Current update to CRST training from the Waterloo Iowa Hawkeye School

[4th Day]

The class split up and we did various things today. The ones that needed to retest headed over to the DMV and I went into the shop to work on the verbal aspect of my Pre-Trip test. When doing the test, you start from the front of the vehicle, through the engine compartment, drive wheels and components, along the side of the cab to the rear components, onto to the trailer including all aspects of legal and operating function of the tractor-trailer and itemizing the critical parts with the information as to their condition. You have to describe what each thing is, the current condition and if it has legal or functioning parts (describing the parts in the process). You have to do this one strictly by the book! I spent a great deal of time in there. We got into a bobtail and spent about an hour driving around going up and down thru gears to get the feel of it. No one stalled a vehicle and by the time we were finished, the 3 I was with and myself were feeling pretty good. We did not give our instructor a heart attack or anything so we did get complemented for that, lol... from there I went into the simulator class and practiced for a long time. I probably jumped the gun on my first assessment but did not run over any pedestrians on the machine. They like to jump out or run out in front of you.

I finished up with going back out to the shop and working on my Pre-Trip stuff again. I will start the day with it and end the day with it. I think it will help me retain the information better.


[Overview & Suggestions]

Pickup is at 6:30am, you get back on the bus around 11:50am to get a ride back to the hotel for lunch, get back on the bus for school at 12:45pm, leave school for the evening at 4:30pm. There is occasional short breaks during the day. There is a food dispensing machine in the shop that has sandwiches, a coke machine that also has some gatorade and a coffee machine there. I suggest you buy food at the grocery store and supply your lunches that way. Also, taking the bus back to the hotel to eat leaves you looking at the time continually, puts undue stress on you and cuts into some extra time you could spend studying. I decided to bring my own lunch and hang out at the college, that way when I was finished, I could jump on some aspect of the training with fewer distractions with so few people around. The trainers are more than accommodating when you do this. That is the conclusion for this evening. For all the future drivers out there, study before you get here and don't get distracted when you arrive and for all the current drivers out there stay safe and God Bless!

 

David, it's not so much that I enjoy writing (not that I'm adverse to it), it's because when I was looking for info myself before attending, I could not find any good detail listed anywhere and I thought that sucked. If anyone can make good use of it, then I've done my part. I hope things work out for you and yours as you pursue things in this direction and look forward to seeing you folks on the road at some point...

 

[5th Day]

This morning I got up at 5:00am again, composed myself and went downstairs for another full breakfast that the Super 8 provides. Got on the bus at 6:30am and had to wait for a few stragglers, lol.. Early mornings are hard to overcome at times and everyone has been working hard so it does catch up to you. This morning I went out to the shop and focused a couple of hrs. on Pre-Trip with Roger (he is a fantastic instructor and goes into a great deal of detail so that you don't feel like you're lacking at the conclusion). I then went into the class and watched 3 short videos for an hour concerning the same, to reemphasize some of the issues broached outside. I went to the simulator and ran through gears and one simulation for an hr. ( The instructor for the simulators is a whiz with programs, the simulation I was running was one he had designed and it was very enlightening) and then took lunch. After lunch, I cornered Mark, the outside drive instructor, for more experience behind the wheel and he was more than accommodating, it's what I did for the rest of the day. Mark is very patient and composed, even when being thrown around in the cab like a rag doll, lol. He tends to put people at ease so that they can find that comfort zone that we all long for when being trained for something very new and different.

[Overview & Suggestions]

Today was actually sad, as we lost 2 more students. 1 claimed that he did not like the terms of the contract and refused to sign it, so was sent home with all this time wasted by the instructors, CRST and himself. The contract is straight forward with no surprises. No one is trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes here. If you have been on the CRST site or have a recruiter, you know the terms before you ever leave home. You will sign a contract "before" CRST has you trained and licensed. It is "their option" to continue on with the hiring process if you have been as truthful as possible and your progress has been satisfactory in the training on "their terms", that is what this is all about. Each student is an investment to them, they are investing expenses and time in the hopes of getting a fair value exchange for their efforts.
Keeping this in mind, we come to the 3rd. student that we lost. A student came to class today reeking of alcohol. The school and CRST has a "ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR DRUGS OR ALCOHOL". If you come, you cannot partake in any form or fashion while attending the school, staying at the hotel or during any part or time in your training period. If you do drugs, don't waste everyone's time by even getting on the bus and if you do drink, if you cannot abstain while here, you'd better not come either because you will be tossed from the school and these folks are not obligated to cater to people's bad choices and pay for your way home.
I'm tired so I'm going to soak for awhile and get some some rest for a shorter day tomorrow. We leave at 7:30am for school and get back on the bus for the hotel at 1:30pm on the wkends. This school is 7 dys. per wk. so do not expect a day off.
My best suggestion at this point is download the CDL manual from the Iowa State site and study well before you get here. G'Night folks, and G-d Bless.

 

I'll give a double update tomorrow folks, I'm a bit worn out this evening, lol... G'Night and G-d Bless...

 

[Day 6 & 7]

Today, I got to haul a trailer around while going thru my range of gears, this is very different from running a Bobtail.. You'll find that a Bobtail is a bit squirrely but with the trailer, it smooths right out. It's almost like driving a different vehicle. The braking is much smoother, as is the initial acceleration. The lack of weight on the back of a tractor can be a hindrance in stopping quickly and once you get in the seat, you'll definitely realize this. I was doing my first runs thru Skills and killed a couple of cones on my off center backing, I'm feeling good though 'cause they didn't squeal loud, lol.. We also did coupling today. Actually I guess I'm progressing in a satisfactory manner because Gary, nor any of the other instructors have thrown me out yet. Roger, Gary, Mike and Delores were very patient instructors on staff today. Some only work on the wkends because they have other employment through the wk.. I think the college is very fortunate to have each one. I got home and took a break for awhile. After a few hrs. back, my roommate moved out on me. I'm not sure what the issue actually was but was told that they like it hot in the room and that I liked it cooler than they could handle. I'm light in weight 127lbs and get cold easily but can't sleep if I'm sweating. I don't shed down to my drawers or anything amongst strangers, so intense warmth is almost stifling. She is a very nice person and I'm sorry that she felt uncomfortable. A few students have arrived at the hotel for the new beginning class but I've not met any of them yet. I'm hoping to maybe find someone from my neck of the woods that I'd feel comfortable co-driving with, as this is a requirement for the job. I'm not sure that at this point, even if someone here lived near, that I would feel comfortable going to sleep with the truck moving, lol... Confidence and skill in this field is critical, don't skip in learning anything here that will enhance your knowledge...

[Overview & Suggestions]

First and foremost, read the manual "before" you come. We still have 3 students who have not passed the test. Keep a smile on your face while you're here. If you have a lot of stress or depression, do not let it overflow onto other students that have their own issues to deal with, it's a recipe for failure and not always your own. Don't be condescending if you pass the first day and someone else does not, be kind and encourage them, if you feel that you cannot assist. Leave the egos at home, most of the students work just as hard as anyone else and we're all in the same boat here. Don't stand around when things need to be done in the mornings on the range. It's cold and if working as a team, the trucks are ready to roll in short order, besides it makes you look like a leech when you don't pitch in. It was 7 degrees this morning, bring arctic garb!