Knight Squire CDL Training Program My Experience and Tips

Subjecttrucking,
Can you give an update? I am supposed to begin training soon and have found your write-up very informative. Thanks for sharing!

 

One question. I know you get paid while training. But what week does that start?
And how much? I'm seeing 400.00 a week.

 

Good luck with your new adventure with Knight. Just know one thing. Knight is more of a start up company for drivers.
I started with the squire program, drove six months, starting at 28 cpm and leaving with 33cpm.
I left for another company that paid me 40 cpm. With refrigeratorso, inverters and better detention/extra stop pay.
Knight is more of a stepping stone for new drivers.
Get in, get your experience, then get out.

 

Thanks for imput i think iam going with pam because i live in georgia and they have a facilities 50 minutes away from my home so i can come home everyday after school

 

I just completed my Squire Training at Knight. I had my CDL prior to orientation. I received it via CR England. But with all the ######## at CRE of NO trainers and waiting in seedy hotels day after day waiting for one to arrive then have 2 students per truck was more than enough. No room for anything on the truck but then to bunk with 3 people is extremely dangerous. Luckily my classmate and I got along great the trainer however turned out to be a little crazy. So we both jumped the truck after 2 weeks asking for new trainers. My classmate headed back to California by bus and I ventured home to PA from our last stop in VA. Even though my DM was notified of the on going issues on a few occasions that week with our trainer he did nothing short of telling me to deal with it, its trucking.

The last straw was I was taken by ambulance to a Emergency room in Utah due to severe dehydration. We were told, by our trainer to cut back on fluid intake the rest room stops were to be every 5-6 hours. We were only stopping every 4 hour on average and we would wake each other up...just so we'd go at the same time not to make any additional stops. We drove; my classmate approx.20 hours a day the truck was moving by students the trainer did his 4 hours at 1am-4am as required. So basically were free help....the pay was non existent...the additional backing trainer happened once in 2 weeks. Deliveries took priority....he got All of our miles and additional payment for his training service time.... Our weekly evaluations were completed failing both of us the first week....and the lingering threats to fail us over and over for ######## reasons got to be too stressful...how can someone be an aggressive driver when in bumper to bumper traffic moving at a pace of 5 miles per hour??? He wanted to keep us on the truck to use our skills to drive and get and extra money in his pocket!! F*&^ that!! I'm a mature woman I know ######## when its flung....

CRE is a poor school...backing training consists of offset and parallel besides straight line.....We need to learn 45 degree parking more so than Offset and Parallel....Prepare the students for ####### trainers...or better yet to sit and wait for ####### trainers....OR Re-train the trainers!! I jumped ship and begged Knight to help me complete my training. They agreed not without their issues but that's another Response!!!

Trainers are supposed to be helpful...and patient with new students; not aggressive; nasty self center ignorant ########. I have had 3 in 3 months. My first 2 were HELL...the last one was incredible and taught me how wrong and dangerous the other two trainers were. For example NOT to ever stop on an interstate....How is that possible to NEVER stop??? That trucks have the right of way...so if a car gets in front of you then...hit them....this is from a trainer....I have been driving for 40 years. I have had 1 accident over 25 years ago....not my fault...witnesses proved that.

I will never follow anyone's advice to hit another car...instead of making every attempt to slowing and stopping first....so my trainer number 2 became in my opinion extremely dangerous....while also operating the truck at 65mph while I was asleep on the upper bunk....which is by DOT law ILLEGIAL....as well as AGAINST company policy; it seems its acceptable in that area of multiple trainers...they do not allow student to sleep in their bunks while they are driving...so its common practice as per 2 other trainers as well!!!. My DM was notified and complaints were filed against the trainer and there supervisor. I was thankfully removed from the truck immediately and place with the my last trainer who was a godsend...retaught me proper procedures, and operating of a truck and trailer and BACKING...which the other two failed to be able to do in the 2 weeks time spent with each....A month of my life I'll never get back and should not ever have experienced as a student.

Students Don't stand for any crap from trainers....if your gut tells you its wrong report it. It's your license and training that will be out on those roads not your trainers....so trust your instincts. GET A NEW TRAINER.... Good luck and be safe be careful...!!!

 

$400.00 a week less after taxes of course....approx. 288.!!

 

I struggled for last 6 weeks in total.....4 weeks on this pay, I made even less from another school for first 2 weeks...thank god for family assistance. It goes by quickly when you have a great trainer!!! Pray your trainer has a microwave....Stock up on ramin noodles and water!! I bought animal crackers from dollar store and rewarded myself soda every day for much needed caffeine!! It is so worth it in the end....!!!! I look at it like hazing week in college. Its illegal but idiots get away with torturing students or in our case Road-bullies, if you will...LOL