Advice?

I'm a new graduate and Schneider responded to my application to confirm if I would like to apply, I'm having the 1.hr phone interview Tuesday which will go over most of the program and such. He also informed me it's fine that I'm a new driver for the position.

The position is a team driving position with variable driving time but it's likely going to be 3 weeks on, 4 days home, the variations depending on whether me and my partner want to drive more or less on any given month.

As of now I'm signed up for orientation next Saturday. Since I did the DMV driving stuff with a half trailer, I will need to find a place I can pay for individual driving time with a full size 40'+ trailer because Schneider uses 53' trailers for their driving test.

I'm out here in Los Angeles, CA. My terminal will be Fontana. I am very confident in my driving skills I've never struck a curb with the shorter trailer and passed DMV with flying colors so I'm game for anything they throw at me.




I just need to be prepared and that means asking all of you for advice. I've been looking over threads here for information. Can you give me more information about their tests, company operations, specific things to be aware of, etc? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

If you're half way up the 5 freeway between Los Angeles and San Fran there the best school you're going to fine is in that area. If you want to go there I can help you figure out which one that is.

If you're around los angeles the all around best school to go to would likely be California Career school. High quality of training, but high cost, if you got the cash they may save you a lot of headaches. I went to Dootson out in Arcadia which has a lot of great plus sides, and a lot of down sides.

 

Haven't heard of them. I stuck mainly in downtown Los Angeles area.

 

My trainer was Roberto, he actually stays with you in the truck where I see the other trainers just watching from the side in the parking lot area.... I certainly learned how to drive and pass a DMV test without any problem at all but as far as practical application goes, it's not as practical because their trucks are better suited for someone who just wants to stay local and have a day job with a day cab. They need at least one long trailer and 1 truck with a sleeper because in a truck with a sleeper you feel blind. Because you can't look out the window behind you because the sleeper extends out sideways and blocks your view, and you don't have the window in the back to look out of. So you have to rely on all four mirrors to do everything.

As far as driving with a longer trailer, besides just going around corners and catching that tire, most people seem to think it's easier to maneuver because the shorter trailers respond quickly which makes it easier to mess up.

But yes Dootson does skimp on many details that California Career school would cover because it's a 240 hour long, full time 4 week long course.

In retrospect I should have just gone with them even if I don't like their institutionalized approach.