Falling behind in school...

Congrats on getting your CDL. Here in lies the difference between schools. Not saying one is better than the other, just pointing out differences.

From your post, I gather that the school you attended is about 8 weeks long. I would think that should be long enough for you to learn the manuvers you need to know to get your CDL. I also gather that you have already passed the exam and received your CDL (as have others before you) although your class time is not over. Now this is the part that I find to be strange. The purpose of these schools is to teach you what you need to know to get your CDL. Once you have that, you should be done.

The school that I attended is 5 weeks long. This allowed us plenty of time to learn the basics of the manuvers we needed to know to pass the CDL exam for our state (which is different from state to state). It also allowed us time to drive the test trucks on the road, to familiarize ourselves with them so we would be able to pass the driving portion of the exam. Once the 5th week is over, we may return to the school to continue practicing until our scheduled exam time, which is usually within a week to a week and a half after "graduation". If we fail the exam, we can return to the school on scheduled days for more practice until we can take the exam again. If we pass, we have acheived our goal and are done with school. The next step is to go to orientation for whatever company you have chosen.

All of this extra stuff, night driving, skid pad, driving doubles/triples, etc, all sounds like really good stuff as is probably a good idea for students to do at least once, but it is not necessary to attain your CDL and is what you will learn once you start at your chosen company. As important as this stuff is, it just sounds to me like another way to get more money from you and keep you from starting work sooner.

If you have your CDL, why are you still at school???

 

Dodger,

Are you currently out driving a truck? I can tell you that none of that time extra time he is spending with those above activties are a waste of time. They are all very much a benefit to becoming a safe driver. That first week out with your trainer is very rushed, and you will be doing alot of things at night (fall & winter less day light)......that alone will give him a jump on many students. And well as for skid pad training, first hand experience......I would have rather have had some of that training, prior to hitting an freak ice / rain storm out my second week in the truck, while traveling through S.C. at night on a curvy 2 lane road. I dont think in this economy those skills will be wasted, especially the direction he is going......most of those jobs will be west and mid west, in the snow belt, plus he will be do alot of night time driving on 2 lanes........unlike many of these big fleet companies where the new driver stays pretty close to the interstate and does most of the driving during the day. Those additional weeks will give him a leg up in finding a job, as employers now are so picky and only want to hire the best. My only point is that I think your opinion of additional hours of eduaction will change, once you get some actual seat time out on the road. You are right, some schools main objective is to get you your CDL and get you in a company trainers truck, then some take it another level, developing basic skills (kinda sounds like your school) then there are a handful of schools that actually develop your skills prior to graduating. This is a huge advantage, so you can focus on all the stuff they will hit you with that first few weeks, stuff you will need down the road after your trainer is long gone. That is why some companies only hire from some schools and not others with the same certification. Many of the issues you see posted by new drivers is simply an issue of not being properly prepared for the task at hand, and that also adds to amount of turn over and stress by everyone involved.....Driver, Driver's family, trainer, dispatcher, safety dept, etc and then the communication starts to break down and your have a truck sitting in a truck stop and unemployed driver with a $5000 education bill, and a company with a training expense loss. Many of these students and trainers spend so much time on basic safe backing, delveloping skills........that the real meat and potatos of the job get brushed aside until they are on there own. I will tell what I found about backing alone, I was a very good backer when we got to the point of test (very hard for me at first) in fact no points........but in the real world those DOT testing platforms are no where to be found, most very tight and very blind.........so all those extra skills he is learning, will be a huge benefit.

I have never driven doubles, and I would just like to know all the details of dealing with a converter dolly, there are many companies still hiring line haul in my area. Back when I graduated we had a couple guys go directly to line haul with a Fed-Ex contractor here in town. I have talked to those guys, and they are still with their first employer and keep very busy, plus they have a very predictable schedule.

 

I think I may have come across the wrong way. I wasn't trying to imply that his extra schooling time was a waste of time. Actually quite the opposite. I find those extra skills being taught to be very appealing, and feel that those skills should be taught to attain a CDL. I believe that would cut down on many if the unsafe issues many newbies seem to have being out on the road for the first time.

What I was trying to point out was the differences between schools and how, in many cases, was the CDL is received, school is over. The extra training this poster is receiving is actually a very good thing, but I think (and this is only my opinion) that the CDL should only be received after all school time is completed.

Jonny, no I'm not driving yet. Finished with my school on Sept. 4, then returned for another week for more practice before taking my CDL test on Sept. 15. I passed the Pre-trip Inspection and the Skills tests, but I failed the Driving test. Not because I was a bad driver, I was actually doing alright...until I got to a school zone and didn't slow down. I know that was stupid. Retake my test next week, you can bet I'll be slowing down in that school zone!

 

Dodger,

Its hard to see the reflection in pure words, so I apologize for soundng like a Mr. big pants! I just see so much value in the school he is attending, I hope some day to become an instructor in a technical school program. I love teaching and helping people, and I have made detail notes about all the things that added so much stress my first few months out on the road.......things never covered in school. I dont have all the answers, but if I can help let me know. I was so nervous on my test drive, I had several hours of seat time so I had the truck in total control at all times, but I did do a little gear grinding........and I still do a little yet today!!

 

I had about 10 hours of drive time during the last 3 weeks of school, plus another 2 hours the day before my test. I felt confident going in that I would do well, and for the most part, I did do ok. Besides blowing the school zone, the examiner did say I was coming up on intersections too fast, so that is something else I will need to focus on. I also need to watch my turns a bit. I jumped the curb on my last turn because I came in too fast, which would have been an automatic failure also if I hadn't blew it on the school zone. I go back to the school next wednesday for more driving practice, then test drive again on friday. I'll be prepared this time.

 

In my opinion and from observing and driving various types if CDL trucks over the last 20+ years.....if you assume you'll never know everything, and keep attempting to do better, you will improve better than if you get to where you think you're "good enough"....Greatness comes from continuing improvement over the long haul....

 

I would also like to say, for the record, that I'm very satisfied with the training I've received from Napier. Their instructors are experienced and knowledgable and do all they can to help you learn the manuvers. If you can't get the manuvers down in the 3 weeks we are in the trucks, it's not from a lack of effort on the instructors part. Some people just learn a little slower. For myself, I had to do 3 manuvers for my exam. I passed 2 of them perfectly with no points scored. The third one I did not fair so well, scoring seven out of a possible 12 total, but I still passed. My problems getting this particular manuver were all my fault. The school did their part and did it well. I just made mistakes.

Over all, I'm really satified with the training I received. I would highly recommend this school to anyone looking for a good CDL school. Does this mean I think this school is better than the other poster's school? Absolutely not. I think the additional training he is getting is a good idea. I'm just saying I'm happy and I can't wait to get out there on the road!

 

I've been reading this and it takes me back to all those feelings from driving school...uggg, I even came home crying to my husband because I didn't think I was EVER gonna get it! Well thats been 14 years ago and I can tell you I still don't know everything, and I always take words of wisdom from my co workers. Some you may find helpful are:

Look twice

Keep your passenger window cracked a hair so if ever someone is in your blindspot, you can better hear the horn

Take all the room you can when you can (from my teacher, and one that I use to this day)

GET OUT AND LOOK!!!! I always do this if I lose track of an object that I know is there, or if I lose sight and am not sure what's on the blindside. And don't worry about some in a hurry driver that's waiting on you, we have all been where you are at.

Finally one that I think is the most important, leave a 6 second following distance between you and the driver ahead. I can't tell you how many times this has saved my bacon! (yes, I drive in Fl. and can still leave a 6 second following distance, if you start out this way it's no big deal).

The only other piece of advice I can give you is run legal. My first 9 yrs. were not that way, but my last 5 have been because we will get fired for running illegal. Believe me I know it's a hassle when you have to shut down 45 mins. early beacuse you don't have the time to make it to the next place to take a layover, but you need to remember if you run illegal and ever have an accident, you're done. They (lawyers) will take everything you have ever worked for on your life, not to mention the guilt you will feel if someone is seriously injured while you were running illegal.

As far as not backing perfectly and all the rest, like the other drivers on here said, it will come with practice out here on the road. Also, don't be too macho to ask for help or a spotter if you need to, a safe trip home from the road is the best trip, good luck

P.S. Try not to job hop, so when you apply for a really good company it will look good on you