TDI at Irwin, PA My Daily Log

Day One

I started school at TDI in Irwin, PA today. I arrived last night and checked into my hotel. It's pretty nice... has a refrigerator and microwave. The internet kinda sucks (dial-up) but at least it's better than nothing. I'm the only girl there so I don't have to share my room at all. =)

My class is super small. There were supposed to be 7 of us, two of us showed up. The other guy was pulled aside the first hour and disapeared with no explanation. (at least not to me) Rumor was that he hadn't switched his license to PA before coming.

The rest of the day was just me and the instructor. Had a quick visit by a doctor and we did a physical and drug test. Then I was asked how fast I soak up info. I'm like, "Pretty good, I think." The instructor said since we were to be one-on-one, he could prep me to take my permit test by tomorrow. After we went through the book, he gave me a 2 tests to check my retention. I scored 96 and 100. I'm gonna review some tonight and tomorrow morning, then off to the DMV.

Since the rest of my 'class' went poof, they're mixing up my schedule a bit. They're gonna put me on the driving range with another class after I take the permit test, then group me with the next class for classroom work.

Today I also got to watch the instructor as he walked through a pre-trip inspection and showed me all the parts I would be checking. He also let me climb in and do a brake test. It was pretty cool and I think it will help me remember better.

Well, I better get to studying...

Valkyrie

 

Day 2 turned out to be interesting...

I turned in all the applications they gave me to fill out. I spent an hour studying in the class room, until it was time to leave and go to the DMV. Drove down, and took my test... aced it. Those practice tests they gave me were awesome. Practically word for word match, though the order was of course mixed.

Went back to school and they made copies of my permit. Then the director took me up on the range and showed me how to back straight. He let me practice until lunch.

At lunch I started to get to know some of the other students who have been there longer. Some of them seemed quite bitter. I didn't intrude, but I listened and paid attention. Then we all went up on the range together. The 2 driving instructors assigned the others to check the trucks and prep them. I was told to go with the straight-backing truck. The intructors were doing an assessment on a couple of the guys.

After a bit of watching my partner back, the instructors were finished and switched up assignments. I stayed in the backing truck and got to practice some more, then switched off with another student.

Meanwhile the other trucks were doing bay-parking and parallel parking. A couple hours of this and we were sent on break. This is where it got interesting.

One of the students had been pulled aside and told that he had to get a cosigner or he had to check out that night. Then the other stories came... some didn't know they had to pay up front, some thought it was paid by the company that hires them and that all that business was handled by the school. One guy knew everything, took care of the paperwork, but the school didn't send it out until the last second... possibly delaying his road test.

What have I gotten myself into? I asked one of the instructors if this kind of thing happened often; Being sent home for financing problems? He said more often lately. He said to listen to the other students... that he couldn't do much other than take care of us on the range. That the suits were responsible and the instructors had no recourse. He also showed me the corporate phone number if I wanted to complain.

Tomorrow, I'll be going in the office for some aggressive negotiation. They had better get their ducks in a row and be straight with me or I'll be contacting the BBB and the Ripoff report. I checked this company with them and saw no complaints. I checked the forums here and saw something about equipment problems but that the instructors are great (which they are). I was not expecting the things I see. On my list of things to bring, one was my high-school diploma or GED. No one checked it. I was told that it was supposed to be copied for their records... but they have yet to ask for it.

One guy got in, and he's a felon. Not had a felony in his past, just a felon who hasn't been caught yet.
And lastly, I've already gotten a call and a pre-hire from Werner. Not even 6 hours after I turned it in... I have no idea what to think about that. I'm gonna call them and see if I can't flabbergast them with the carrier interview you guys have posted.

Well, see you tomorrow

Valkyrie

 

The problem, as I see it, is with their financial and record keeping department. Waiting until 2 weeks into someone's course to handle this is a very big issue to me. I came here to learn and I intend to stay the course. But a little proactive questioning won't hurt me. Kind of like a family member making sure the hospital is giving Grandma the right meds. Mistakes happen, but if they happen a lot... it needs looked into and defended against.

Location of the school is in my first post.

 

First thing Wednesday morning, we got a visit from a TMC recruiter. I had been discouraged (by the instructors) from bothering to app because I'm female. Now, I'm not too interested in tarping... but I would at least like the chance to learn how and give it a try.

After she got done with her presentation (which had I been a guy, I would have been chomping at the bit) I asked her about it. She of course denied it and said she could do it if she wanted to. She told the director to stop telling people that they don't hire women.

After that, we hit the street in a Werner Freightliner. (I took a picture of it on my cellphone) We drove out to a diner called Bernies. Reeaally good breakfast! There was this elderly gentleman there... as I walked by him, he asked how many there were of us. Not knowing what he meant, I counted all of us and told him 6 (4 students, 2 intructors) and hurried to the restroom as nature was screaming at me. When I came back, he had given all the students a gift; a 50¢ piece that has printed on the coin protector "Your Lucky Half-Dollar" and on the back, his name. Apparently, this gentleman used to be an instructor and retired some years ago. I thought the gesture was very sweet and the coin is now a permanent resident in my pocket.

After breakfast, we took off again and it was my turn to drive. The double-clutching and the instructor telling me which gear to go to when I wasn't used to the gear pattern yet kinda threw me. But I didn't stall, and I didn't run over any curbs with my trailer.

After we got back, we had lunch and watched a video. Then off to the range for practice. I did some straight backing, a brake check... then my instructor put me in the dock alley truck. That maneuver took me a while to get right. They told me that it's the hardest one up there so I don't feel too bad. I just kept at it until I got it and then took a break cuz my left leg was so tired from clutching.

I got a call from my recruiter (TDI, my school) and he asked how things were going. I told him fine as far as training, but I filled him in on my financing fears. He told me he had made sure I was preapproved and I should have nothing to worry about. I went down to the office and double checked with them; they said I was pre-approved, as-is, no conditions. I was also told that the TMC recruiter was talking out her butt about hiring women because of sexual discrimination. meh whatever

Back up to the range and sat in a parked truck and worked gear patterns (got that tip here, thanks guys) then back into the dock alley truck to practice some more.

All in all, it was a good day.

See you tomorrow,

Valkyrie

 

Day 4 went alright. We drove out and around for a bit to give a senior some stick time to get ready for his State Test that evening. Stopped at Bernies again for breakfast. I got to pull out of the parking lot and drive us halfway home. This was a different truck, and it shifted so much easier. The trick with it though was that the trailer was a bit wider, so we had to really watch the mirrors. The senior told me that to watch the mirrors the way the instructors wanted, you had to look like a ###### bobble head. He got back in the driver's seat and I watched as he drove to see what he meant.

We got back at noon for lunch and the Werner rep was there with pizza. We got to see what a Quaalcom looks like and the macro cheat sheet that goes with it. We all asked lots of questions as to be expected. So far, I am seeing most rider programs require your kids to be 10 years or older. That kinda sucks for me. I'm keeping my eyes open, and entertaining all offers.

After the presentation, we went back up on the range and I picked up a few new skills. In straight backing, I kept trying to keep the trailer as straight as possible, and react when it went wacky on me. Then I decided to control the trailer instead of reacting to it. I would make it turn a hair left, then make it turn a hair right. The movement was very slight, and the trailer never got away from me. Never went anywhere i didn't send it. It actually became fun. I shaved my proximity to the line from 1 1/2 feet to under 12 inches and kept it there all the way back

Then off to the alley-dock. Worked on it for 2 hours... Then the main instructor, the one who's been there the longest, came over. He helped me make a couple adjustments and BOOM, slid right on in. Some of the markings on the course were a little wacky for me because I'm so short... average for a woman, but the guys all have like 5+ inches on me. I need to practice that one more to make sure I got it. But he evaled me and I got a 96 of 100.

Got out at 5:30 and that was the end of another 10 1/2 hour day. Went to Wal-mart to pick up some rain gear since we have weather coming in tonight and I get to pack up to check out of the inn tomorrow morning.

I'm gonna go veg on a video game tonight.

See you tomorrow,

Valkyrie

 

Hey guys,

Today we went driving as usual in the morning. My upshifting has improved and my downshifting is getting better. Shifting while turning is still freaky to me.

After that, we went back for lunch and our one senior went out to get his CDL license at the DMV. We went up on the range and I practiced alley-dock some more... I can get it in 3/5 tries now. Then the senior got back and he showed me the parallel parking maneuver. Easiest one there is so far. Then we took a break and went down to say goodbye to our senior as they graduated him.

Back on the range, our instructor showed us drop and hook. I never knew there were so many tricks to keeping your truck safe and preventing people from screwing with your truck. Then back to alley-dock. I'm gonna keep on that one til I can get it 5/5.

I'm looking forward to next week, though I guess it'll be a little stressful as time passes closer to my 3rd week. I really want this... my kids, my dad, and my friends are cheering me on; what better support could you ask for?

See you next week,

Valkyrie