O.K., I jumped!

Well, I quite delaying, researching, thinking about trucking, etc., and finally took the plunge. With a permit and all the endorsements in hand, I dropped down some hard earned cash and started a CDL School. In a couple of short weeks I should be through orientation and on the road driving!

While I am only a little over a week into my training, I would like to say that I am very impressed with Colorado Transportation School. I looked into five different schools in the Denver area and am glad I ended up picking CTS. While I don’t have anything against the other schools, there was a noticeable difference when I first visited CTS. The staff at the school are hard core truckers. The owner, who is in the yard everyday, grew up in a trucking family. He knows anybody who is anybody in local trucking. These guys know trucking inside out and are passionate about passing on their knowledge and experience. Two of the instructors I have been working with have taught previously at other highly rated schools but found home and a better way of doing things here.

On of the best things I like about this school is that they put you into the yard (all paved by the way) immediately. I did an alley dock backed into a real dock with real trailers on either side on my very first day. Granted, I was being heavily coached but I thought it was real cool. Of course, the next day working with cones seemed almost infantile. We did spend a lot of time going over coupling and pre-inspection but we were right back into the tractor the next day. I did a straight line backup so easily on my first try that I went right into practicing offsets. A little more than a week into school, and I have already successfully completed off sets, alley docks, parallel parking, 45 degree backups and some other carrier specific exercises. Additionally, I have had my first session on the road. Man was that fun! However, I still have to work on shifting and clutch smoothness. I definitely had some grinding going on.

I also like that the “classroom” time is a series of several dozen online modules. You can do these on your own time at home so you can maximize tractor time while you are at the school. I don’t know if any of the other schools offer this.

Even before I enrolled in school I applied online to about a half a dozen trucking companies. Most of them responded almost immediately. I have pre-hires/offers from all of them. Now that I have finished all my online modules, I am spending time researching these companies in order to choose the company that best matches up with what I have to offer. Right now I am leaning heavily toward Watkins and Shepard and May Trucking. Any insight on either of these companies from those of you who have experience is highly appreciated.

Since I have enjoyed and benefited from stories of others who have gone through CDL school, company orientation and initial driving experiences, I will attempt to keep sharing my experiences so someone else out there on the fence can make the same plunge or choose better if I flame out for some reason (not expecting it because I am very excited about this).

 

Thanks guys. It’s nice to get some encouraging words from those who have blazed the way and are on down the road a bit.

PurpleKW, I’ll make sure I look up that book. I agree that learning should never stop. “Blizzards, blinding rain, etc” are real learning experiences. I like to call such adventures “character building experiences.” Of course, some of my friends tell me they have enough character and don’t want any more of “those” experiences.

 

Thanks compi. I’ve read some of your post on other threads. I think it is cool that you and other veterans look at this newbie section and provide advice.

Actually one of the things I like about Watkins and Shepard is the fact they do a ten day company orientation/training and no mentor/trainer time. I realize that this is not the best approach for everyone but I like it. I think it would lead to more company drivers being on the same page knowing they all had similar intensive training. I think the 2-3 day company orientation and 2-9 week mentor programs will have new drivers learning skills at the mercy and whim of the mentor – could be great, could be lacking. Different strokes for different folks. I like the WS approach. I have a lot of confidence and seem to be taking to the truck very well. I do have concerns about winter weather but I’ve driven large diesel motorhomes with long enclosed trailers all over this country year round. I know it is not the same but I think it helps – certainly has helped me get a handle on backing skills quicker than others in my class.

I also like the “family” feeling that WS drivers have based on the active posts in the WS Dac area on this site. At the same time I’ve talked with several former students who are driving for May and they seem very happy. It seems to be a similar in size and “family” feel as WS. Both companies are based out of the NW which I also like. Both companies seem to get a lot of positive reviews and we all know how much faster bad news travels than good news. I’ve looked into several of the mega-companies and see that they are very good at marketing but their real life stories don’t seem to mesh with the stories drivers have told on this site.

In any case, I’m going to keep researching. Thanks for the links guys. I’m going to check both of them.