Newbie here

I graduated the last day of my second week. I tested that Thursday but, since I was last to be tested and got back after 5 pm, I had to wait until the next day to go to the BMV and officially graduate.

The one thing that will set you up for failure is to base your progress against another student's progress. Everyone learns at a different pace. If it takes you the full 3 weeks, fine. If not, then great. But don't do what some of the people in my class were doing and gauge their progress against how well other folks were doing. My roommate ended up quitting because she felt that others were progressing faster than she was. I tried to explain to her what I am telling you but it fell on deaf ears.

For the process to work, you need to take an active role in your training. If there is something that you aren't quite catching, speak up and ask for more help with it. The trainers are not mind readers and it doesn't do you (or anyone else) any good to sit on the side and have a pity party for yourself. Speak up. They will be more than willing to help you, but you have to speak up.

For example, I had the worst luck doing the parallel maneuver. I could not get it save my butt. I talked to a few of the range instructors about it and that night John (the school director) had them stay an hour later to work with me and some other folks on our maneuvers. Ironically, when I took the actual CDL test, the parallel maneuver gave me no trouble. Go figure.

 

I am from Savannah. I am with USA Truck, at least for the next 12 months. After that, who knows.

 

Thanks. I'm temporarily in Ohio right now and not sure when I will make it back to Georgia. I'm currently waiting to be assigned to a trainer and am taking everything else a day at a time. Right now I'm a little nervous because of a pay issue that I am hoping to get resolved Tuesday. Other than that, I have no complaints as of yet.

Thanks for the advice. Any other advice you or anyone else has that would help is more than appreciated.

 

Honestly, after driving school buses for 6 years, I did wake up one morning and thought to myself "WTH am I still doing this?" I have had weapons pulled on me, been spit on, and broken up more fights than I can count. But I think the CDL training for my Class A would have been a little harder if I didn't already have a Class B.

When I got out to the driving range, I always volunteered to go first. Not because I wanted to be a suck up, I just wanted to ensure that I was guaranteed to get my truck time. When I wasn't driving the truck on the road or practicing my maneuvers, I was working on pre-trip. The whole process being easy or hard is dependent on how badly you want it. I knew if I failed I was going back to driving school buses and I refused to do that.

 

Honestly, I don't know. When I was speaking with my Driver Solutions agent he asked if I was interested in running team or solo. I told him I wanted solo and he put me with USA Truck. But I don't know how many companies are in their network.