The New FFE Driver Academey

I just passed the FFE road test and I will get my truck tomorrow. Now the real fun begins.

I can't say enough positive things about FFE, they really are the best choice for those looking to get a CDL.

I talked today with an academy trainer and described some of the nonsense I had to put up with during the past 6 weeks. He could not believe the things I told him, but sadly they are true.

For those that want know, I started the academy on Monday, July 9th and on September 13th I will get my truck. That's not too bad. Some people who started on the same day I did have already been out in their own truck for about a week and a half, so it can be done even more quickly depending on when you first go out with your trainer and when you come back to upgrade.

 

Backing is tough, dude. I'm sorry to say there are just some people who can't ever get it. Not saying that is you, just saying. I think it has to do with the way the brain works. When you're backing a trailer, the steering mechanics work opposite to backing a car or straight truck. There is also unsteering which must take place and a certain degree of skill as well. I passed backing through third party testing but truthfully i got lucky. Could not get it right on my own again. Left trucking and went and trained on a wrecker (tow truck). Same principle, passed everything but failed the backing and could not continue on with wrecking (although that was a blessing because i HATED towing anyway). It's funny, I drive a straight truck now thats well over 30 feet long, 14 feet high, and I can park that #### thing in a shoebox. But give me an 8 foot u haul trailer on the back of my corolla and im fukced.

I'm one my way to FFE academy in the next couple of weeks. I've already told them the trouble I have with backing and they've been vague about whether or not ill get lots of help. Like you, I figure I want it bad enough to try and overcome the obsticle. But if I can't I always have my straight truck. I also have trouble with shifting, but not as bad and I'm pretty sure I can get it down half way decent. Good luck Driver...

 

I'm glad u enjoy ffe brother but ill be honest with you I enjoyed the school, hated the company and so did all my fellow graduates. There school was awesome, the dorms (which btw were not solo rooms they had most rooms at 2 or 3 beds and one of the rooms had 5 beds) they did have a couple solo rooms upstairs but very few. And that is BS man only 25/class??? Hahaha yeah right my class had 62 started and 24 graduates, its tough my trainer was a lady named lisa miller and she used to whack our hands with bamboo sticks if we took our hands off the wheel (not very hard just a tap) and she had a glass bracelet that she wsoould whack and scrape on the window if u weren't watching ur mirror enough.she was so #### cool tho lol. We even had this african guy in our class who would shift really hard and make the truck shake so one day she took her fresh hot coffee, put it on the dash, and told him if u spill my coffee on me I'm gonna beat that ###. I loved that school I even did a testimonial video for them that's on youtube if you look up ffe driver testimonials richard charette that's me. The school was so #### awesome so much fun and laughs but like I , they send u home. If u fail the written test twice, u go home. The first day u start skills its just straight line backing easy, but day 2 and 3 are the parallel park and if u don't get it by the second day ur gone. Then they do a day of angle backing (ur not really gradeed on that) then u start road driving, first day shifting, then turning, then highway. Its very fast paced but if u make it to the end of that 18 days ur good. Just watch out for the instructors connie, and ed. Connie is older an likes to yell and ed was a drill sargeant in the marines so yes he will get right up in ur face and ask if ur sstupid for making an obvious mistake. Other then that school was great. Now the company after u graduate sucks. They pay crappy its not uncommon to only get a 2p0 dollar check. They give u that 455 while ur training but that is on the median side of what u make otr. Its not uncommon to only make 200 bucks in fac I know a few pple who quit (like myself) bc there checks sucked. But I recommend going to the school for training, then quitting and gooing with a better company like KLLM or arnold to do ur otr training, they pay better and will reimburse your school tuition. I decided to go with werner (bad bad bad effing mistake) but they pay my tuition. Good luck to you all

 

They have ten single-man rooms, which are upstairs.

You must have attended the old academy. They changed everything in January or February of 2011. They don't have room for more than 30 people in a class. There is just no way they can fit in the room.

I had Lisa too. She has mellowed out quite a bit, but she can still get angry.

People don't get sent home right away anymore. If they are having trouble, they will go out with the lead instructor and they are given individualized instruction. If they don't progress, then they are sent home.

Read the threads about other schools. FFE is no worse than any of them. Yes, you might have $200 in one week, but the next week you might make $1200. You have to average it out and remember that when you turn in your receipts affects how much you get paid.

I learned today that TX DPS has started enforcing their new residency rules. Only Texas residents and people with CDL's are being accepted. In fact, just today some of the students applying for their permits were unable to do so because they could not prove their residency by showing an acceptable document. They were all sent home in order to get what they needed.

 

no man I was just there I graduated march 26th 2012 it was at the academy on 180q mony st in ft worth. And I'm not sure about the whole residency thing it was kind of a pain at the dps we had to have our birth certificates.

 

no man I was just there I graduated march 26th 2012 it was at the academy on 180q mony st in ft worth. And I'm not sure about the whole residency thing it was kind of a pain at the dps we had to have our birth certificates. And I know that some weeks are worse then others but I stayed for 6 weeks after training and never made more then like $650.

 

Well...i am finally being routed back down to Lancaster to take the final test. I would have out with my traiiner for 7 weeks when we finally get back to Lancaster. I gotta admit....i am looking forward to getting my own truck.

 

The test is easy. Look in your mirrors more than you think you need to, and be sure to look both ways in an intersection. Also, when making a turn, use all the space you have. If you have been running as a team for as long as you have been, you are not going to have any issues getting upgraded.
Good luck.

 

Looks like i am stuck on this trainer truck for even longer now. All of a sudden, there was another truck that broke down and we are the only ones that pick up his load. Now instead of going to Lancaster to get my own truck...gotta go back to the freakin the Bronx.

 

I just had a blowout of one of my trailer tires. I am waiting on the repair person now. I always wondered what it was like, and now I know. I just heard a loud pop and looked back and saw the rubber in the roadway. There was no movement of the trailer at all. Hopefully they get here soon. I am only 30 miles from my drop off point.