Training 11-2-15

Finally got sometime to write an update of my training so far.

Day 1 - Had 29 people show up for training as week 1 students. We lost 1 in the first few hours since he did not come with the mandatory $100 for registration. Day 1 is spent in the classroom doing paperwork and being told what to expect in our 3 weeks of training. They do come out and say that what they teach you is just to pass the CDL road test. That they wont teach you how to be a truck driver since 3 weeks is not enough time.

Day 2 - More paperwork again and physicals. You will get to see the contract you will be signing when you are hired at the end of training. The total cost of training is $7, 995 for the course. However, Steven's will pay $100/month to it while you are employed. Bringing the cost closer to $5100. The weekly deductions are $26 a week but if you pay $80 a week then at the end of the year your total is only $3, 600 since they will drop the interest on it. Your contract is only for a year but at the regular rate it would take 3 years to pay off.

Now the physical. Steven's physical is harder to pass than the regualar dot physical. You will need to strip down to your underwear and be examined. Blood pressure and vision are the 2 main things. We lost some do too bp problems while others will be on medical hold till a later date. Which means you can stay but can only watch while everyone else drives. Also please dont be to truthful. One guy was let go because he told the doc he likes to have a bear everyday after work and was labled an alcoholic and sent home.

Day 3 - If you have written tests that need to be done then this is the day you will do them. They will send you to the dmv to get those out of the way but if you fail then you will be sent back another day to retake. You get to watch a video on sexual harassment then go out and begin pre-trip inspections. You will then be devided into groups and sent out to do backing or go around the track which helps with shifting.

Day 4 - Nothing new, more backing and shifting.

Day 5 - You will now be graded on your ability to straight line back and parallel park. As well as shift from 1-5 and 5-1.

Day 6 - Classes run on Saturday and we have been told it will be a classroom day on map reading and planning.

Overall my experience has been great. They are big on saftey here and will provide you with the fmcsr pocketbook which you are expected to read and will be tested on.

Please excuse any errors since this is all on mobile.

 

Got my date wrong. I started training on the 11-9-15.

So far this week will be all hands on deck. The first 3 days will have us drive the obstacle course with a trailer this time to learn to turn wide and do some other backing techniques. Then by the end of the week we will get to drive around the city. My driving test has been set for the 23rd so am trying to learn as much as possible.

 

Good so far. Spent 2 days out on the road now which is around 4 hours of drive time for me. Still need work on setting up but overall am able to drive down the road fine. Have 2 days more to practice before my dmv road test.

 

Texas changed everything about the drive test in Dallas. They have me going to the new mega center and from what I was told it will be a 28 mile course.

 

We had 7 people test today for their cdl. 3 in waco and 4 at the mega center. Out of the 7 only 1 passed and got his cdl.

Waco had 1 fail airbrakes, 1 stall the truck on the road, and 1 pass.

Mega center had 1 fail air breakes and 3 hit a curb all on the same street 30 minutes in. All 3 failed their parallel test since the mega center did not like stevens way of doing it and at the moment they are talking with the one in charge at the center to get it approved.

If I fail then I will be sent to Waco to retest but I dont plan on failing. From what Stevens told me the waco test is around 12 miles and at times can be done in 30 minutes. Just wish the 3 could of remembered the name of the street so that I could look it up and prepare.