Starting school, forgive me if this has been asked!

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by roadglide11, Aug 3, 2017.

  1. roadglide11

    roadglide11 Bobtail Member

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    I'm seeing a lot of companies not using APUs saying you can idle between so and so temps or use bunk heaters.. may be just my lack of knowledge here since I'm new, but they mean idle the truck like engine running? If so a lot of states have laws against idling, here in MA it's 15 mins.. 15 mins of power isn't gonna run a fridge all night and a tv
     
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  3. ad356

    ad356 Road Train Member

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    the fridge and tv really dont draw much, microwaves needed to cook are energy hogs. you could idle the truck while cooking and shut it down afterwards.
     
  4. JV_620

    JV_620 Medium Load Member

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    How do you find Parker to be? I went there for a few weeks in July of '16. I see that Harry is still there...I wonder if he still talks makes subtle referencing to individuals who work at Papa Gino's...never really found that helpful nor classy but I hope that you get what you are going there for. They were not the school for me. But they might be for you. They "restrict" you to that 6 weeks. Not everyone can learn in 6 weeks. Just hope that you are aware of that. $5,400 for a CDL-A is a lot.
     
  5. roadglide11

    roadglide11 Bobtail Member

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    I haven't met Harry yet so I'm not sure.. doing the 8 week, weekend coarse myself. As far as how much you can learn in the time, well that's a hard one.. I know that I'm just going to learn enough for 2 things. 1. Pass the test. 2. Look good for a company and not look totally lost by it all when I get behind the wheel..
    After that, I feel like with anything, you can only learn by doing and absorbing advice by those who have been around. For example, i've been welding professionally for the last 6 years following similar steps.. as far as the cost goes. Near me is Nettts and they're $11k and another place in new Bedford( I think) that's like $1200 less. A lot of companies pay it back to you after so long and either way it's cheaper than college.. Also its a small price to pay for a big career filled with opportunity so I'm good with it lol
     
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  6. roadglide11

    roadglide11 Bobtail Member

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    The brand new trucks dont hurt either
     
  7. ExtremeUnction

    ExtremeUnction Road Train Member

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    Just the other night, I spent the night at the Joyce Kilmer Travel Plaza on the New Jersey Turnpike. I was parked right next to a sign which informed me that I could only legally idle for 5 minutes.

    I idled all night.

    So did the truck on the other side of the sign from me.

    So did most of the trucks around us.

    I've also idled all night at a TA truck stop in Springfield, MA. And many other nights in New Jersey.

    When I first started driving, I asked the same question. "What about this 'no idle' law I see in some places?" I was told "Don't worry, you can idle, nobody will say anything." And so far, that has turned out to be 100% true in my personal experience. I have idled all night in travel plazas and truck stops in New Jersey and elsewhere, places where it is theoretically illegal to do so. And nobody said "boo" about it.

    I have been told that the "Certified Clean Idle" sticker on the side of a truck will keep them off your back. I don't actually think that's true. But it's clear that, whatever the law may be, nobody enforces it.
     
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  8. Broke Down 69

    Broke Down 69 Road Train Member

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    Well maybe I'm just unlucky, or the cop was.just a butt pipe, but I have had a PA HP offer me a $1700 ticket if I didn't shut it off immediately. I'm thinking he was just a butt pipe. Only time that's happened so far.
     
  9. JV_620

    JV_620 Medium Load Member

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    Okay I was not sure if you have or had met Harry yet. No worries. Despite the fact that school did not work out for myself certainly does not mean that it will not work out for yourself. Everybody learns at a different pace and different space. For me, 6 weeks was just not enough hours or time to grasp it all so that, the very first time that I took that test, I would pass. And watch out for that too. If I recall correctly, they give you 2 or 3 paid shots at it which may have been included in your course cost up front. After that, I believe that it is all on you to pay. So, not to put anymore pressure on you than you already have, but if you do not pass the very first time (And odds are that in MA, with our troopers running it now - you might not), do not worry. You'll get it. I actually did the weekday versus the weekend one, but changed schools about half way into it as my class size was just too big to get the skills down pat in order for me to feel comfortable enough at test time to pass with flying colors. So you will have 8 weeks or weekends as opposed to the 6 that I had. A little bit different but not by much. I think that you did the correct thing though staying away from NETTTS. A ripoff, no doubt about that. No question about it. I actually had better luck in a slower pace environment in New Bedford...just saying. But yes, that school that you are at has brand new, or year old 2016 Freightliner if I recall correctly.

    So, best of luck and I hope that you make it work for you. Keep us all posted of just how you make out.
     
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  10. roadglide11

    roadglide11 Bobtail Member

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    Ok guys, thanks for all the help so far! I'm almost done with CDL school. Trying to really narrow down the list...
    TMC sticks out to me because, I want a little labor vs sitting in the truck all day. I want to drive a standard, at least for a little bit so I can get very comfortable with it.. And I do want good home time...
    Abilene/freymiller seems great, but I think they are all automatics. out for weeks at a time. And almost no physical activity..
    With all these companies, reviews seem more good than bad..
    Any further advice? Thanks everyone!
     
  11. roadglide11

    roadglide11 Bobtail Member

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    Update. 4/6 of us first time passers, I made a review thread!
     
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