Options...

Don't plan on being a master at backing right out of the gate. That just comes with experience. I saw a lot of fellow students psych themselves out or get stressed or frustrated which leads to more over/under correcting. Some had to re-take the backing test 2-3 times.

When I was at the college the guys in my truck heckled me about being a natural. When in reality I use to back snowmobile trailers growing up and have backed up U-Haul trailers and other things over the years. My skillset was rusty but manageable.

In school no one ever really gave a specific formula for setups when backing. When I finally got hired and spent 3 weeks with one trainer and 3 with another I was pretty much getting told what to do. A few times I was rushed out of the drivers seat because we were at a shipper/receiver and I didn't one shot into a spot My second mentor was convinced I didn't know what the hell I was doing. Why? because it was a spread axle they back a bit different and setting up with a proper angle wasn't etched in my mind yet.

Eventually I was turned loose on my own and had to think for myself because there wasn't anyone around to ask questions or tell me what to do. That my friend is when you get better.

 

As soon as new drivers get their own truck many promptly refuse to ever back again, park at fuel pumps, block up the truck stops with "new" parking spots & then tell other new drivers "backing is dangerous, don't do unless you have to." Practice, practice, practice, then practice some more. You can't get better at backing by logging forward miles even for years.

 

When you have maybe 15 minutes left on your clock its late and that last parking place is hard to get into you will thank yourself for working on perfecting your backing. I have been there many times, it is not fun and this situation can be the beginning of a nightmare.

 

I have noticed that many (but not all) Community College programs are longer than your average run of the mill driving school. What you need to ask both Jim Palmer and the private option is how much DRIVER SEAT TIME you will be getting. Ask for it up front. Spending a bunch of money to only get to actually drive 2 hours a day because you are riding in back most of day while too many students are sharing a truck is crazy.

If you go to the private school and get your CDL, you will still go out with a trainer at most companies that hire new graduates.

If you go to Jim Palmer, they may incorporate that into the school time (I don't know, something to ask)