Finally start school with integrity

Well hello everyone,

I have finally started school !!! with Integrity truck driving school here in Michigan. It was along and sometimes stressful situation especially working with the Michigan Works office here in the Pontiac area. So after 5 months of appointments and many headaches cause mostly by a state case manager (Lazy, never call you back and inform you of anything going on). The train has arrived at the station and Monday 19th will be my first day.

I am looking at trying to find something local from garbage roll off driver or transfer driver, to pallet delivery and pick up. I worked as shipping and receiving manager for Home depot for 7 years and have several companies to network through and hopefully being in the heavy equipment operator for the last 10 years maybe something might pan out here.

I had my CDL's in my 20s and let them expire due to enlisting in the Military, and know it's costing 4600 dollars to get them back, the new things now that the big outfits are running as a scam in my opinion is that once you graduate you have 30 days to get hired on with a OTR company if not in 30 days then you have to take a refresher course. It use to be 90 days, this to me is just one of the biggest scams I have ever seen in my life, maybe I should open up a heavy equipment training center and put all the guidelines in the contract that these companies put in theirs and get rich as hell doing it, and say that you need one year experience because most otr companies won't hire you, alot of people are making alot of money working in the great scam circle.

After reading for several months and many different threads about being routed thru canada I have come to the decision of trying to hire on with companies that do not dispatch to canada. All the driver that use to deliver to store always complained about all the hold ups at the border and not getting paid while sitting for 5 hours and to me it just is not worth it, can any one advise as to which companies hire drivers to run the 48??? if this is what I have to end up doing OTR.

Plan A trying to get on with local company and if that doesn't happen then OTR I go, I have several pre-hires just like my buddy scooterdawg. One from steven, arrow,convenant, roehl, FFE, USA,conway, I made the choice of flatbed with arrow and roehl but I believe they both run canada, any advise would be greatly and name other companies that might come to mind that will fit my needs.

If there are drivers that are local here in the Detroit Michigan area that know of any companies hiring CDL driver please shoot me a name so I might be able to check them out. I have a friend that runs mail for US Postal here in pontiac and hopefully he might be able to hire me on, he pays his drivers very well, and the trucks are well maintained.

Will keep everyone posted my adventure with this school and training.

Thanks everyone for all the information shared.

 

Hey scooterdawg,

Well today was my first day at class and I have to say that it went really well and had alot of fun. The day started at 0700 AM, spent 3 hours in the classroom going over DDC Videos and signing alot of paperwork and going over the pre-trip and in-cab and brake test, then at 0900 we loaded up in a Freight shaker and went to the driving range and began training on the truck.

It's been many years since I have been behind the wheel of a big rig but it is like riding a bike, it all come back to you really quick. First we practiced the alley backing and then set up for the straight backing and then the forward pull up. Over all I think everything went well for day one.

Practicing on snow and ice is alot hardier than dry pavement due to the trailer tires sliding and not hitting the mark, instructor said that if you can do it on snow and ice then you will have no problems on dry pavement. The secret to making the alley 90 Degree is to know the sweet spot where the tandoms need to be when starting your turn. The 18 inch rule sure takes some getting use to the rear bumper of the trailer has to be 18 inches from the imaginary dock line.

My classroom trainer name is Bill and he has been driving for 19 years and we seem to get along very well, he to is ex-Military 12 years in the Marine Corp (Sempi Fi). Even though I was Army for 11 years Spec Ops he said that he had to give me my props, he is alot like me easy going unless you give me a reason not to be.

My truck instructor is Terry he has been a driver for 12 years and is really laid back and a great manner in teaching no screaming as of yet. This school really don't believe in keeping you in the classroom alot everything is start driving on day one and the 1 instructor to 5 trainees is great everyone got to practice on the range today. Tomorrow the group will be split into 2 groups, group 1 will practice on the range in the morning and group 2 will go on the road to practice then in the afternoon switch out.

I really like the way this school runs their operations, don't spend the first week in the classroom due to everyone has to have their TIP and DOT card before you can even start class. One guy did not have his on him and they told him that he would have to have this at all times or he could not drive, so they went to the office and made a copy from his file until tomorrow.

Well scooterdawg I hope that I am having just as much fun as you are, the instructor told me that I did really great today, I would like to thank everyone on here for all the information that was shared from your experience, it really come in handy today, research, research, you will be ahead of alot of people. Like the instructor asked the question at 25 mph what gear would you be running in no one knew I replied 7 thanks for some of the post that I read here, 15= 6 th,25=7th =35=8th, we are running Eaton fuller 10 speed transmissions and starting out in 3rd truck are really set up well.

They teach you to run up to 1500 rpm, drop to 1000 and into the next gear, I like that they teach double clutching and expect you to use the clutch. gear run the rmp up clutch, neutral, tip gas, clutch in to the next gear when down shifting, thanks for you of ya'll help.

Well I have to get some dinner and get sometime with the Wife and Little so talk to everyone later. Let you know what tomorrow brings.

Thanks

Jack

 

Hey everyone,

Well it is day two in the driving department, everything has been going well lately and no complaints in reference to training. The weather here in Michigan was a little on the cool side this morning had to break out the cold weather gear and still be able to function at the same time.

The day stated off really well this morning from 7 to 8 had to watch a DDC video on preventable accidents, and talk about what could have been done differently to prevent it. Then we went over Pre-trip on tractor and trailer thought that I was back in the Military for a second with all the abbrevations, (PMS) properly mounted and Secured, (ABC) No abrasions, bluges, or cuts on everything that you looked it.

Then at 9 o'clock it was time to load up and head to the driving range, instruction set up the range and went and got another tractor, and split the group up and left half to practice alley 90 degree, straight line backing, pull up, and right turn. I felt that I did better yesterday, today it was like it just would not go in the pocket. Alot of ice and snow on the range and the dame trailer would not turn into slot, once the set up for straight was there no problem with everything else.

The instructor came back and took the other group on the road to give everyone a little road time, did very well according to the instructor on the pull ups and turns and keeping the trailer in the proper line, went throuh town about 15 miles and returned. The instructor was very laid back and was setting there eating his lunch so he must of felt comfortable.

Manevering was great, the only thing that seem to give me a hard to from time to time was the shifting. Started off in 3rd and hit the clucth and into 4th and so on until 9th, instructor told me that when going up in the gears that we had to double clucth, sometimes it was there and other just could not seem to find it, it the RPM thing just seem to keep letting them drop to low. I asked the instructor I thought that double clucthing was only use to come down, they want you to use it in both direction, it just takes some getting use to, and it doesn't help that I had mickey mouse boots on and just keep pushing to much clucth. Practice, Practice, Practice, is all I can say, I'm sure that it will get easier.

Watching the other group on the range today, they graduate in 2 days. Well atleast maybe one won't this guy was pulling his truck around on the range and another semi and trailer were sitting on his left side and he decided to do a left turn and it was way to early it looked like something the three stoogies would do, remember this guy graduates in 2 days, well picture this his tractor was on the side of the trailer and his trailer was U-shaped around the back of the other trailer. Not a good day for him, when asked what he was thinking he said that he forget about the trailer on his tractor. And before he knew it he had ran out of room and his truck would not move any more.

It kind of like trying to push the other trailer out of your way, stupid mistake. I felt that it was not only his fault but his spotter is just as much to blame for allow him to keep moving due to the fact that he was not paying attention. I don't know how this will affect him since he is in school, but I told him that it is better that it happend on the range and not in the real world. There goes your DAC report one preventable accident. It put a big dent in the side of the trailer about mid way back school was not happy. Werner recruiter come in today it some how seem that the money you can make with them keeps going up, but all my friends that drive for them say that they don't know where it is, he said that Werner pays cash for all there equipment and replaces it 3 to 5 years, that his company is not in dept to anyone. I figure that if your going to lie to drivers you might as well make it sound good and go for the whole shot. Believe me the fish was this big################### RESEARCH,RESEARCH, RESEARCH, that's all I can say.

Glad to hear that everything is going great Scooterdawg, and thanks Smash!!!

Talk with everyone later, keep the tires rolling.

Jack

 

ANDYJK9,

Glad to hear that everything has worked out for you and your better half, sometimes that alley dock take a little getting use too. Well it's been acouple of day since I last post any updates but everything is going smoothly. Actually spent Friday on the range practicing alley dock, straight line, and pull up and right turn.

Did better each and every time, practice make you better. That away you have time to get some of your reference points in your head and you know where the tandems have to be when you start backing and making adjustments. On the range all we had to do to get it in the box is pull out one trailer width from the cones, and up atleast 2 trailer widths, and turn the wheel 1 revolution to the right and it went right in place.

Well that worked for the range, but today was a different story. We actually went to the testing site to practice and it was a challenge, had to get all new reference point and not to mention there was a wall on the left side of the alley and a big ##### snow bank in front of you to make your setup for straight line that much hardier.

But after figuring out certain point on the test range it was easy as pie. We did that for the most part of the day to help on test day. Did HOS this morning and that did not seem to complex so I don't understand why so many driver have a great difficulty with this. Most of the time it is a over sight on the driver part, the 11 and 14 hour rule that messes with some drivers.

After spending a couple hours going over all the information and practicing we went through the Pre-trip and In-cab. I seem to have that process down pretty well, I swore the you dream about the words properly mounted and secure, No bent broken, or Missing pieces, No abrasion, bulges, or cuts, no leaks. Last night I find myself doing this pre-trip in my sleep atleast I know that it's being learned.

Went on the road today for a nice little trip about 20 miles or so, getting alot better at the up shifting and down shifting after you learn the proper speeds and RPM that go with that gear it is made alot easier. I have a great and laid back trainer and the only time that he will get upset is when your not paying attention. We were making a left turn today on a two lane left the driver set up in the far right left turn lane, and proceded straight until we was almost to the curb and he started making his left and watching his trailer, and the trainer told him to hold the right white line, but he did not see the snow bank that was plowed up further in the lane and the right front fender wing hit it and destroyed it.

Driver say's that it was not his fault because the trainer is the one that told him to follow the white line up, when he started to pull away from the curb to the left, things happen I guess, I figure the trainer is the one at fault so hopefully nothing will happen to him, his boss is pretty understand and when I the road crews don't clear the whole lane and you have cars on your left not much you can do.

Hey Scooterdawg, see that your doing good that great to hear, one of the guys in my class will be heading down to your neck of the wood in about three weeks, he say that he has to move out of Michigan to find work and that he has a job waiting for him. I don't know how the weather has been there for you but man it sure could warm up here, and I wouldn't complain. Hope everything is good with you and your keep us updated. I have been reading your thread and watching you have fun, stay in touch and it really goes fast that's for sure.

Take care everyone and be safe.

JACK

 

I don't remember any of my other post having to be approved by a moderator, but maybe I used a four letter word or said thing to offend someone holier than thou in the past. Or maybe it just something new thanks everyone for all the information and help that I have received from alot of folks on here.

This web site does have alot of informative and knowledable people on it once you weed thru all the negitive and take what is needed, and leave the rest, don't have alot of room in my life for others negitivity.

thanks everyone,

 

Hey everyone,

Sorry that I have not been on here with any updates in sometime, just been checking into some the my resources for local work, I graduated last Friday with the highest GPA in the class with 99%GPA, and scored 2 points on my driving test with the examiner.

Know it's time to get to work and try and make some money. My state examiner well let me say this much he has been doing this for 21 years and it shows. He had no sense of humor and no personality to say the least. But then again that might be his testing face, then again maybe not.

Since I was the highest score in the class and received a 100% on the test I got to pick the order in which people were tested so I some how ended up being last and didn't get through with testing until about 6pm. First off did the Pre-trip and InCab inspection missed none, then alley dock backing scored one from that whole process, and then it was time to hit the road for 45 mins. Should I say that the whole up shifting and down shifting could of not went more beautifully for me on the day that I needed it to be right.

Told the instructor the day before testing that I was having a rough time going from 6th to 5th and he made sure that I had it under control before testing the next day. He took me on a route through the city with alot of stops and starts and hills, curves and by the time I was finished this was no longer a problem. My whole problem was trying to go into 6th at 15 mph when it needed to be around 16 to 18, 5th is around 15 mph, so once I got that figured out it was no problem.

Like the instructor told me, I am use to driving Peterbuilts and this is a freightliner, all trucks are a little different. They will put themselves in the right gear pretty much if you have it in the slot to the next gear. I wouldn't use to chulch to shift and float them it was alot easier, but they want you to double clulch in school so that's what they got.

Know I have to contact one of Scooterdawg choices and see if they need any driver, I want to get on with a company that is not one of the bottom feeders we know the ones, but also that make no canada, or NYC runs, they are just not worth all the headaches that they make for truck drivers. Have been looking around here for local but not much with the auto industry being undecided about what there future might hold.

School was fun and I made a couple of new friends in the process, and all of them went to the big blue screw, they would not listen so they will find out the hard way I guess, they said that they have 9000 trucks, so they must be doing something right, I look at it this away they have 9000 loads to move, you will be setting and waiting due to competing with every driver to get the miles, I prefer to go to a smaller carrier and be able to make some money.

I will drive and make money verus setting and waiting for hopefully a load to be dispatched.

I would like to thank everyone for all the information and good words of encouragment that I received and wish me luck in my endeavors in searching for local work and if not then I will make the best of the situation and start call smaller companie out of state. There are some that I will not even work for and that is the big mills companies, to many horror stories from good drivers that got a bad taste left in their mouths, I tell everyone here what to do RESEARCH<RESEARCH>RESEARCH can't say it enough.

Thanks everyone

Jack