CDL mills

With unemployment at new highs....Truck Driving Schools are making a killing. One problem. The "Schools" aren't teaching TRUCK DRIVING. They are getting people CDL's. At outrages costs to the taxpayer. I just left a school because of thier unsafe equipment. I refused to take 8 students a day out without trailer brakes. For ten working days I tried to get them fixed (we own a repair shop). I was finally told not to come back in the next day, after 2 1/2 years with an over 95% graduation rate. Becareful of CDI/TDI.

 

Don't you know the number of the FMCSA field office in Indianapolis ? I'd send them a fax . Then you have documentation of notifying them and it's on them .

 

Boogieman, I'm sorry to hear that you got pushed out of your job. It's good to hear that you stood by your guns, and it's a loss to the school that let you go. If it's anything to be said at all, whistle-blowing is the worst spot to be in and necessary none-the-less to sleep at night.

I left my last driving job because I'd done everything I could to address safety issues, and was unsupported in my efforts. The company had recently had another employee fall (and shattered an elbow), and I asked for safe ladders (or at least one) for our location. I was told that it couldn't be done, and that was that.

The step ladder (easiest plain as day example) we were using to pull orders was left in the building by the previous tenant, old worn out and wobbly, 10 feet tall, made of wood and rated for 225 pounds. The fact that it was old and made of wood was strike 1, not rated for the employee weight - let alone a load the worker would carry was strike 2, and the fact that the company was having to pay out money for employees getting injured for any reason (instead of providing safe and adequate equipment) was strike 3. I even called the union office I was forced to pay dues to, and was given what I knew was nothing of an answer.

A co-worker of mine was about 55 years old, had a previous back injury, and weighed over 250 pounds. That ladder would wobble and move around under my weight (at about 165), and would nearly collapse every time he climbed it. I had warned him a bunch of times about it, and was going to bring in my own 7' ladder (fiberglass) until I realized it was rated to 225 also. After I got hurt moving 200+ pound heat pumps around the warehouse (by myself as usual) I gave notice and left.

Going through a CDL school was about what I expected, and I'd have a few notes about what I saw as well. The equipment was safe and working properly, in spite of being beaten on, but I don't feel I got enough seat time to learn how to shift a stick differently than I have for 25+ years.

The biggest problem I had was that it was just to get the license, and no time is given as to what to do in real world situations. I'm amazed that many students passed the tests, as there was almost no attention from the school on the pre-trip inspection and air brake test. I say many because the schools stats on students passing the CDL tests are not good at all. We just paired up together and helped each other through the pre-trip, in cab, and air brake tests on our own. When I passed that section, I caught myself screwing up the air brake test 3 times and told the tester I was restarting - finally getting it right the 4th time through.

If the school spoke true facts, it may be a 3 (and a half) week course but you'd have to average the additional time it took for most students to retest again and again. One day of testing alone, we had 4 people fail the air brake test and have to re-schedule. It's a 3 week course alright, getting the actual license could take months of retesting (for this DDS location anyway).

I myself knew that I needed more seat time to pass the road test, expressed that and got none, and have now failed the road test twice. For myself, I don't feel the DDS has a fair road route to test new drivers on - and any school testing drivers there might as well double the training time they give on the road. Now I have to schedule a week out to re-test again, and if I fail that time (how would I do any differently with no additional seat time? odds? alignment of the stars in the night sky??) I'll have to wait 30 days to test again..... Not the results I paid out nearly $4,000 to receive.

Thanks to any reading this mess, I just try to say it like it's been for others to read and learn from. Or maybe just read and see they're not alone out there in being smacked down with no cause. Best of life and health to you all and stay safe out there!

 

i was recently thrown out of the desert truck driving school in sparks nevada for debating with their instructor in regards to showing another student what a wet kit was on a truck that is owned by an asphalt company that they lease yard space from.the fact of the matter is that they will promise to let you proceed according to your ability, but when you try to gain the skills, you have to wait an average 2 hours for each attempt.there aprox. 70 students to two instructors.you will be there two months just trying to get skills. the trucks are such junk that you spend all your time holding it in gear, or trying to see out loose wobbly mirrors or hoping the truck will begin moving as the clutch is burned out.then when you may have spent enough time waiting to drive this junk around their yard,you have to go and be tested in the only truck that will pass an inspection, which you have no applicable skills at, because you have never driven it before. these guys are "bait and switch" if ever i have seen it.total liars. they took the money from the employmentdept.,and when i complained they kicked me out of the school and the employment dept. said that because i attended for half of the promised graduation time,[four weeks] that they get to keep the money. now i have a permit,but no cdl.i expect that they knew just exactly they would be able to get away with.my only recourse is to file a complaint with the commercial enforcement division of the local dmv, and hope they will do something about their disreputible business practices. i do not have the money to start with another school,and am wondering about working with a trucking company as an apprentice. any leads would be greatly appreciated.

 

The employment Dept. is where you need to complain. Why they are using your tax money, and you have nothing to show for it.

I'm almost amazed, at your ability to surrender to the enemy, so quickly.... It makes me wounder?.. are you telling the whole story?

 

Tell it to a local tv station .

 

have been looking into getting my cdl licence through a school in menands n.y. that is offering werner Enterprises as an employer. The school wants $6000.00, and promises placement,either through Werner(which said it will repay most of cost)or the school will find other work. any input on this will be appreciated.

 

Use the search engine, and READ other posts

Welcme to the boards, and have Fun !

 

Billy E. My son paid 2,800 at smith solomon great school;got cdl the first try.However before you sign up read( all newbies the real scoop here )so you know what your in for;you will want to stay right where you are for now. whosedog

 

thanks again rick, i did call the local news channel 4 in reno, i am waiting for a reply. i am also filing complaints to the following. the federal trade commission, the local employment dept. ,the commercial enforcement division of the dmv. ,the state attorney generals office and the state recovery.gov. site as this was an abuse of their stimulus money allocation. i am in the process of purchasing a cabover tractor so i can finish getting my license and hopefully start a business as an owner operator. i would like to hear from experienced truckers about what costs and procedures are involved with getting the authority to broker your own loads,or what would be the most productive way to start out. thanks.