Central Refrigerated school/training program in Fontana, CA

SeaPea · Apr 30, 2010

J.D.W. said: ↑

Well thank you!

To be totally honest with you, I have been having some second thoughts lately, not enough to the point that I'm thinking of pulling out just yet. But the whole thing about it only being a two week course is really starting to make me second guess whether or not I want to make this investment. The fact that my recruiter tells me that one whole week of those two is devoted entirely to classroom time also doesn't sit too well with me. I don't know how much there could be to learn in the classroom, aside from studying for and obtaining my permit, and learning about logging. I also don't know how much there would be to learn driving/in the yard, however I would think that there is probably a whole hell of a lot more to be learned to that part of the schooling then classroom time. Trip planning, logging / books and general knowledge (HazMat, hours, et cetera) So it seems to me that if they only give us two weeks for the whole course, wouldn't it perhaps make more sense to limit the classroom time to maybe 3 or 4 days at the very most, and all the rest to driving and yard time? Again...not that I would know, but one thing that I do know is that if I'm training to drive a truck, then once I complete my training and am out there on the open roads, I'm not gonna be sitting behind a desk out there on those roads, but rather behind the wheel of a big rig. So why the hell wouldn't the majority, if not the overwhelming majority of the training be hands on?

By the way, couple other things you said got my curiosity...

You said you already have some experience over the road. But, is that as in you already had your Class A CDL, but yet they still ran you through their full school/training program, and made you retake all the tests again anyway? Or did you mean you already have some experience over the road, as in more of a sense that perhaps you rode along with another trucker a little bit, here and there, but not driving per se?
I have my Class A CDL with all of the endorsements and used to be a driver for Schneider National. The permit holders must take a road test to DMV standards while people with the license take a shorter test.

Other thing you mentioned is the thing about "unless you are absolutely incapable of driving a tractor, you will be passed through". Now I'm curious about this especially. Is that to say that you perhaps saw or have heard of some instances of students being passed through and granted their CDL, who perhaps should not have been passed? Do you mean the only criteria they really grade you hard on for your test is the driving and maybe backing portions alone, but if you perhaps struggle with the pre-trip stuff, they're actually known to let that stuff slide a bit? Only reason that comes to mind...although I'm not willing to go into detail publicly on these boards, but I had a friend who got her CDL, through a certain company's driving school, but she told me that some of this school's instructors who are also their certified dmv testers. She said the day of testing for this school, she actually saw on at least a couple occasions/with a couple students, the instructors flat out CHEATING to help students pass certain parts of their test. If you want to know any more specifics about what I'm referring to, feel free to ask me in a PM. I'm not saying that I necessarily think that's a good or bad thing...because honestly, on the one hand, if I'm gonna owe this company $3,800, whether I get my CDL or not, then you're #### right I'd rather make #### sure I pass and get it. So I'm not out of a license, out of a job, and still owing that company all $3,800. However, more importantly, I don't want anybody cheating for me at all whatsoever!! If I go through a whole school/training program, aimed to help me obtain my Class A CDL, then I want to make sure that I learn everything I need to learn as well as I possibly can, at least well enough that I'm able to pass the tests on my own! Because once I'm out there on the road, on my own, it's gonna be just me as far as I'm concerned (after the time I spend with my trainer)! There's not gonna be anybody there to help me cheat to get my job done right.

I'm not really sure how to close out this post, because I know that last paragraph puts it on an awkward note, but if you knew what I know that my friend told me about, regarding this one particular company and their driving school/instructors, then what I just said would be a lot more clear to you. So I'll just leave it at this.

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Legend:
BOLD ITALIC RED: My opinion
BOLD ITALIC: Without stating outright, use your deductive reasoning.

Keep in mind that this academy is not Central Refrigerated. They left an awful taste in my mouth but they are not the company that I now work for.

J.D.W. · Apr 30, 2010

Thanks a lot man! I think I just about got the jist of what you're saying pretty well here....

And on that note, I think I'll probably be giving my recruiter a call first thing monday morning, to tell him to cancel my seat in the class. Of course I'll start applying to a few other companies as well, and see if I can't find something a little more decent and to my tastes.

Thanks again man!

ChromeDome · Apr 30, 2010

Any training company training will be like this, accept maybe Schneider (that I hear use to be good).
They are all set up to teach you what you need to know to pass the test, nothing more.
If you want to go to a trucking school that actually teaches you what you need, it will be an 8 week or so course and will cost a little more money than at a company. But you will be eligible for government grants and loans.

SeaPea · May 1, 2010

ChromeDome said: ↑

Any training company training will be like this, accept maybe Schneider (that I hear use to be good).
They are all set up to teach you what you need to know to pass the test, nothing more.
If you want to go to a trucking school that actually teaches you what you need, it will be an 8 week or so course and will cost a little more money than at a company. But you will be eligible for government grants and loans.
Click to expand...

Schneider training was outstanding, but from what I've heard, they have closed their school for the time being.

ChromeDome · May 1, 2010

I heard last week they were reopening some. So new drivers would just have to contact them to find out.

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