Coming this weekend

I came as a recent cdl school grad. I know caolheart (see previous post) came as experienced driver, maybe be will get on here and answer your questions better, but I can tell you all the trucks are automatics, and you don't get in them as part of the training. The training is classroom (safety, learning the maverick way, qualcom, trip planning...) Then load securement in the barn. Even if you come on as experienced, you can still go out with a trainer if you want to. They do pay for training. If you need contact names here let me know, I would gladly be your official "referrer", yes there's a bonus involved, and yes, I'll make it worth your while.

 

I don't qual as an experienced driver since my time on the road was too short. I will have to go with a trainer. I am just wondering if I should pay a local owner op to get some practice first or can I save my money and get to test after my time with a trainer. Seems silly but I don't wanna get sent home first day if there is still some rust I gotta knock off.

Pre-trip and backing are big worries for me. Well, not so much the back itself but getting set up right from the start depending on the difficulty of the back. If you miss the set up the whole back is gonna be jacked up. I haven't done that in a long time so I am gonna need some reps at it before I will be able to execute propperly

 

I've been talking with Mason and Mike up there. I am looking a going refer as I was with my last company. That puts me at ease that I will not have a road "TEST" before going out with a trainer.

 

Road test was really just taking the truck out for a quick 4-5 minutes around the block thing when I went thru a year ago. They just want to make sure that you don't run over anything and can keep it on the road between the lines. It is just a quick- "OK, this guy/girl can handle the truck" kinda thing.

As far as going out with a trainer, if you have never done flatbed, YOU WILL go out with a trainer. If you have done flatbed before, you still have to take the Load Securement Final Exam test before you get a truck and they send you out there. Experienced drivers can choose to go out for a few days with a trainer if they want to.
AS far as going out with a trainer for TCD (Temperature Control Division) as an experienced driver, I don't think that would probably be necessary, but never hurts to ask the training department.