Class 1 school in Vancouver area.

Since I had zero prior experience, I went with the 104 hour course. I paid for it using the life long learning program via my rrsp contributions. They paid the entire amount, and I have 10 years to pay it back. Tax free of course.

I'm pretty sure if I'd taken the 20 hour course I there is really no way I'd have been ready for a road test.

 

I'm taking the same course. I want to learn to drive, not just learn to pass the road test. Too many schools are just about getting you the minimum skill to qualify for your class 1, this course seems like it will set you up with some actual confidence in your driving.

 

I'm thinking about the 60 hours program. I don't have any experience in big trucks, and also my background is in IT/ electronics.

 

Hey Onetrack, when the dust settled, what was the final bill? I'm just curious.

 

it was 175 for the weekend airbrakes course, I think 25 for the tests, then the course is 9630.00 That is for the 104 hour one.

Theres no HST on these of course, there was a 25.00 fee for the transaction for the RRSP funds to my account.

 

Yes.. thats what they're doing.. its all done in steps - I had zero experience and pretty much zero confidence behind the wheel.. the amount of time is enough for that confidence break - then its just a lot of practice which is exactly what I needed. We have gone on several runs around town and out of town in varied roads - something 2 weeks ago when I started I didn't think I'd ever be doing.

My confidence level in the truck is up there now. There are a few times when you're dealing with some crazy road car driver who decides to ride your tail, pull out, pass you, then cut right in front across 3 lanes without a signal just to make an off ramp, but its all part of the experience.

I was exactly at that point. 60 hours may be good for you - I'm at 40 now, and am fairly confident in the truck, pre-trip - I need a bit more experience driving as I am still not quite there when it comes to gear recovery as well as judging distances - that trailer sure adds a lot of thinking as you have to be fully aware where its pivot point is. Other than that, I think in another 20 hours I'd be probably ready to take a road test, although I'd sure be thankful for another 20 hours on top of that, an entire extra week, of driving experience.
I'm off to the course now, starting a bit earlier today - roads are still fairly clear here, so it should be a pretty decent day to drive.

 

I'm in a 54 hour course here in Victoria and I can pretty much mirror your comments. I took out a loaded 53' van yesterday for 6 hours, some of it at night. I'm getting better with turns but found by the end of 6 hours my shifting was starting to suffer from fatigue I guess. It wasn't as smooth as when I started. I'm going out for 4 hours today on a loaded flatdeck for city driving, should be interesting.

 

I took my airbrakes this weekend from saferway in victoria. Had a cstt training truck keep driving by grinding gears while we were out on breaks. Are you training with one of these companies?

 

I'm training with Saferway right now. I do my road test on Thursday.

 

if you did your practical on Monday, you would have saw me come in and take a tractor out