Don't Do This!

That she did,made a costly mistake which adds to this already poor excuse for an industry.it's only going to get much much worse in years to come.

 

Nope they're miles apart.

 

I agree,only a handful actually train's.today's industry it's all about money and dont let FMCSA fool you,they're not any better.

 

I'm all for women truckers. The more the merrier!

 

Sorry buddy, didn't know this was a spelling test.

 

Gigitty!

 

The Roadmaster Driving School in Columbus, OH used to be located off of 17th Avenue off of Interstate 71. Right past where you turned to go to the driving school is a low bridge. It is near OSU, and is not an area where OTR-type trucks ever need to go.

One day I went through there in my car right after a rookie woman driver folded her truck and trailer up under that railroad bridge. My theory is that she wanted to roll by Roadmaster and show her former instructors her shiny new truck. Needless to say, she missed the turn. I'm curious how many former students did the same thing.

Eventually they relocated the school to a more truck-friendly side of town.

 

That's why I paid out of pocket 6k and went to a private school. I come from a family of truckers so I already had a leg up on most of my classmates. I took the 4 week program but I was ready in 3. I took my ny state Road test and hired on with a small local company hauling non haz tankers and end dumps. But the point of the story is there is way more to learn after school but where I went, Professional Drivers Institute didn't bring you in the front door and push out the back. They made sure you were ready for the road test and then some. One student in particular that took the 4 week course actually took 20 weeks to become safe and competent to pass the Rd test and they didn't charge any extra money. Like I said there's so much more to learn after school! I learn something new everyday.

 

That's why the entire CDL testing program needs to be revamped and made a lot harder. Simple tests are one issue, they are too simple and don't ask important or foundation questions. the road test tests is less than what is required for any good driver. Instead they test in a superficial way the knowledge of the test taker at ... I think I was told an 8th grade level.

People assume that training is after the CDL part but in fact your license to drive gives you a right to drive a truck, so it seems that the driver needs to take responsibility to learn the rest to be a safe driver.

It is like how many actually seek out training?

Not many, even free or close to free stuff like the Smith System is ignored until they get employment thinking the clown that is going to be their trainer will teach them.

The reason I harp on this crap is because of two things, one is I have to work among some of the worst drivers on the road who happen to be driving trucks. the second is the utter frustration in trying to weed out crap in applications I have when I am looking for a new driver.

 

School and tests can only do so much. A driver has to take responsibility for themselves. I went to the cheapest cdl mill school I could find. Then I got a local job in chicago, no further training. First day I was handed keys and went out on my own. 2 years later I am doing fine, have had no real problems. I have common sense, I ask questions when needed. If a situation is questionable I get out and assess the situation and use logical thinking to find the solution. Some people are just not cut out for the job, all the training in the world will not change that