California Truck Driving Academy, SoCal

Just finished my second busy day at Schneider orientation. Instructor says I'm on schedule. It is all double clutching, and you have to clutch when downshifting too, which I'm having a bit of trouble with. The people are cool, but the weather is way too hot!

 

Today was our first day on the road, trying to get a handle on the double clutch

Are you doing your training in California?

How many day's of orientation, before you are sent out with trainer?

Thanks

 

I agree, the weather is TOO hot... How is the orientation? What did you do? What did you learn? I am still aiming at Schneider upon graduation.

 

So you SPLIT .30 cpm...? Like 15 whole cents EACH ? For living in a truck for weeks at a time ? Cannot believe people would turn a key for those kind of "wages"..Add in the expenses on the road just to live and your already behind the eight ball..Good luck. (and yes, we know your new and all that, but that is just ridiculous to exploit anyone like that, because they are "new"...)

 

This is why I didnt stay with them! I decided to drive local instead!. The pay is WAY better and I am home in my own bed each night. When you think of all the things you loose OTR they should pay you much more money then they do.

 

I woke up this morning and realized I wasn't going to be able to take the six months minimum on the road, with an unknown partner for weeks at a time, without going insane. So I told my room mate to tell them I was done with orientation and headed back home. My trainer and his boss both called me to verify why I was quitting, and after listening they said, "yeah, it isn't for everybody". True dat. I'm going to keep looking for driving jobs local, bobtail, whatever, although I know that will be hard to get without the OTR experience. But I have other experience so I'm not limited to just driving jobs. Good luck to the rest of you. Don't let this scare you off. The folks there at Schneider were all great, and I'm sure most if not all of you who go there will be happy. My biggest problem now is to keep my wife from killing me...

Dave

 

Dave,

Werner came in this week and gave a pretty good pitch. 275 hours (6-9 weeks) with a trainer and you are on your own in a truck. Truck can come home with you, or be left at yard. I can send you contact info for the recruiter that visited CTDA if you like.

As for Schneider, I don't think I can do 6 months with a stranger, unless I was sentenced by a judge, and even then it would be hell...

 

Wow, Dave! That was a surprise!!! But I wish you well and lots of fortune...

 

It's been a few months and this thread got a bit side tracked, so I thought I would try to put it back on the track it should be on.

Has anyone attended California Truck Driving Academy in Santa Ana, Ca or there previous location?

Why not give a little review of your experience with the school, to assist others that may be considering them as a school, in making there decision.

 

I attended and will do a little review myself, but just got a load, so I need to get off the computer and get going....