I just started trianing with Roadmasters lastnight to get my CDL. I though I would let those who want to go there what it's like. I had trouble deciding which school to attend. I finally settled on Roadmasters here in Salt Lake City. I am doing the night class since I have to keep working in order to afford the cost. It 6pm to 11pm Mon-Fri and 7am to 6pm Sat.
The first night was not much more than going over class rules, watching a video that was about 30 years old, by the looks of the porn mustache that he was wearing. It was informative, but not very exciting. I have to get my DOT physical and CDL before class starts at 6pm and after I get off work at 4pm. That is so far the biggest challenge. We won't be driving until next week, which I think is too far off. I would think they would want us to get in the truck as soon a possible to get the experience. But I am just a student there.
I will keep you all updated on my experience with Roadmasters.
Be safe..

Well the second day of training came. We did more general knowledge, some air brakes. Nothing to exciting to report. I am just anixous to get some driving time. So far everything is going smooth, I am learing some things and I am going in for my DOT Physical today, the tomorrow I will go for my CDL permit. I will let you know how that goes. I am so far still happy that I choose Roadmasters. Its laid back and they make sure eveyone is understanding the material. Til next time, Keep it safe.

Day 3 has come and past. We took a look at the brakes on a tractor/ trailor to see what it looks like in real life. Got to climb in and look around the truck and see how the pressure guages worked for the air pressure, tested the alerts for low pressure. Then we went over some combination stuff. Not to exciting, but useful stuff though. I got my DOT physical and went great. It was a lot easier than I thought it was. Didn't do much but look at an eye chart, did a drug test, then touched my toes and out the door I went. Today I will attempt to get my permit so I can be ready to drive on Tuesday. I am excited about that.

I went in and tested for my CDL permit yesterday and I passed. I am that much closer to getting my license. The written test was a little bit of a challenge. The general knowledge questions were a little harder than I thought they would be. There was questions on there that was not in the manual or went over in class. I had to guess on a few of them, must have guess correclty. The air brakes and combinations test were pretty easy for me. Most of the questions were from the book and went over in class. There are 8 of us in the class and so far 5 of us have our permits.
We went over log books and I didn't realize there was so much stuff to do. Its not as easy as one might think. You can make a mistake so easily. One slip and you are searching numbers to find out where you went wrong. But I am sure after doing it everyday for a while it becomes easier. I hope this is helping someone with deciding on a school or if they even want to start trucking.

Today we watched videos then worked on the computers. After that we started the pre trip inspections on the truck. It was all good but I am anixous to get started driving. Watching some of those videos of how to back up and make turns on tight streets does have me a little neverous, but I am sure I will get through it. I am still wondering if I made the right choice as far as schools go. I wonder what the difference would be with Sage. If anyone is reading this that has gone to sage or is going to sage, let me know what it is like.

Thinking seriously about going through Sage here in florida , cant get anyone on the phone to give me any tuition numbers tho , thats putting me off alittle .. have 9yrs exp. back in the 80s tho..been working const. here in florida but now that our economy is in the crapper here , no chioce but to return to the road to provided for the family..I know Roadmasters tuition is like $6000

I'm looking at Roed Masters in West Memphis. The recruiter has talked to me once, and wants to go over my app. w/ me. I want to see if they have companies that thay work, with that pay tuition. I'd hate to drive all the way out there and get a door shut in my face. Any info would help.

Yesterday we got to drive, in the yard, but we got to drive. We practiced our backing and going forward and let me tell ya, backing in a straight line is not that easy. The trucks we were using were not in the best conditinon, the steering wheel was off center so that made it a little difficult, but I started to get the hang of it. Tonight we go out on the streets and drive. That should be interesting.

I want to see if they have companies that thay work, with that pay tuition. I'd hate to drive all the way out there and get a door shut in my face. Any info would help.

I know that Watkins Shephard will do a co-sign if you credit is around 620. Then you can have Roadmasters train you, or even go to MT and have Watkins train you. They have a traing school there.

I know that Watkins Shephard will co-sign for you if you have ok credit, like a score around 620 I think is whats needed. If not then Roadmasters has finance you can do, it does cost more to do that way. But I don't know any other companies that will pay for training up front. You may even want to check your local workforce services to see if they have any programs to help.

Well I just got done with driving tonight. We practiced double clutching. It was a little different, but I got used to it pretty quick. I think I did pretty good for the first time out. I would like to of had more time driving since it was getting fun. There was 5 of us on in the truck. We lost a few people so we didn't have enough people to use two trucks. If one of the people come back we will have 3 in each truck instead of all 5 of us. Tomorrow we are back in the yard backing up again, which I do need help with. Tell next time. later.