Roadmaster, Columbus Ohio

OK, made it through the first weekend. All classroom. Just a couple of hick-ups. The E-tread computer terminal I was using apparently didnt record all of those nifty little tests I was taking, so now I get to do them again. No biggie, by the time I figured out if it was tracking my progress, it was too late. Not the instructors fault, just one of those friggin computer glitches. Upside is, I'll take it all again and just retain the knowledge that much better.
The log book tests were challenging. Not because I didn't know how to do a logbook ( pretty much had that one already) but I kept getting in a hurry and screwing it up. Took a break, came back and was good to go.
Instructor ( Ronnie) is a super guy. Real world trucker who knows both sides of the story, what works and what doesn't.
If all the other instructors are this good, this is going to be great.
I know they are not going to just push people through to get them through, and thats what I wanted. Give us the basics, get us passed, and the rest is up to us. Just what I expected.
The scheduled recruiter for the weekend was for Swift, who was a no-show.
Roadmaster gets an A for weekend #1, Will report back after weekend #2

 

OK, weekend #2under my belt. A little discouraged, but not with the instructors. Finished up the E-tread computer training, with only some small computer issues. Did alot of pre-trip, instructor came out and was working with us, sat in the drivers seat while each one of us ran through the in-cab part of the pre-trip. I can't say enough about the instructors, they really want to see you pass.
Finance manager was in to talk to all of us, 1 at a time. AHHHHHHHH, here we go - the old bait and switch. Admisions counsler who signed me up said I could pay 1000 down, and they would finance up to 48 months, making my payments where I could live with them. Finanance Manager said, nope - 1500 down and 36 months. WHen I told her what I was promised, I got the " shes not here anymore, and there is nothing in writing. Convieniently, my admissions rep has left for another job. Worked out with Finance Manager a little longer time to get the rest of the 1500 down. I will be seeking alternative financing.
Roadmaster math is interesting.
4995 cash for course. 6495 finance. so if you pay them 1500 down, you finance 5000 right? Wrong. 1500 is what they charge you to "finance" with them, then they send it to Panther Finanacial who services the loan # 6495. In my case, # 18% - total cost $8000.00. So, since I have till the end of class to come up with the cash price, I am going to try and get a personal loan. I guess thisis there way of detering financing through them so they get payment up front. So far, at 4995 I definately see the value. At 5995, I can still see the value.
SO, I still give Roadmaster a thumbs up so far, but recommend if you select them as your school - find conventional finanacing and pay them the cash price.

 

OK, week 3 down. As anyone who has been to Roadmaster in Columbus can tell you, once you get out of the classroom, the days go QUICK! You just get there, and it's lunch time. You get back from Lunch, and it's time to go home. I'mnot saying they cut it short, the training last from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is definately not boring, and they give great instructions.
Here's an example. Lets say you have never,ever in your wildest dreams thought about driving a truck until now. Then you have definately never thought of parrellel parking 70 feet of commercial vehicle with a pivot point. These guys will teach you how to get it done in real world terms. They will give you a reference point while backing and teach you not only to realize what the truck is doing, but realize HOW to make it do what you want. Definately not, here's a lesson plan, go do it. The instructors walk you through it step by step "baby steps." It may take you 20 minutes to back 300 ft the first time, but you will learn the right way to do it.
And it's definately not their way or the highway.Some of us who are older have some bad driving habits when backing, like working the wheel too much. The instructors recognise this and work to correct it. If they can't correct it completely, they teach you how to work around it and solve your problem, thus teching you how to correct the problem yourself. I have to admit, this is more difficult than I thought. One of the instructors told me it is a fact of life for those of us over 40. You pretty much think you should be able to do anything with these trucks anyone else can do. Your mature, you've been driving a while, you should be able to do this. As soon as he said it, I knew I was the same way, and thats why it was a little frustraiting.
Pay attention, do what they say, and you will get through it.
Roadmaster Columbus still receiving an A+ so far.

 

Week 4 down, halfway there ( if I make it.) No refleaction on Roadmaster. I leave for a week, the knowledge seeps out of my head. Last week I was making it OK, with some minor problems on the Alley Dock.
This week, stick a fork in me, I'm done. Letting myself get overly frustraited becasuse I can't seem to make the skills happen.
Example - Working on the alley dock. Instructor right there, stopping me every 10 feet or so, and asking " whats the truck doing?" Without missing a beat, I tell him what it's doing, and what action I need to make a sucessfull completion. Instructor walks away from the truck, and my brain switches off. Couldn't put a thimble in an aircraft carrier. Instructors keep reminding me of the basics. I don't care what anyone says, their system WORKS! It's basic, and fundemental. If you stick to it, it will get you where you need to be. Unfortunately, apparently I'm an idiot or have no judgement / perception skills.
SO, how the *#^# am I gonna get through this course. Easy. If you have the basic understanding on what to do, get close - but not quite their? The teach you how to recognize where your error was, and how to correct it. Out of position on the alley dock, wheels going outside the box, hard right/pull up/ and straight line back.
These guys have been above and beyond patient with me. I have a basic understanding, but bad habits already in place. I have never been given a moments grief about messing up. Stop/what did you do/ whats the truck doing/how can you correct. They are teaching/coaching, not instructing.
If their was a grade above A+, they earned it this weekend.

 

Sorry guys, after week 4 my world went into high gear. 12 hour days # work, Mon-Fri, 10 hour days # school Sat & Sun.
Finished school on Oct 5, passed all the tests. Would have done better except for some stupid mistakes. We tested 6, passed 4.
You guys running U.S. Express on the Dollar General account, watch for Robert Newland. He was in our class, and was pretty good.
I have heard from alot of "seasoned" drivers that Roadmaster just runs you through and gets you passed. That is TOTALLY not the case. If you test and you fail, they put you right back on the pad or on the road until you get it right.
I was impressed with not only the professionalism of the instructors I had, but the attitude they took regarding the training.
They are there to help you learn, and they will if you listen. My biggest problem is that when I got in the seat, the brain clutch went in, and everything went into coast. I don't like tests, but I made it through this one.
The last thing I will leave you with is RPM's
They will give you a sheet clearly diagraming what RPM you need to up shift/down shift, and they will teach you to double clutch. LEARN THE SHIFT RPM NUMBERS, it will make you life much easier.

If you are considering Roadmaster Columbus for CDL training, I highly recommend them!!!!

J.R. Jackson
Columbus, Ohio.