System Transport/DTS school

Wanted to start a rough journal on how my experience goes here. There hasn't been too much information about system I could find, so I thought I'd help out everyone else if I could. So I'll be updating this weekly through my schooling at DTS(In house truck driving school) and then once I'm actually on board with System. Stay tuned peeps.

 

Alrighty boys and girls lets toss a couple updates in here for ya!

Pre Enrollment:

A little background...Getting into trucking because the company i worked for closed for business. Put all my eggs into one basket sort of thing. Local unemployment/worksource office was very helpful and turned me onto DTS. Shout out to Stephanie! Barely made it into the class I did because of some back office paper work....all my wages had been reported under the wrong social security number, that prevented me from getting the funding from worksource.
DTS let me start the without it all being completed, shout out to them for being so accommodating.

Doug, Pat, Lana, and Yvette were all super helpful before getting me started. Put me on to a couple websites to check out and had me get a jump on the homework.

 

Week 1:

DTS:

Lots of paper work, correcting any mistakes on your applications, they verify your employment. Yada yada yada. Hella Practice tests. Like you have no idea. Do your reading before class. I highly recommend going through the entire book at least once. DTS is all about drilling the 3 main areas into you so that you can get your permit the end of the first week on Friday. General knowledge, Air Brakes, and Combinations are what they require you to get. You can always go back and get your tanker, hazmat, and doubles/triples; I would highly recommend this, but this can be done later.

So when it comes to the tests, it is entirely possible to get 100 on everything by writing in all the answers. If your goal is to look perfect on paper the you can do that. I however, took the approach you get out of it what you get into it. Hence giving it a shot and then correcting it. You're far more likely to retain the info this way. After all that's the point isn't it.....?

Friday at lunch everyone was dismissed to head down to get their permit. DTS gives you the money to do this (You pay for it as part of your tuition....) I think it is important to note that on your general knowledge test (at least for Washington, passenger questions, tanker questions, and hazmat questions can show up!) Tests really weren't that hard. Got a 91% over all. I was done in about 20 mins....really don't freak out about this....

As for other side notes we got to do a little straight line backing, and a head start on vehicle inspections (they are huge on these, practically 1 hour each day is devoted to getting them down). You are shown by an instructor and you have the class before you (the seniors) who walk you through it. (them teaching it to us solidifies it, so we'll get the same opportunity)

System Transport:

This week it was also suggested to me I go over to talk with the recruiters in person.( Long walk across that parking lot haha) Attempted to talk with Curtis (recruiter for the actual students), but he's been on vacation. Got to talk with Suzzete. Had a couple questions regarding the process of getting employed here. Very nice lady. Walked me through everything. Put my fears about my MVR at rest. Solid HR department. Didn't make it feel like I was stepping on anyone's toes. I'm officially slated to start my orientation the 24th of august (their trainers are booookkkkkeeeedddd up) and going out with a trainer as soon as that ends. Over all good first week.

High marks thus far from me. Stay tuned!