Fail trucking school. Funded by wioa program.

Imagine if he committed to a training company for $7k and then realized that this profession wasn’t for him. He’d be on the hook for the money regardless. This job you either end up loving or hating it and the dropout rate is very high. Even just a couple rookie mistakes and he’ll be out of a job owing a ton of money.

I don’t know if that grant program offers additional money for your husband’s situation but it may be worth looking into. I know it stinks paying an additional $350 but imo it’s reasonable. Heck even if he needs 3 more tries at it imo he ends up ahead.

Good luck!

 

“Finishing School”

 

If he passes the 3rd road test for $350, at the same cdl school he attended, then that's it, he has a cdl.

 

Rules must have changed then. It was 3 attempts and then have to pay.

 

Deep breaths.
There are many who for various reasons didn’t leave the womb as supertruckers. Myself included.

So—first, ditch any notion that hubby is a failure, if you harbor any such thoughts.

For most of us it comes down to nerves. Me, I’m socially anxious. People make me nervous. Not the ones in the other vehicles. The ones inside the truck talking to me.

Also, trucking is taught via firehouse and IMO this needs to change. Sure, many people are not fit—but that will come out once the real training starts. That said schools need to get way better at pulling the plug if there really is an issue.

Here is my advice to your husband.
Work harder. Much harder. Buy a plastic toy truck, you can get one for $10. Down on the floor he goes, with milk cartons, kids toys or whatever set up as obstacles. Sounds stupid? I’m a 57 year old former office executive. Rugs make fine intersections btw…

The key is to understand how the truck moves. REALLY understand it. Will this teach backing? No. But it will help. Also, the video game mytruckingskills is great. It teaches backing also.

If the school has a simulator he should ask for time in it. It isn’t a close enough approximation, but it will help.

Another help is the video game (for PC) ATS. American trucking simulator. Besides being fun, it too will help. It costs $29 I think (what I paid in -22) but is often on sale.

Call WIA. They may be able to get you some extra money. Explain the situation.

Another idea, rent a u-haul trailer. Yes it is tiny but he’ll get better at backing. It won’t help with fitting a 53’ trailer in a tight hole, but it will help with the mechanics of it. ATS WILL help with the hole—especially if you use a VR headset…

I know the time limit and all is unnerving. I was a wreck on test day, especially the second time. I too failed backing…

My situation was a bit different as I had extra money and leaned on the school for help to iron out my issues. I did make-up classes and played ATS till my eyes bled…

Tell your hubby to not give up.
He can do this!

PS: Could he ride share drive or something to make the extra money for make up classes?

PPS: The real training does not start until he is with a trainer.

Best of luck!

 

Well, being the resident wet blanket, I'm taking the low road, 2 failures because of backing? I mean no disrespect, but perhaps another line of work is in order. Sure, many want to be a truck driver, but there's no shame in not being able to be one, money lost aside. Hey, every new venture has its problems. Backing is as crucial as driving forward, more so even, a bigger part of the job is picking up and delivering the goods, all, or most, require backing. It's a pretty important area not to pass. Might he get better as time goes on? Of course, none of us knew how to back in , after a while you get the hang of it. Problem is, due to insurance, nobody is willing to "train" you to do that. Plenty of applicants that can. Sorry, I'm going to have to follow the schools position, they see a lot of people, and may see trouble ahead.

 

Find out if you can pay for extra practice time somehow.

 

not knowing how you meant that question, i can only answer it this way.............like maybe go back and visit my former co-worker instructors..????
then nope.....

you mean as a former student....??? then yes, for practice a day or 2 before my driving rest, it was normal to do so.


otherwise, no other reasons cuz......
the one that i consider to be a CDL Mill and still in business, not since i left there, and later retired. i really did not like thier way of teaching, and that was the school i got my trucking license, way before the CDL, when they actually taught students...later when the CDL came along, it was mostly, rush'em on thru, the trucking companies will teach them what we don't, i couldn't take that crap no more, they weren't learning much, for like the $8,000 back when i worked there.

the other CDL school, i call the poor man's school, that owner closed up. he was not charging enough to pay the bills, nor the instructors. glad he closed up too.

 

Is there one particular maneuver that he has a problem with and if so can he have some extra practice time to perfect it and retest. Have him look up CDL backing maneuvers on you tube some people will explain there way of doing it and this may help the driver not all of us learn the same way or do things the same.