Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Recommended weather to train in?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Nighthawwk, Jul 29, 2012.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Jul 29, 2012 #1
    Nighthawwk

    Nighthawwk Bobtail Member

    22
    6
    Jul 25, 2011
    0
    So I'll be back in the Chicago area in October, which is most likely when I'll enroll in an independent CDL A course. I could just as easily do other things instead for a few months, and enroll in January. That being said, would it be better to learn in the comfortable and crisp autumn days of Chicago, or will learning during January, the most brutal weather month in Chicago, be better prep for learning to drive in bad weather? Part of my concern is, I've not spent many holiday seasons at home the past several years, and I'm thinking being a new driver around the end of December means I probably won't have enough clout to get home time for the holidays?
     
    Nighthawwk, Jul 29, 2012
    Nighthawwk, Jul 29, 2012
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Jul 29, 2012 #2
    Wiseguywireless

    Wiseguywireless Road Train Member

    1,693
    801
    Dec 21, 2007
    Petoskey, MI
    0
    My Dad used to take me out in the winter to drive. Snow drifts and all. He said if I learned while it was hard to drive, I would do well all the other times. 34 years later and so far...... Perfect driving record. Thank God.
     
    Wiseguywireless, Jul 29, 2012
    Wiseguywireless, Jul 29, 2012
    #2
    The Bird, Hitman, dirtyjerz and 1 other person Thank this.
  4. Jul 29, 2012 #3
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

    14,963
    29,154
    Oct 3, 2011
    Longview, TX
    0
    Somehow, I doubt you're going to see any road time if the roads are frozen. Do the Fall thing. There will be plenty of time and opportunity to get in your winter driving time and experience in your future.
     
    STexan, Jul 29, 2012
    STexan, Jul 29, 2012
    #3
    ewill71 Thanks this.
  5. Jul 29, 2012 #4
    KE5WDP

    KE5WDP Road Train Member

    1,601
    1,052
    Mar 11, 2010
    Waskom, Texas
    0
    In the winter.
     
    KE5WDP, Jul 29, 2012
    KE5WDP, Jul 29, 2012
    #4
  7. Jul 29, 2012 #5
    stlvance

    stlvance Medium Load Member

    578
    259
    Dec 20, 2011
    st louis MO
    0
    better in the winter to train in you have immediate backup right next to you that way
     
    stlvance, Jul 29, 2012
    stlvance, Jul 29, 2012
    #5
    ewill71 and The Bird Thank this.
  8. Jul 29, 2012 #6
    The Bird

    The Bird Medium Load Member

    386
    268
    Apr 10, 2012
    White Rock, NM
    0
    Winter is the best time to train. A trainer can take over if it gets real nasty. Around the third or fourth week with a student, I might even purposely take a road (such as OR 58) that gets nasty weather in the hopes we have to chain up.
     
    The Bird, Jul 29, 2012
    The Bird, Jul 29, 2012
    #6
  9. Jul 29, 2012 #7
    STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

    14,963
    29,154
    Oct 3, 2011
    Longview, TX
    0
    The OP was not asking about when to "train" (as in with a mentor/trainer), but rather when to attend CDL school. I figured it would be better to do school in the fall and begin his job and train in the winter with someone who can actually provide a winter roads training benefit.

    But I can understand his wishes to maybe doing school in December (and hit the road in the new year) so he can have this Christmas with his family.
     
    STexan, Jul 29, 2012
    STexan, Jul 29, 2012
    #7
  10. Jul 29, 2012 #8
    Scuby

    Scuby Heavy Load Member

    816
    235
    Mar 10, 2007
    0
    Nighthawk do it shortly after you get to Chicago. This way you'll get winter training out of the with your company.
     
    Scuby, Jul 29, 2012
    Scuby, Jul 29, 2012
    #8
  11. Jul 30, 2012 #9
    dixiechick

    dixiechick Bobtail Member

    22
    8
    Jul 27, 2012
    Bellingham, WA
    0
    I just talked to a recruiter who told me that the first two weeks of December are a good time to go to school because no one wants to be in training at Christmas time and the classes have very few attendees, which means better training because you get more one-on-one time. I am going the first week of December. I know I won't be home during Christmas but I am a single girl and that's okay. I will get it done and be able to drive in snow conditions (hopefully) during training so my trainer can help me drive on that stuff.
     
    dixiechick, Jul 30, 2012
    dixiechick, Jul 30, 2012
    #9
  12. Jul 30, 2012 #10
    The Bird

    The Bird Medium Load Member

    386
    268
    Apr 10, 2012
    White Rock, NM
    0
    Living in Western WA (I use to live in Auburn) almost guarantees you will do some snow driving. One way or another, you have to cross the mountains to get in or out.
     
    The Bird, Jul 30, 2012
    The Bird, Jul 30, 2012
    #10
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 1 of 2