FFE Class of August 15, 2011

I sure wish someone in the FFE know would answer why their CSA numbers are so horrid. They have two areas that are above the intervention limit, so if the DPS and troopers respect them, something must "break" later. They are high on my list except for that one area.

Anyone have GOOD <meaning not wrathful or emotional> input?

 

Week 1 complete and range heat survived as well as the many hours of backing passed. We has lost 5 from the original 18 that started last Monday. The ones lost failed to pass their CDL permit testing.
Week 2 begins tomorrow and we begin our driving as I understand it. Too tired to post more now, but am glad to be off the range for awhile.

 

Lots of gear jammin and gnashing went on at the FFE driver academy today and I did my share before I "smoothed" things out. At least I think I'm doing it right, or maybe the gears are worn down enough there's nothing left to grind. I can't help but wonder if there's not a better way to teach shifting. Certainly the pressure is on here now. Everyone's got to be shifting AND turning tomorrow. They say they're "not looking for perfect", so we'll see what that looks like.

 

Have patience. Some of us have to drive for a livin and don't get on often.

We are now on E-Logs.
Paper has just recently went away.
Makes the log violations go away for the most part.

OOS has been reduced by increasing inspections of equipment at terminal and yards.
We get a DOT every oil change as well.

Driver fitness has been addressed by reviewing records thoroughly, and by requiring presentation of DL and PhysCard to safety before leaving terminal.

Most of those infractions was stupidity that should have never happened, and could have been caught with a little looking.

 

In Lithonia, GA .....near I 20.

 

Were they first time failures? Were they given other chances or is it "first failure, out the door?"

 

So is FFE still a "good" place to work? And I do understand that "good" means different things to different people, but I value experience and the ability to explain!

 

Central Texas has been burning up for months. The backing range was brutal, but the rigs provide shade and there's coolers and a couple of places for shade. We finished our training today if I have one piece of advice for anyone considering applying for this driver training program, "learn how to double clutch a ten speed before you get here, it'll take off a lot of the pressure". There's four days alloted here to learn to shift, make correct turns at signals and stop signs, change lanes, exit and enter freeways and on the last Friday, everyone has a "driving evaluation". They do give you three chances with three different "evaluators" and almost all of the course is familiar from the previous four days, but still it was challenging enough that three students didn't make it and several had to go around twice. Not sure if anyone from our class had to do it three times. We're off to orientation tomorrow. Yahoo!

 

Their was some problems at both DPS testing facilities, but all of those that didn't pass had at least 2 opportunities for the permit and General Knowledge. DPS will not let you continue to the other parts of the test if you don't pass the permit or General Knowledge portions.

FFE instructors will work with students on any problems on the range and driving as long as they see a good attitude and desire. The ones that leave do so primarily because they just don't want it enough to listen and learn.

FFE is tough and you have to want it and show them everyday how much you want it by listening and showing progress. The instructors are the experts and they will get you through this program if you follow their instructions and are willing to work through your problem areas. I believe that because it worked for me.

 

Phase I completed and looking back, I realize that I didn't do as good at posting what was going on as I had hoped too. It just seemed to go by so fast and for me coming into it without experience there was so much to learn! I am still sure that I made the right choice with FFE and am not expecting everything will be rainbows all the time. I'm 48 years old and lived in the real world long enough to know that is only a fantasy. However, I am pleased to have a job and a career to build upon having been on the other side during this past year. I will try to update as I progress through Phase II.