I made a mistake and need help/advise PLEASE

Only you can determine whether you're set up for failure or not.From this post I would say no you are not set up for failure.I can tell you wanna do this and accieve the goal of being a truck driver.You had a bad exp with a school which you should have turned that poor excuse for an instructor in right away.Chances are that school doesn't know this is happening.So other students will be going thru exactly what you went thru.I sure as heck wouldn't be paying for a worthless CDL when you learned nothing but how to memorize that route.Never heard of Crowder but I strongly suggest you do your homework about them and ask questions before making any commitment.Another option is a company sponsored training but there are strings attached.First off it isn't free.You do sign a yr contract which means you pay nothing as long as you fulfill a year of service with them.I wouldn't be so quick to belive that.I've heard companies will pay you less per mile then the other drivers to pay for the schooling .So if you take that route,ask your recruiter about that.Does crowder have manual transmissions?

 

I just looked up Crowder schooling,25 day course at $3125.00.Things sure have gone up since I attended scool.Mine was a 2 month course for under 4k can't remember the exact cost but lodging was included.I would ask the schools recruiter,what kind of transmission.How much backing and drive time does each student receive,does students get one on one time with the instructor if they have a certain weakness.How much class time there is,how many students are in the trk at a time.How many instructors they have.If recruiter fails to answer any of your questions then keep looking.Chances are that's another shady school.

 

If you pass the test and got the CDL, your first company will send you out with a trainer. That's where you learn the most.

After even the best trainer, you're going to suck
at backing, it's an individual skill, I think.

Not hard, but tricky.

 

I attended "The School of Hard Knocks". Actually, I was lucky. I had a lot of straight dump truck experience, and the first TT job I had, I pulled a 28 ft. dump trailer, so it was almost like a straight truck. The rest came naturally.

 

If you already have your CDL.. you do not need to go to another school... all schools, even the best are for getting your CDL license... with that you now have what you need to get on with a trainer and get some time in the seat...

Yes, I do understand that you feel you dont know enough or havent learned enough.. but the truth is you will never learn all there is to know about trucking... even truckers with years and years of experience are still learning..

Honestly, you dont need a another school.. you need in the seat driving with a trainer then on your own..

 

You guys are missing something here. If he goes to Schneider or Swift and hires on as a CDL driver without a boot camp, he's going be kicked to the curb by a mentor and the company will screw up his DAC. He's on here asking for help because his school helped him cheat to get his license and he isn't up to speed on the basics. If you read his training summary, you'll see that right away. I would hate to see the OP chewed up and screwed over because his school screwed him over. He needs more training in a no-pressure situation with someone who isn't trying to push him into teaming right away or kick him out of the truck because he can't drive, yet. He's more likely to run into that scenario if he just goes through orientation and gets on a truck. The mentors do not wish to teach someone the ABCs. They won't. They'll fire him.

 

Then what would you suggest? There isnt a whole hell of a lot one of us are able to do. He could always plead his case with an O/O at a TS, and offer money per hour for them to teach him how to shift, but then hes right back where he is before. Having to shell out more money.

 

The OP is the only person not commenting.

 

I noticed that.

I also took the time to visit the web site for the truck driving school the OP attended. The course overview and syllabus is very detailed and comprehensive. I am wondering why someone would pay good money and spend 4-weeks there but not SPEAK UP if any of the material listed in the syllabus was not actually being taught - Such as shifting and pre-trip inspections.

I am also wondering how the OP managed to obtain a CDL if he really can't perform a pre-trip inspection, shift, or back up?

I have nothing but respect for all truckers, no matter how freshly minted, but somehow I think there is more to this story.

 

Maybe the OP just sucked at his training and rather take blame for his failings, he blames the school.

He'll make a good driver.