl in my class at indy has her boyfriend that pulls for May Trucking and they will run as a team after she finishes her OTR training with a lady. They will not allow him to be her trainer due to the difference in sex. I guess they are all like that.

Good luck to you in Indy. Get to know Gary and DC both if you have the chance. They both have a reputation of being tough butts but you will learn a great deal from both of them.

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Stupidity is choosing not to renew your CDL because you THINK you will never again want to drive.