Looks like I'm headed for DTS

Had a typical first day.

First half of the day spent cramming for the knowlege test.

Second half of the day spent out in the yard getting aquainted with the trucks.

 

Found out yesterday that they do take their own truck for testing in Idaho.

 

Second day was pretty much the same as the first... cramming for the knowledge test so we can get our permits.

I'm in a group of 7... 5 Idaho and 2 washington. there's one guy who keeps getting tripped up on the details with the practice tests, but everybody is scoring in the 90% range consistently.


Range was more straight line backing and going for rides (observation) while senior students attempt to polish their skills so they can pass their driving tests and graduate.


I'd say the one drawback I'm seeing at this school is that they are behind schedule. They've even had to borrow one instructor from the Pasco school to try and get things moving. This translates to too much standing around doing nothing while the instructors are focused on the senior students. This also means that we may be required to run some weekend classes in order to get all our required hours in.

All told, I'd give the school a 95% positive so far.

 

Day three...

Finally got to do a liitle shifting and accelerating in the truck. That was a real blast.

Myself and two other guys in the truck all did pretty well... well enough that the instructor said as soon as we get our permits, we should just hit the road and get some real driving done.

I wouldn't mind an hour or two alone with the truck on the back lot to get the feel for double-clutching and hitting the right RPMs, but if it's time to hit the road, I am not going to turn down the opportunity to drive.

 

Took my air brakes test today and aced it. I had to skip one question, but I answered all other questions correctly.

I have no doubt that I would have had the same results with the general and combination vehicle test if I had taken them. There's something to be said for hammering on those practice tests over and over again for three days. After that, you've seen about every way the same information could be asked and answered.

When I took the general and combinations tests last year, I just read the Idaho CDL manual then went in and took the tests. I barely passed the combination vehicle test because I answered incorrectly on enough of the questions that I had to guess at two of the questions I had skipped earlier in the test. I got one wrong and it was down to the wire with the last question. Correct and I pass... incorrect and I fail. I got lucky.


At any rate... I now have my learner's permit.


While I was in Coeur d'Alene, I went and got a peek at where we will be doing our skills test and road test.

Our skills test will be taken at the Sage school lot in Post Falls.

I have to say that just from the impression I got looking over the lot, building and parked trailers, I made the right choice going to DTS instead of that particular Sage school. The atmosphere at DTS is much more active and vibrant. The Sage school seemed small, cramped and shabby by comparison. It looks like their lot turns into a mud hole with the slightest bit of rain as well.

Now, to be fair... Sage may have the best instructors on the planet for all I know. That could make up for all the other factors and then some.

But at DTS, you're entirely surrounded by trucking. You're working in a huge lot right next to a busy trucking company. You're also right across the way from a PETRO truck stop and a Freightliner dealership. There are also at least two other trucking companies that have lots right in the same neighborhood. There's just nowhere you can look without seeing a truck parked or a truck pulling out on the road or a truck pulling into a lot.

 

Well... ended the week with a wimper and headed home with my tail between my legs.

Classroom today was a video driver awareness test. They played all these different scenarios and you were tested on how you would respond in each. I came out with the lowest score in the class. Not too happy about that.

The System Transport recruiter came in during lunch and laid out his spiel. I got to ask the few questions I have been sitting on.

Tarp pay = $30

All dispatched miles are paid.

Detention pay is $10 per hour from the moment you arrive at the shipper/receiver. (probably not too relevant for flatbed)

All lumper fees are paid (probably not relevant to flatbed)

Driver trainers are required to have at least one year squeaky clean sevice with System.


After lunch was yard work. Got my first taste of driving and trying to shift out on the "open road". I've got to say that years of driving standard transmission 4-wheelers amounted to absolutely dick and in fact is going to make it difficult to pick up on driving a tractor. Probably the best thing I could do at this point is to stop driving my car... but that's not going to happen.

About the only positive thing I can say about today is that I didn't run the trailer wheels over the curb, land the front wheels in the ditch or run any 4-wheelers off the road.


Bad as I sucked, the instructor said I was ready to move on to the second of three "loops" they have new students run before moving on to free driving. I can't imagine how bad you would have to suck in order to not move on to the second loop.


As far as the school goes...

Right after lunch the head instructor had an ### chewing session with over half of the graduating class. They are due to test next week and they can't get through their vehicle inspection. I can't imagine how you could NOT be able to do the inspection after four weeks of almost daily practice. Every single morning they have a video looping in the classroom with a guy going through all the inspection points. Even just sitting in the room shooting the bull before class, and I've got this guy stuck in my head. The information and means are there. You have to work pretty hard to avoid them.


I don't know if this is what has all the instuctors on edge... but the last couple of days I've noticed the Head guy and the No. 2 guy looking like they are about ready to go postal by the end of the day. I have no idea what kind of job stresses they're under, though. They start out each day in what appears to be a pretty good mood.

 

Today made up for last Friday... especially in the drving department. It could be that I was in a different truck, but my shifting was smooth as silk. I got to park the truck in the lot afterwards and nailed pulling up and backing into a slot beside another truck on the first try.

As far as the school goes... the senior students are testing out (or failing) this week. I talked to three different people and got the impression that nobody feels like they are ready to pass. Of course they want to blame the instructors and the school, but I'm not convinced it is the case.

You've got to be self-motivated if you hope to succeed in this school.

We'll see if I'm still singing this same tune when it's my turn in a few weeks.

 

Anybody's starting pay is better than Swift.

DTS is Driver Training & Solutions ( www.drivertrainingandsolutions.com )

They are owned and operated by Trans-system, which is the parent company of System Transport, TWT and JJ Williams. You're not locked into going to work for Trans-system, though. You are free to seek a job with any company you like.

They've got a school in Spokane and another in Pasco. The Spokane school is pretty busy. I think it's because of all the Idaho recruits coming in.

I don't know anything about the Pasco school.

I also don't know anything about Washington Unemployment. You could probably call Barbara at the school and find out (866) 490-1645.

 

I avoided posting about school yesterday, because I came back to the Hotel pissed off about the day.

I've mentioned in previous posts that the school is operating behind schedule. The one area that I am not at all happy with here is that things are disorganized to the point where you end up doing a lot of sitting/standing around shooting the bull (or kicking the dirt) instead of learning and driving.

They really need 3 or 4 more instructors and training vehicles. They also need to separate the testing area from the practice area. As it is, if someone is testing, nobody else can be driving in the yard. That means you get stuck with "busy" work... or you stand around talking with your classmates.

Busy work amounts to endless straight line backing and practicing vehicle inspections. For me, this is mind-numbing.


So anyway.... yesterday morning we are informed that everybody gets to pull a Saturday class in order to try and get our driving hours up. That means I have to come up with money for an extra night at the hotel, money for food to cover an extra day, plus I get to blow a day of my weekend that needed to be spent getting the homefront ready to face the coming winter.

Yesterday afternoon was spent kicking the dirt.


Needless to say, I didn't leave school in a very good mood.


Today started out looking like it was going to be just like yesterday. I was about ready to blow a gasket, when I heard my name being called for taking a drive.

I would rate my driving today as somewhere between satisfactory and good.

Let's hope I get to drive again tomorrow.