DCCC Truck Driver Training.

lfzebra, KC is correct, you earn a certificate for completing the course.

I'm looking forward to getting my second qualification this weekend so I can start completing my skill tests for the cdl exam. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

OK, I finished up my second road qualification today... glad that's over. Tomorrow I'll start road testing for my CDL, I should be able test out on the PTI and backing skills portions for the CDL as well.

 

Past the skill test and PTI for my cdl. I have to wait until next weekend to do my road test, we ran short on time.

 

A little background first... First day of class at truck driving school my instructor told us a story about some of his former students. They would see him float gears or not take off at a light in second gear and would comment that he was doing something not taught in school... His reply: "I got mine"! So that became kind of a running joke around school.

Well, I got mine! Took the cdl road test today and passed. I'll actually won't get my hard copy for a couple more days but you get the point. Still have to finish the school requirements to get my certification and graduate on Nov. 21st.

 

Thanks KC.

 

Update: We finally got to go on our "mountain" trip. We went up towards Boone, NC which has some decent grades, about 8%. I'm glad for the experience of feeling how quick a big rig can pick up speed going down hill, can't imagine how it will be with gross weight...

I had surgery on the Wed. night before so I was kinda of too sore to really enjoy the trip but I'm glad I made myself go.

Only three more weekends to go and I'll be done. I got my hard copy cdl in the mail the other day so just need my certification and I'll be ready to hit the road.

 

Here's an update. Last weekend we tested out on our backing exercises; L back, serpentine back and 100 ft. alley back. Everyone passed and is ready to test out on coupling/uncoupling and our forward exercises this weekend. The final exam will be next weekend along with graduation.

We are on target to be the first class since the program started over 10 years ago to graduate with 100% of it's starting students. The instructors said every class always looses a couple but our class really stuck together and helped each other if we saw someone struggling.

I said early on it's not a contest for one person to win, we're all there to become the best drivers we can and the instructors can only do so much to give individual attention. I'm happy for everyone in my class as I know their lives will hopefully get better with the opportunity to get a job or a better paying job.

It's been a tough road for some of us that have been unemployed but that road is coming to an end and we are all looking forward to a better tomorrow.

I'll give my last update next weekend after graduation.

 

Moving on to graduation. Everyone passed the two test this weekend. We just have to take the final written exam on Saturday morning then enjoy a nice graduation meal in the evening.

The final written is more of a formality for most of us as we already earned enough credits to pass the course for certification.

It's been a long 16 weeks and I'm ready to go to work. Hopefully my perspective trucking company will offer me a chance to go to training come early December.