Century College, MN

Thanks for the updates. Makes me think back to my time in school.... enjoy it, it's over quick

 

Days 8 - 17

Recruiters have been coming to the school more frequently; about every other day we attend a brief presentation from one of them. Mostly OTR stuff, with a few regional, some dedicated and one LTL opportunity so far. I certainly won't run short on pens any time in the next year.

Out on the range we continue to bump orange cones, but with lesser frequency, and the grinding noise of gears is less common. We are also trying more difficult maneuvers; blindside 90* docks, tunneling between trailers, blindside tunneling between trailers... and I still haven't mastered the offset backing. Sadly, there isn't always a lane available when it's your turn in a truck, so we don't get as much practice backing as we would like.

On the road the instructors are challenging us more. Not like short-clearance bridge types of challenges, but like crossing railroads after turning out of an intersection types of challenges. "Did you shift while you were crossing those tracks?" Darn. I guess I did.

Hopefully it will all come together by the middle of next week because that's it, it's state exam time. My stomach is already getting queasy in fear that I'll bump a curb and throw away the last four weeks in a flash. There's no retesting, so I'm crossing my fingers that I didn't quit my job for nothing.

 

Days 18 - 20

We got a lot of practice in the last few days. On the range we focused on the tested skills, and on the road we stretched our legs a bit by driving out near the exam sites and getting the lay of the land. I wouldn't say I'm confident about passing my upcoming CDL exam next week, but I think I'm as prepared as I could hope to be. Now if I just don't forget everything over the weekend....

 

Road Test(s)

There's something about having my future career on the line that made it difficult to relax during my tests. Though I could recite a pre-trip inspection in my sleep, I flubbed it a little at the DMV exam station. At least I knew my steps well enough to realize that I had missed some and I re-visited them before the test was over. Pre-trip passed.

The driving portion of the test didn't go easily, but nonetheless I felt proud negotiating the tiny DMV course with a 53' trailer while a rival school buzzed around with 24' pups. I received a "poor" rating on my 90* alley dock because I backed a few inches too far, but I didn't care; I was straight in the box, and my cab was straight in front of the trailer, all in one shot. I could hardly be prouder. And once out on the road, things got way easier, and I passed; huzzah!

The next day I did a road test with a prospective employer. My examiner said that most drivers right out of school grind gears a lot, and it was nice to see that I really didn't. I got offered a home-every-day job, and I took it.


TLDNR
Century College -- and the grant for military veterans -- got me into a better job than what I had. I'd recommend the school to any future commercial driver. The great staff there have my deep, heartfelt gratitude.