Backing practice

Hello everyone--

I am totally new to driving, and I am in the process of selecting a CDL school for my training. I have time on my side as I don't plan to start driving for a carrier for about a year. So, I have been visiting the various CDL training schools in Chicago to see what their facilities are like, checking on prices, and to chat with their trainers. One thing that surprised the heck out of me is that no school I have seen yet offers practice on backing other than parallel parking. Come to find out, the State of Illinois only requires parallel parking for their road test! 90 degree backing, and other types of angle backing seems to be an essential skill to me that is missing from the training. Am I over-reacting?

Is there another way for me to get practice in backing before going to a carrier? I know that I will get that training with them, but I would hate to go to my future employer totally inexperienced on something so important.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks very much.

 

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. Your answer prompted me to look up what the FMCSA requirements are for skills testing, and their site spells them out very clearly:

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/383.113

I hadn't actually heard of the Illinois CDL scandal before. I moved here in 2005, and I guess it was before I moved here. It never ceases to amaze me how low the State of Illinois can sink. I really can't wait to get the hell out of Illinois.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...rs-bribery-scheme-commercial-driver-s-license

 

So, I gave Expert CDL school a call. Spoke for a while with the owner-- really nice lady. I got some prices from her ($2600 for the 160 hour basic course). She stated that students can work on backing as much as they would like. They are located in a trucking terminal, so dock practice is possible. If I run out of behind the wheel training hours, I can purchase additional hours for $70. Sounds like I am going to go through these guys. Thanks again for the info!

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EDIT: Oh, forgot to mention: They have a representative from the Secretary of State come to the school to do the testing, which is awesome. Seems like it would be easier to do the test in a place I am familiar with.