Been lurking on the site for awhile and learned a lot of valuable information from various people on here that has lead me to where I’m at right now.
I’m currently going through the YRC/Yellow cdl academy training at the Pico Rivera location here in Southern California. I’m training for a linehaul position for Reddaway for 4 weeks here and then an additional 4 weeks on training with a trainer at my home terminal in the San Fernando Valley.
I will add to this post periodically to give a bit of info on what we’re doing throughout the week and my experience through the training. I know there’s other new guys like me that can gain some valuable info from posts like this and hope this can help some other future drivers.
It’s the first day so it’s basically been paperwork and federally mandated videos that need to be watched. We should be heading out to the yard to start going on the truck after lunch.
Got a behind the wheel test scheduled for June 8th in Fontana due to the COVID backup. Hoping I can get into a canceled test spot sometime sooner.
If anyone has any questions feel free to ask
YRC CDL training program experience
Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by Grove_LA, Apr 5, 2021.
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Hope the terminal your going to work out of is a Union terminal.
With the pending mergers of the two company's your better off at Yellow -
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They formally merged operations in 09 or 12.
And for some reason they recently changed their name back to Yellow. Guess they got tired of painting trailers. -
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Chinatown Thanks this.
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Always thought it was funny that the Yellow tractors were painted orange .
Dave1837 Thanks this. -
If you don’t mind me asking what do they start you off at? And do you get a raise after you get your license and out of the academy.
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Doing linehaul you’re paid for everything you do. Starting is around mid 50s/cpm and an hourly rate for any other activities.
First week in the book at the CDL training. Happy with the progress and surprised by a few things while also having my fair share of challenges. 6 guys in the class three of which are already employed by the either YRC or Reddaway. Good group of dudes. We’ve been helping each other out drilling pre trip throughout the week.
We started everyday watching the Entry Level Driver Training (Pro Treads)videos. Tried to knock out as many as we could before the first break of the day then we’d head out to the range. They go over everything you need to know about trucking from safety procedures to log books and health. Most everything has already been read from the DMV booklet (if you’re read it thoroughly).
Monday:
Started the week off doing some initial paperwork, started the federally mandated videos(Pro Treads) and they brought a truck around for us to start checking out and familiarize ourselves with for pre trip inspections and had us all hop in while one of the instructors demonstrated straight line backing. Everyday a different student couples and uncouples the trailers.
Tuesday-Wed:
When we got out on the range we practiced straight line backing. There are always at least 2 tractors with trailers to practice maneuvering with a third setup to practice pre trip. This is my first time ever being in a semi tractor and my straight line backing showed. We are practicing with a pup trailer so backing can get out of control quickly considering how fast the pup reacts to movements. I had a tendency to over steer and over correct as well as ride the brake too much. The instructors helped out a lot by helping me realize how to use the clutch to control the speed and the make small movements and corrections. On Wednesday we started to practice offset backing. I also applied some advice from a member on the forum from another post about holding the bottom of the steering wheel and moving them in the direction you want the trailer end to go. These little tips are what helped make things finally click for me. Backing has gotten considerably better within two days. Confidence has grown. That first day of backing had me flustered. On Tuesday we started double clutch shifting around the terminal with one of the trucks while the others practiced pre trip and backing. Being my first time in a big tractor, I was amazed at how easy double clutching came. We have two volvos and an international and by shifting in the international could use some work but I’m shifting very smoothly in the Volvo. Reading about double clutching make it seem waaaay more complicated and harder than it really is.
Thursday:
More straight and offset backing, pre trip and double clutching practice. Everyone is rotating and of your not in a truck, your drilling pre trip. Made solid improvement in backing and continued to get smoother at double clutching. Most of the class is have good progress as well. One person starting to get discouraged but we remind em we’re a few days in and it’s too early to give up.
The instructors then both took a student out onto the road in the surrounding area for us to see how they handle the truck out on the streets give us a feel for what it will be like during the dmv test.
Friday:
We continued practicing backing, pre trip and double clutching. I asked the instructor to ride with me to grade my clutching and was given good marks. Backing wise I was continuing to get better. Treated every practice as a dmv test. Got out an looked to see where my trailer was multiple times. Used pull ups when I could. One time I didn’t back in to the coned section enough before I did a pull up and was reminded that that would have been a fail by the dmv. We know this because one of the students from an earlier training class did not pass their test because of this. Finished the week watching some videos on the Smith system.
All in all a good week. Feel much more confident but there’s so much more to learn. I feel comfortable actual handling of the vehicle. It’s not intimidating like I thought it was going to be. I’ve improved on my weaker points and that’s something to build off. I always planned going into this to truly learn everything as this is a new career for me. This is what I want to do.
Sorry for the long post but wanted to be as thorough with how it went for newer guys like me that are interested. Ask away with any questions.mountains938, bzinger and Chinatown Thank this. -
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