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Question on school.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Livethelife, Aug 17, 2009.

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  1. Aug 17, 2009 #1
    Livethelife

    Livethelife Bobtail Member

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    Aug 12, 2009
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    I have a quick question. I am attending a trucking school currently. It is a 4 week class. The first week and a half is studying for our TIP. Read 4-6 chapters a night, go over them the next day, watch videos, take practice tests, repeat. If everything is rolling good, we jump in the trucks on thursday and drive for two and a half weeks, if we need more book time, we get two weeks truck time.

    The guy is full of knowledge and great about getting into real world teaching. There are three of us so it is easy to feel comfortable. Once we get our CDL, we will go to whichever company we decide to who will take us, and train with them for however long. I am likely heading to Prime and they require 60,000 miles with a trainer.

    I am curious what everyones opinion is on the school set up. Is it a mill? According to him, everyone in the class will do a full pre-trip daily when we get in the truck. Will work on backing up daily, emergency stopping....

    So, what does anyone think?
     
    Livethelife, Aug 17, 2009
    Livethelife, Aug 17, 2009
    #1
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  3. Aug 17, 2009 #2
    milby

    milby Light Load Member

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    Jul 21, 2007
    Higginsville, MO
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    60,000 training miles seems like a lot. Is that the norm?
     
    milby, Aug 17, 2009
    milby, Aug 17, 2009
    #2
  4. Aug 17, 2009 #3
    sumuji

    sumuji Bobtail Member

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    Aug 14, 2009
    Murray, KY
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    Most people seem to say a month-month and a half. Even if you got 3k a week that's 5 months of driving. :biggrin_2554:
     
    sumuji, Aug 17, 2009
    sumuji, Aug 17, 2009
    #3
  5. Aug 17, 2009 #4
    Livethelife

    Livethelife Bobtail Member

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    60,000 between the trainer and trainee. I believe.
     
    Livethelife, Aug 17, 2009
    Livethelife, Aug 17, 2009
    #4
  7. Aug 17, 2009 #5
    Raezzor

    Raezzor Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

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    Aug 1, 2009
    Columbus, OH
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    Ya, thinking that 60k miles is wrong. That's at least 6 months of driving with today's freight.
     
    Raezzor, Aug 17, 2009
    Raezzor, Aug 17, 2009
    #5
  8. Aug 17, 2009 #6
    Livethelife

    Livethelife Bobtail Member

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    This is a post by U2Exit, an employee at Prime responding to someone asking about their long training period. It was in June.

     
    Livethelife, Aug 17, 2009
    Livethelife, Aug 17, 2009
    #6
  9. Aug 17, 2009 #7
    Haole

    Haole Light Load Member

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    Jul 3, 2009
    Texas
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    As far as the school itself, it's probably not a mill. But a lot depends on the reputation of the program itself. IMHO, most mills are 3 week programs with huge interest rates on paybacks, while the better ones are 4-6+ weeks with at least 200 hours of tranining. But it's all about reputation. Plus, with the current economy and the plethora of displaced workers pouring into trucking schools, they're probably ALL running like mills.
     
    Haole, Aug 17, 2009
    Haole, Aug 17, 2009
    #7
  10. Aug 17, 2009 #8
    Livethelife

    Livethelife Bobtail Member

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    Aug 12, 2009
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    The reason I even ask if it sounds like a mill is because we are really only IN the truck for 2 weeks. 2 and a half at most. The first two weeks is pouring over the book work and preparing to get our temporary instruction permit. Going over the CDL book, drowning ourselves in the PTDI manual - Trucking: Tractor-Trailer Driver Handbook/Workbood
     
    Livethelife, Aug 17, 2009
    Livethelife, Aug 17, 2009
    #8
  11. Aug 19, 2009 #9
    Livethelife

    Livethelife Bobtail Member

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    Aug 12, 2009
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    Anyone have anymore input on whether this sounds like a mill or not?
     
    Livethelife, Aug 19, 2009
    Livethelife, Aug 19, 2009
    #9
  12. Aug 19, 2009 #10
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
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    That's a normal truck school operation. 4 weeks total, first 2 weeks classroom, then 2 weeks driving/skills/pre-trip etc. Remember, you are getting just enough info to pass your CDL exam at the DMV. After you get your license, then you will start getting some training.

    PRIME has a pretty good training period as you mentioned. It's much better than a quick week or two with a trainer then on your own. I believe the 60 k is total truck miles, but not positive. :ogre:
     
    Allow Me., Aug 19, 2009
    Allow Me., Aug 19, 2009
    #10
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