Schneider training March 15th, Carlisle PA

I am scheduled for a class in Dallas, Tx on May 17th. I will only go if I can't fix my college mess or even if I do clean the mess. So even if you fail the road test at the DMV, they will let you go out and train more? That makes sense but I thought they would just call you a failure and send you home. If that's not true I am glad to hear it. Sounds like maybe they care a little bit.

Something I have been wondering since I first wanted to go was, let's say I want more practice than what the instructor wants to be there for. In the yard, will they let you practice more? If I do go for this, failure is not an option. No way at all. If they are willing to help I am willing to work on it. I figure if I can learn calculus with practice, I can learn to drive the truck, but it will take practice.

Jason Trucker: Don't be too discouraged too much. If it makes you feel any better I failed my car license the first time. I got an 88 on the written test but failed the driving. I only practiced for a few minutes maybe. I did stupid things like took my hands off the steering wheel, made wide turns, the parallel parking I got a little close to the curb, I took turns too slow. All these things were easily corrected. The hands off the steering wheel sounds bad but that was while stopped at a red light. They are extra hard on drivers during tests. They are probably much harder on CDL tests. Personally I passed the driving test the next day, but that was legal in Texas.

 

Once you pass your written tests, you have 6 months to pass the road test. I think that's the same in every state. They won't call you anything, pass or fail. They may congratulate you upon passing. That's about all. Keep in mind, only a small percentage of DMV employees even understand the CDL. They mostly just think it must be hard, like the average person.

Totally depends on the instructors where you are, and the level they think you have reached before testing. Some will still just say you'll do fine. And they're generally right. Once you're comfortable in the seat, it isn't so difficult. The real issue for many of us is being watched and knowing we're being graded. It tends to make us uneasy and we wind up making mistakes we hadn't for the last 2 weeks. Human nature...

 

The CDL school I went to knew how many points it would take to pass on each skilll on the test.

When we would practice the yards skills the other drivers waiting on their turn would grade/score the person driving. This way we knew what we needed to do to pass.

For example on the alley dock, if you did well on the others straight line backing etc, when you get to the alley dock all you have to do is get the
tandems in the area.......it does not have to be perfect. If you hit a cone
with one tire, less points are deducted than if you pull up twice. If you hit
the cone, so what? Take the hit on the point and move on to the next part of the course. Be confident, dont act nervous, act like you know what you are doing even if you are not comfortable. The lady who graded my yard skills test also did the pre-trip and did my road test.

Again you want the person testing you to be confortable.

You might want to see if your school will let come in for more practice to build your confidence.

You should have an advantage to most since you have gotten some wheel
time with the SNI drivers.

Good luck and Git R' Done!

 

Well it does have to be perfect, lol. At least more perfect than just...eh its in.
What I mean is that when I backed in California, I did an OK job...but when I did my sqt, my trainer told me about how while it is OK if the tandems are in...that doesnt mean you did a good job. Look at the mirrors. The mirrors of the tractor are the widest point on the entire thing. While you can get the trailer between the cones and such...you could in theory have hit another trailer or tractor with your mirrors and they can hang over the cones.

 

Did you need any money to change licenses or anything required for you to have? I don't think I will have much money.

And on that pre-work screen, how low is the bottom of the trailer? I'm not sure I can fit under it.

 

Hmm honestly I can't remember how much it cost for the CDL exam / license. Hopefully others can help with that.

The bottom of the regular van trailers is about 3 feet off the ground, I figger. They will tell you what they want you to do on the pre work screen as far as how to get under there...I know they showed me how to do it. I know you can't get under there on your hands and knees, and that you have to crouch, but I thought you could take a knee...maybe not. Basically if you just crouch down, you can waddle under the thing fairly easily

 

I never heard any rule against hands/knees before. I just crouch, but if I need to be there more than a minute or so, I'll drop a knee for sure if it makes me more comfortable. I've even sat under a trailer and been on my back, for that matter. Sometimes ya just gotta do things...

 

Well I missed going last week to their Dallas school because I was worried that I would have a higher heart rate than was allowed. It turns out I had nothing to worry about because my highest heart rate while doing what was on that pre work screen sheet was 118. According to their formula I could have passed with a heart rate of 170 and passed.

My question about the money was there because they suggest $200 to go with you to school, but I wasn't sure if that was for licenses or just snack foods and fun stuff. I just recently changed my license from Texas to Oklahoma. So behind the scenes I have a Texas license, but they probably want me to change back to Texas for the CDL. I don't have the (car license) card anymore because they took it when I changed to an Oklahoma license. I think the Texas CDL costs $60.00. Does Schneider pay license fees?

Do you actually receive a student pay check the day after graduation from the classroom class?

Also there are simulators. Are these like a truck or just keyboard and computer monitor? You might have seen the flight simulator on TV where you actually climb into a cabin shaped room and fly.

 

WHAT? 170 and passed? Passed what, a really high stress test? Were they having you sprint on a treadmill? No, seriously, 170 should only be associated with a high activity level, like physical excercise.


Don't know about the use of simulators, but I read here that SNI is going to that for 'conditions' training... They look rather like you're literally in the seat and driving. At least, the two I've seen were like that.

I believe you're right on TX CDL... 60.00 Yours will have to be from whichever state you actually live in. No company(that I've heard of) will pay for you actual CDL, but some will pay for endorsements you don't already have if they specifically request you to get them.

If you can take more than $200, you probably should. Don't break the bank, but 200 won't last long beyond the training facility.