C-1 Driver Solutions Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

I was in school from May 9th, 2011 through this past Labor Day. We had two days of horrible weather which kept us from range time. The school director got the same dialogue as I am giving you now.
1. Tell your instructors to start on time (there are only three who are punctual).
2. Do not put people on the State Testing Site until they are ready ( 3 out of 4 tests passed does not mean you are ready, that is why it took me three tries, first time was totally my fault, even though I was put over before I was ready).
3. Clean up your range. Garbage all over, in the shacks, meeting room. Have some pride man!!!
4. If people are there for four weeks other than weather delays, KICK THEM OUT. The end of your fourth week you should have passed!!! We had 7 students still testing in their fourth week who passed all the four courses. This clogs up all the instruction for those who "get it".
5. You have good instructors, but some of them cannot match the proper student to the proper technique (Meaning, teach how to correct a back up ONE WAY, not five different ways. There are other tweaks that a student will get if you ask enough questions).
6. Be consistent. All instructors should have the same standards of testing.
This is a good school. If you show drugs, too many meds, criminal history, you will get the boot. You have four attempts at this state test, if you blow it, you walk. This is a difficult school for most people and they drop out (because they are lazy and think its a vacation). IT is a serious job and it merits serious attention. The hotel SUCKED!!! I was glad the air worked properly and I think the week I left they switched hotels......Good. They are getting on some of the problems. A few tips for you students. These teachers are all seasoned truckers. They are human just like you. They will teach you, but you had better be the squeaky wheel. There are some that will lag, stand around listening to MP3 players (which are supposed to be forbidden) that is your chance to train more. BE GREEDY about testing. Learn how to correct your trailer backing up right away and you will PASS FASTER!!! The road is a little intimidating at first, but you will come to love it!! Backing up slowly is a mother!, but if you learn the THREE STEP rule to correcting yourself, you will pass quickly. The staff is there to teach you, not be your mother. You are a grown adult, act like one. Keep the grounds clean, clean your area, take down notes on paper to retain more knowledge. Start learning your pre-trip ASAP. The minute you have this down, your mind won't be freaking out about other things. Make SURE YOU HAVE PASSED YOUR FOUR TESTS before the range director sends you over. If you have NOT PASSED......PROTEST "I AM NOT READY" and they will put you with a polisher who can fine tune you for the test.
The school didn't meet my expectations of what I would get, but what does anymore? IT IS YOUR JOB to be responsible for your life. Take what you are given here and go make some money with it.

 

BTW, the short, bearded man who tests at the state examination range just over the fence is not a pr#ck. He is a solid, well mannered man who has compassion. There are standards and they cannot blow them. His name is Van and he is a good guy just like the other three.