Another day has come and gone. We did some more backing and I do need some work on that. There is one piece of s## truck that seems to really give me a hard time. The other truck we use I have no problems with. Maybe its just me having a mental block on using different trucks while learning something. I don't know, but its really getting to be a pain. What I don't understand is how these trucks are in such bad shape. I know they are not going to be brand new trucks to newbies to learn on, but they should at least have everything working. I figure just in my class alone we paid 5 grand each and there is 5 of us. Thats $25 grand just in the night class. There is another 6 or 7 in the day class. So where is all this money going? I know its not going into the trucks. The training yard is not so good either. I am thinking maybe I should have gone to Sage instead. I don't know. I just hope I get my license at the end of this.

We had a whole 30 minutes of drive time last night. Whoo hooo. I paid $5 grand to get 30 minutes a night of drive time. I don't think so. I am going to have to complain about this. I can't be expected to pass my drivers test with only 30 minutes of driving a night. There is five of us in the truck so each of us get 30 minutes, which is complete BS. Saturday we are supposed to split up into two trucks and drive from 7am to 2pm. I will believe it when it happens. So far I am not impressed with Roadmasters. I would have to recommend another driving school if you want more driving time practice. Unless you like to watch someone else drive for hours then try driving yourself, then this is the kind of school you will want. I am sure I will get my CDL, but I am not that sure I will pass the first time trying on my driving test. I may have to take it a second time. I hope not, I have a job lined up a week after my school is over. Til

I was considering roadmasters too until i heard the "driving time" stories , I guess thats how they make their money , cram the truck with as many people as possible ... Thats just crazy.Their supposed to be training safe professional drivers , thats cant happen with afew hours drive time . Ive decided to go with SAGE myself , 1 on 1 training , 1 person per truck your whole time .... good luck to you

Sounds to me like they are pushing you through just to pass your cdl test, and not really concerned about students being fully prepared for when they enter the trucking field and hit the road. I hope for your sake, they are PDTI certified, which I assumed they were required to give each student x ammount of hours behind the wheel. I could be wrong on that point. Boonie...i'm going to go to SAGE also because of the 1 on 1 training. But from all my research, I gather your real training starts out on the road with a company trainer...providing he spends the time wisely training you and not back in the sleeper. Oiyyyy.....

Its been a few days since I checked in. I have been feeling kind of sick and not been able to log on and check in. But all is going ok. We had a pretty good day on Saturday for drive time. We all got in some good time behind the wheel doing turns. We went out again last night in Murray and South Salt Lake to get more practice on turns with traffic. This was some needed pratice. I need to practice my set up for my turns a little more, and of course my backing.
Hitman, I have also gathered that the real training is with the company you get hired on with as well. I am going to Watkins Shephard and they have a 10 day training program after you get your CDL. From what I have read its a really good training program. It is not paid, but I would rather get the training and experience than be with some "trainer" who is in the back sleeping and driving like you are team.
The trainer we have at Roadmasters is doing the best he can with what the school has given him to use. The trucks are not in the best conditions, not enough trainers, since I guess they are loosing them to driving jobs. But he really wants us to learn the prorper way of driving. I have picked up a few things from watching as well, some of what not to do and some of what to do. If they could just get another truck and trainer for us then it would be just right for driving. I am still not sure if I will be able to get enough drive time to feel comfortable with taking the road test next week. But I will keep you all informed on how thing go. Good luck at Sage Hitman and Boonie.

The way roadmasters counts the behind the wheel time is evey hour that you are in the sleeper and at the wheel is considered behind the wheel.
The way that the school gets away with that is a kind of loophole because the sleeper is behind the wheel.

I checked with all of the local truck driving schools and found Sage it was the best one here mainly because you will have 1 on 1 training.

Now do not be supprised when you get to the yard manauvers at Sage if there is only one or two instructors with 3-4 students for that part it will be set up in 4 hour chunks every student still gets his or her own truck for that time.
What they do is sit at the front of the yard and watch everyone if you see them comming your way once they get close enough stop the truck they will want to talk to you. They will tell you what you are doing wrong.

Once you get on the road it will be 1 on 1 training they set up a schedule for on the road time I belive it is 4 hour chunks.

You should allways get there atleast 10 min early for your time if you are not on time and do not call in they do not have to take you out that day depending on how late you are and you will not be able to make up later.

good luck on your driving test! im sure you'll do fine!

the schools are there only to get you your cdls and some seat time to give you an idea on how to drive. the real training comes from your co trainer and real seat time. it will take time. ive only been on the rd for 2 yrs now and you never stop learning. and yes there is more to otr driving than sitting behind the seat its work. and the log book will come with practice take your time. one time i forgot to draw my line back up to driving line 3 from line 4. i had gotten fuel and had to go threw the scales in ga well got fined it takes once to double ck your logs lol.

That's crazy. If I ride in the trailer, i'm still behind the wheel That loophole needs to be investigated. They should specify "actual driving time".

When we are in the yard for 4 hours taking turns on backing, then we log all that time as driving time. When we go out on the road and take turns driving, then we only log the time behind the wheel as driving time, the rest is on duty non driving. Now if they count that as all driving in the schools records I am not sure of. But we do turn our logs in at the end of class so I'm guessing they will record it the way the logs are.
We did backing lastnight and I am still having a hard time with the off set backing. I just can't seem to line the back end of the trailer with the cone then straighten out. I got the straight back for 100 feet down, but the offset and the parallel parking is a pain in the butt. We are going to be in the yard all day Saturday to practice, so hopefully by then I will be able to get it down. We had a recruiter from Werner come in. Which took up drive time.. When it gets dark there is not enough light to see the cones so we don't get a lot of backing practice during the week, especialy when a recruiter comes in and takes up daylight time. But what can you do...