U.S. Truck driving school Sterling Heights, Michigan

Starting school on Tuesday, January 3rd...anyone else going to be at this site for training?

 

I plan on running a day to day for this school to serve as a guide for future students. I will also include my progress. Right now I am a bit nervous because I already quit my job and now it is a must pass for the training, the orientation, etc....

 

Ok, I sined up the other day..cost is 3,500.00 plus I have to pay for T.I.P., license fees and road test $100...so bout 4k total. for a 4 week class. At sign up the recruiter tried to give me several applications to complete before class begins...the usual of course..Werner, Stevens, CRST, Etc...Told him I have already applied at Watkins Shepard and I am mainly interested in them..Time will tell if they will be helpful with getting me into W/S or if they will just push the big training companies...first day is tuesday (tomorrow)..will keep all posted.

At any rate....I need to make this new life work since I just quit my 45k a year job to try something new.

 

First day yesterday, mostly paperwork and videos followed by test after test...relatively remedial stuff. more of the same for day two...DOT physicals and TIP at DMV on thursday. I will finish up a little early on thursday since I had my DOT last April and my card is good til April 2013. Only 5 guys in our class, 2 started last week so looks like plenty of time with the instructors and trucks.
We start the simulator on Friday, 4th day of class and yard exercises as well.
Anyhow gotta get ready for 2nd day...back later..

 

day 2: another 10 hours day in the classroom. several more tests to prepare for todays T.I.P. (temporary instruction permit). of the 5 guys in our class one has the tip, me and another guy already have our DOT physicals, so the 3 of us will have a shorter day than the other two.
My classroom instructor has been telling u success stories about former students that went on to make a lot of cash as owner/lease operators particularily with TMC and KLLM...not sure how much I buy it. Of course I would geuss he gets a bit of a kickback from these companies for every driver that he sends their way..just sayin.. Anyhow I did drop applications for TMC and KLLM just to keep initial options open and plan to put one in with Schneider..also have been talking with a recruiter at Watkins Shepard and have my app and other paperwork in there...W/S is still my immediate first choice because of a 10 day paid orientation and NO road time with a trainer.
will post again soon.

 

Day 3 :
Today was review for the TIP and DOT physicals for those that still needed them. I was the first to take the test, passed it on the first try...not sure about the other guys cuz I did not hang around. We should be on the simulator today, hear from the owner of the training company and get the speeches from a few of the Mega carries. More tomorrow.

 

Day 4: Today we did log books and maps, learned some interesting things about the Rand Mcnally atlas that I never knew.
No mega carrier speeches today, No simulator. For Monday, instructor said dress warm and wear clothes that u dont mind getting greasy....sounds like pre-tripping...Keep hearing alot about TMC, Werner, Stevens...SERIOUSLY??? Its like these R the only places that cdl mills want to send new drivers to...I plan on putting in some applications next week, the instructor says that myself and another student will be very sougt after for employment...guess time shall tell. more Monday.

 

2nd week so technically day 6: Today we did pre trip inspections all day and some coupling and un coupling...tomorrow we are slated to begin yard exercises such as alley dock, pull forward, straight line backing, right turn. Our yard instructor Brian seems like a pretty cool guy and seems to cover things well.