Crowder to Conway to Finishing Aug 23, 2010

Just a quick question about school there. Are you going to come out with some type of grade? How are they scoring performance or is it simply pass or fail?

Thanks
Bob

 

Here's a trick I learned about the double-shifting. Set you seat where you are not too close...then when you extend your leg you are not pushing the clutch all the way in to the clutch brake. It worked for me because I am short..LOL

There is a test with each chapter covered and you have to score a certain percentage (forgot what it was). The actual CDL test is pass/fail and you have to pass one section before moving on to the next. Pre-Trip, then Backing, then road.

 

Even though I haven't been through that last interview yet, my advice is don't sweat about it...have fun learning to drive. If you have made it this far, you should do fine. Face it, Conway wants to fill these class seats with people they feel will end up being productive employees or they have wasted their time. Stop worrying.

Day five of the school is your first road trip. Not very far, maybe 5-6 miles, and you will probably get 3 turns. It does test you on tight turns, merging, lane control, and up shifting and down shifting on some pretty serious grades when compared to the practice course. Not a graded trip this time.

On the night before, you will be nervous about it, but somehow it comes together. If you aren't ready, they won't put you behind the wheel so despite your nerves, you are probably ready. Your trip won't be perfect, but, it won't be too bad either.

This is our first weekend, most of the class is going home because they live close enough, so there is only 2 from my class and one from the class that graduates next week that is staying on. Should be quiet.

 

Hey Road thanks for the update. I was wondering if students would be able to do any work or practice over the weekends. Hows your shifting going? is it all that hard to learn the patterns? See you soon.

 

Bobmac, pass/fail, and a CDL. The CDL test is given here, a couple of the instructors are certified examiners.

Shifting improves with practice. see the next post about practice.

 

We are all finding ourselves discouraged when we find we can't do a new trick on the first try. Patience and practice appears to be the key. We all look like dorks the first time we double clutch, downshift, back straight for a couple hundred yards, putting the truck in a hole (tight parking space). But we all see progress on the things that gave us trouble.

'The way the curriculum looks, it appears we learned our last trick today, that being 90 degree parking. That's after 8 days! All from here on out is supposed to be practicing everything and progressively more difficult road trips. After that first little trip in week one, all others are graded.

Yes, you get dejected when you score 78 percent on that first graded drive (and you thought you drove perfect), but more trips equals more practice. You will build from that first graded trip. If you pay attention, your scoring will improve.

For anyone not committed to CWTL, you will see several recruiters during your stay. I do strongly recommend, if you aren't committed to a company when you arrive, you should continue to work on that while you are in school, Crowder, or any school.

The reason is, the hiring companies will perceive your education as interrupted and ineffective if you don't go right from school to your training truck. School is phase one, and driving with a trainer/finisher is phase 2 of your education. If there is a lapse, you will lose some of what you were taught in school and will be downright dangerous. That is why you can't have that gap in your education.

Looking forward to meeting the class coming in next week to Crowder. Don't worry guys and girls, the rookie hazing isn't as bad as the reverse slalom and you will eventually get that 5th wheel grease off.

RR

 

~snip~ Looking forward to meeting the class coming in next week to Crowder. Don't worry guys and girls, the rookie hazing isn't as bad as the reverse slalom and you will eventually get that 5th wheel grease off.

Wow nothing like making a newbie feel welcome..

Thanks for the update RR see you next week.

 

BobMac...just teasing about the hazing. I should clarify so people don't get the wrong impression. The group that graduated today was very helpful and friendly to us. I sure we will be for you too. My group is a great bunch.

Have a good weekend and be safe.

RR

 

Backing exercises at Crowder. We have had 4 different instructors over the last two days working on 90 degree backing and other backing exercises. Every one has a slightly different approach, and a different way of communicating.

You might think that would lead to confusion, but, I find it very helpful. I think the differences in the instructors plays to the inherent differences in each student's learning style. All in all I am quite happy with the school, my progress and that if the entire class.

Four instructors over 2 days for 6 students. To me that shows the dedication of the staff for making sure we understand and that they aren't merely a mill putting out people with CDL's and less than the bare necessities to be safe.

In fairness, I have never been to any other schools and don't have the experience to say that graduates from one school are better drivers than from another school, but, if you are shopping for a school, I would ask the teacher/student ratio, and I would certainly be concerned enough to ask tough questions if a school claims to have you a CDL in less than a month.

Be safe.

RR

 

Thanks for the update RR. I'll look forward to seeing you on Tuesday. enjoy the long weekend.