Extra help for newbie trainers question

I think if you really apply yourself schneider will work with you.What happened with the final exam is you got nervous.Even the best of the best have days.I've seen some that can't back to save their life.I've seen some hit things and these were guys with exp.You need to relax and go with the flo.If you get nervous even a day with no adverse conditions you still may have all kinds of trouble.You'll find out if you just relax you'll do alot better.

 

True, the first time my husband drove in snow, he was pretty cautious, but kept with traffic.
What is perfectly acceptable driveing conditions to someone used to it, might be beyond someone elses comfort zone. We have stopped a few times before the "majority" of drivers, but thats's my husbands choice.

I wouldn't think anyone would test during anykinda storm, but some instructors might want to push. And it might have been a test in itself, did the conditions warrent stopping or just good enough to keep going.

 

The op graduated from a local tech college not a "CDL mill." And a new driver can do much worse than Schneider.

 

The only CDL school graduate I have ever worked with came from a tech college in Florida . He was the worst excuse for a driver I have ever seen . I went to the school and confronted the instructors and they admitted he had needed several attempts to pass some tests .
Newly graduated students aren't expected to be perfect but I never heard of a school that told a student he lacked the aptitude and refunded the tuition .
If the student passes the DMV test with however many attempts required he has his CDL and the school met their obligation .

 

Your singular anecdotal experience with one CDL school grad hardly qualifies you to pass judgement on CDL schools as a whole, let alone refer to them as CDL mills.

MANY CDL courses at good tech and community colleges will toss a student for myriad reasons. For example, the one I attended informed right at the beginning if one can't muster the grade or pass some of the driving exams by the second try they will drop you, the reason being that if you can't meet their standards you don't have any business driving a large cmv. The CDL mills could take a page from these schools. This is basic safety 101. The goal AND obligation of these type schools is to provide SAFE CDL grads, not simply pass whoever comes through the door. And you're right about these schools not providing refunds. They get paid regardless whether they pass or fail a student, testament to these education centers' commitment to providing safe drivers.

 

so you base your opinion on one driver?THAT seems entirely reasonable. Further, how much of SNI business/training practices have you experienced personally?




OP, if you yourself request extra help, they will help you to a point. They really want you to succeed. partly because thats who they are and partly cuz they make more off a new driver at .27 or .29 CPM versus a driver with experience commanding a higher rate.

It's been a year and a few months since I was part of SNI orientation. They have made some changes to how they do it, although I have ot think the basics are the same.

 

I just finished Schneiders orientation. They don't call it training because they are not there to teach or train people how to drive. Actually, I take part of that back. They train you to do it their way. What it is is a 3 week long interview. The first week is mostly skills and road driving. You spend wednesday thru Friday backing and driving on the road with an instructor. You are graded on a number scale. 1=unsatisfactor, 2=needs improvement and 3=satisfactory. If on the first couple of days you don't show improvement, if needed, they will cut you loose. If you listen to what they tell you and can show improvement they will work with you. There were a couple of guys in my class that got to stay late and practice their backing (alley docking). There were a few guys who couldn't get it and got sent home.

Week 2 is spent out on the road with a TE. You will pick up and deliver loads. The TE will grade you on the same number scale. You will and should also learn how to use the Qualcomm. Some of the guys in my class didn't have TE's that let them use the Qualcomm. I got lucky. My TE let me do everything.

Week 3 consists of class work. Learning the Qualcomm, safety lessons, trip planning and some driving for those who need it. On Thursday you take your tests. It begins with viewing a simulated load on the Qualcomm. You must transfer that info to your pumpkin book. You then trip plan and enter in your ETA to pick up a load, your ETA to drop the load and then your NAT. You have an hour +/- to play with. If you pass that you go out to the yard and grab a truck. You get a trailer, couple it, pretrip it and then start completing the tasks in your Qualcomm for that simulated load. 90% or higher is passing. If you pass you get a truck assignment and begin your career as a Schneider driver.

During that 3 weeks you are paid $80/day.

 

OK Billy Big Rig, you went out of your way to go to a driving school in Florida to confront some instructors over one driver that annoyed you? Do you have any other "facts" you want to share with us?

 

I could spend all night giving facts on what I have seen and what I have had customers tell me about Schneider drivers but not interested in a pissing contest with a bunch of ignorant newbies .
I would like one thing explained though . If all these CDL "institutions " do such a great job training why do the carriers they send most of their graduates to have a turnover rate of over 100% . That doesn't include those that wash out at orientation .