Phoenix Truck Driving Instute

I have been exchanging emails with another wannabe who lives in Phoenix. He asked about the driving school I'm attending. I just finished my second week and here is what I told him:

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Let me say that starting in June was a good decision. There are only four students in the class and normally there are 12-16. One of us only shows up occasionally. So, for the most part, there are only three of us in class. I told one of the other students that we're starting our Junior week.


The first week was pretty boring. I like to learn, so I kept reminding myself that I was learning something new. But, all we did was listen while the instructor read from the CDL manual and explained things to us. I was impressed with the school and the instructor. He took time to explain several times how air brakes work. I have no background in mechanics, so it took him multiple times to get it through my head. Also, I watched Youtube videos which helped.


When we do the 7 Step Inspection, I have the same problem. “Point to the <engine part>. What am I looking for?” Things that most truck drivers take for granted are huge road blocks (pardon the pun) for me. But, the instructors are patient and keep explaining things to me. I take lots of notes (no one else does) and for me it will be a lot of memorization. The others seem to just understand it. There are more Youtube videos on this, so I'll be watching those.


We went down Monday and took the state tests. I passed them all but Hazmat. So, I studied, watched more Youtube videos and re-took it. I passed. Now, I just need my fingerprints cleared by TSA. By the way, make sure you get all of your endorsements. It’ll be easier to get a job and they are included in the class tuition.


We started in the truck last Thursday. We can do the three basic moves: backing up; parallel parking and the Offset. One of the guys has been driving pick-ups with trailers, so he is really good at driving and backing up (though, I suspect he has illegal practice in a tractor-trailer.) The other student and I struggle. But, the instructor gave us hand-outs which help a lot. If I can do something, read and memorize and then do it again, it comes together a lot sooner.


I struggle with self-confidence more than anything. Part of that is just my personality. Part of it is that I’m 55 years old. Part of it is that the trucking world is so far removed from anything I’ve done that it is a bit intimidating.


On the plus side, at 55 years old when an instructor is screaming and pointing and turning red in the face, I don’t want to start crying. Actually, when he does that he looks like the Lucky Charms leprechaun, so it's kind of funny.


That’s where I’m at so far. I like Phoenix Truck Driving Institute. The instructors know what it takes to get you through. They know what to teach so you can pass the tests. Any problem you’ve had, someone has already had so you never have to feel stupid or slow.


I hope this helps and I hope you have as much success as I have had. I feel like I’ve made a good decision.


Regards,


Tom

 

I have a pre-hire with Warner. My only requirement for hire is that I can bring my dog with me after training. I have no parents, siblings, partner or kids. So, it's just me and Spike. Thanks for the encouragement, Starboyjim. I am alternately excited and terrified. And, after years of mediocre jobs, it's nice to have feelings about a job.

 

Thanks, lilrich. I have a dog sitter coming in to care for Spike until I am done with training. Someone just suggested Watkins and Shepard. So, that is my next step.

 

Since you asked, here is a summary of the last two weeks of school:

I really like the instructors. I said before they know what they are doing. They know what to teach so you're ready for the test. They laugh, joke, tease in that male-bonding way that makes it fun to be around them. The other students are supportive and will give you a hard time for mistakes, but in a friendly-we-all-do-it way. And, I say this because it took me a long time to understand that, so I'm enjoying it a lot.

Typical mistakes are to ride the clutch, not shift correctly, not knowing the shifting pattern, riding the accelerator, etc. They are things everyone does and you hear the instructor repeating over and over, "foot off the clutch", "tap the clutch", etc. I'm surprised by how much of trucking is doing things you have been told not to do in a car. So, there are a lot of patterns to break.

The only thing I would like to see corrected at PTDI is that there is too much sitting around waiting. I"m there at 5:30 like we are suppose to be. Let me practice my pre-trip inspection. Let me practice yard maneuvers (backing up, off-set, parallel parking). Don't make me sit there waiting for more students. On Wed, I got fed up and left at 7:30. I called the director and the next day we weren't sitting around any more. So, make that a plus about the school that you can call and things get better.

Age is definitely not a problem. I have two pre-hire offers. My only requirement is that I can take my dog. So, I don't have more offers because of that limitation.

The Yuma school is the same company as Phoenix Truck Driving Institute. S/W and AIT have good reputations, too. I don't know much about Swift because of my own distrust of big companies.

You're smart to start researching now. Also, there is a place (I forgot the name) that will help you get a WIA grant to pay for school and help you with the research. If you're interested, I can ask someone on Monday. I'm one of the few who is paying for my own training. Almost everyone there is on a grant.