Follow me through Central refrigeration training 2.

i like letting the jakes roar. and i gots some loud jakes straight pipes no mufflers.

 

8 inch straight pete with a C15 sucking kitty food and blowing smoke? I'd say something else but PG-13...

 

I'll be at crswvc thur/fri to upgrade a student, anyone else going to be there?

 

Since I've been sitting waiting for my trainer thought I'd give a little bit of advice. If you did classroom training at a TDA then when you are sent to SLC you go right to the hotel. Everyone else goes to the VIP lounge so they can do their classroom work then they are sent to the hotel. The hotel is nice but pretty boring, there are microwaves and mini-fridges in the rooms so you can save money easy by going to Walmart and getting food to put in the fridge. The VIP lounge doesn't have anywhere to store things that need to be refrigerated so as kws mentioned you will need more than the $200 for food if you want something other than ramen. FYI you do not get paid your $100 for orientation until you are on your trainers truck and then please remember Uncle Sam wants his due so youll have about $83 after tax. However you can request an advance of $200 that gets paid back in $50 per week to have something to work with.

Also dont stress out over the Pre-Trip Inspection test. Its really easy and they give you acronyms to work with to remember. The incab is easy so is your 3-way brake test and the ALE test. One of the instructors has a Youtube video of the incab inspection here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGLIXlSDZz8 he was my trainer. Just follow their directions and you're good. The only person who failed the pre-trip the first time did so because she got stressed out. So don't sweat it, you're allowed to miss a few things with the exception of the 2 brake tests (3-way and ALE). Honestly they are the easiest parts. For the outside of the truck during the pre-trip don't worry if you don't know the name of a part, we're not here to be mechanics. Just point at whatever you're on and say properly mounted and secure, and no cracks damages or leaks. that is 95% of your outside part of your pre-trip inspection.

 

Have been reading many many many great post on this thread and others - thanks to all that have posted. I'll be starting at CRSWVC this Monday (10/1) and am looking forward to a new career. Again, have read many a post on this forum and others, and a lot of other research and talking with drivers. I understand the challenges ahead and the need to 'tough out' the first year. In reality, any new job/career is something that you just need to work through till you can find your own comfort zone, and am in agreement with many others that have stated...it is all what you make it...take the good with the bad, make it your own and keep going with a positive attitude.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting started. I won't be staying in the 'cell'...instead, I'll commute daily since I live a short 40 miles South just straight down I-15 - will be nice to be in my own bed at night, nice shower, and home cooked meal. I know - I know - life on the road will be much different.

I look forward to meeting any and all of you. Having read many post from the likes of Lady K, PSUMoose, Z28, KWS, Chompi, JJ, Big Rigg, and many many others, your insights, words of caution, words of encouragement, and just general helpfulness has been, well...helpful!! So a big THANKS to all that post in this thread and other threads - even those that ask questions because those are the same questions that others have.

If anyone else will be at CRSWVC on Monday, I look forward to meeting you.

 

All, if KWS doesn't mind, I'm going to continue this thread and walk you through my experience through training...and hopefully help others through looking at this from a different perspective...maybe.

The perspective that I want to bring in which I hope will help others trying to decide what they want to do, is through the eyes of:

1) Being a bit older and having already been through...well, 2 careers
2) Being older and not having any previous experience with otr trucking...do not have a cdl so am a qualified newbie
3) Comparing this career to my two other careers in which I had been very successful in.

So what I'd like to do is as I go through training, I'd like to compare what I go through with both the 'Service' and 'Tech' sectors.

As for my background, I spent 15 years in the Restaurant industry...mostly as a General Manager. I had been very successful as my main use came as going into an underperforming location and turning it around to be a very profitable location in less than 1 year...to which I would be sent to another location and do the same thing. Typical work hours...minimum 80hrs/week 'at' the store and then all the work from home (figuring schedules, orders, budgets...and much more). That was my first career. I then transitioned into the tech industry as a trainer/consultant. I was a Implementer, Systems/Business Analyst, IT Admin, Kind of Programmer, Project Manager, Product Manager, Hosted Manager...15+ years in the industry. Again, very successful, traveled the world, but then decided that the Corporate life just wasn't my style. I then left to open my own restaurant (Diner...hence the handle 'Diner Man'), had some investors pull out well into the project but since we were so far in, we kept moving. Finally opened March of this year and then ended up closing July of same year...lack of working capital to stay afloat...we could never finish getting the extra monies needed.

So, on to a new adventure and career. No kids at home now - all off on their own or in college. Wife working some odd jobs and watching our one and only grand-daughter though she (my wife) will come out on the road with me every so often...and I may even be able to talk her into getting her own CDL and we'll team.

Again, I hope I'll be able to do some comparisons which may help someone else to decide what they want to do as they investigate and question. I'll start this coming Monday (Oct. 1) at West Valley City, UT.

Thanks All.

 

Day one of class (WVC) - don't know why some people have said that the class is very disorganized...I found it to be rather well organized and structured. Sure, there was a lot of sitting around time because I completed the paperwork as required, but there were also some people that took longer getting the paperwork done. For as much as was going on (drug test, work well test, security interview, paperwork) - I challenge others to take a group of 30-40 people and keep them all going throughout the day. In the business/tech world, a lot of first day training is also filled with filling out paperwork, boring speaches, and...'here, read this and I'll get back with you'. So in my view, CRS was pretty well organized in how they were able to process the group.

Speaking of the group...I think they said we started out with 36 people...ended up with 17 people in the class while I think 3-4 others moved on to the refresher class. Regardless, that's a substantial dropout rate. One thing that they stressed over and over and over (and over), don't lie!! If there is something in your past that happened, let them know...don't try to skate by.

Anyway, yes, a lot of paperwork to be done on the first day...really, no different than any tech job that I had...other than the fact that trucking is a bit more regulated than a tech 'desk' job (duh) so obviously, more forms to have to fill out. Yes, there is a 27 page application bit to fill out - chill out...it's not that bad. Most of the pages are 'sign and date here'. And then just when you though you were done with all the paperwork in the morning, nope, more paperwork in the afternoon...oh well. NOTE - you WILL need to have names (full name, not just first name) of 4 references (not related to you) along with address and phone AS WELL AS 4 family (specifically Mother, Father, Spouse - if don't have a spouse, not sure what you put in that slot...but obviously not a 'spouse'). Again, the paperwork really isn't that bad...it really isn't so don't fret about it.

Drug Test - well, unless you are doing something that you shouldn't be doing, no biggie. Oh - one post mentioned that the conditions in which they took care of your 'sample' was horrific - ummmm, not that I saw. No, you aren't in a sterilized fully equipped medical room...you don't have to be. Everything I saw seemed to be very well done.

Work Well test - lifting 50/75lbs to a shelf waist high and then shoulder high - should not be a problem for most though the heavier weights can present a problem. Note - it's not a 'speed' test - take your time and get it done right...you should be ok. You will be hooked up with a heart monitor to monitor your heart rate - don't know the criteria, but just to let you know that you do need to strap a heart monitor around your chest...against your skin. Ladder climb...can't step on first rung - must go to 2nd rung, but hey, you can grab on to the ladder...it's not like you have to step on the 2nd rung without the assistance of anything. Again, the work well test is not that big of a deal and should be passed by most...if not all.

DOT Physical - again, no big deal. Eye test, BP, questions asked...that's about it. This is done at the very end of the day after the class...if you are lucky enough to be one of the first few called, then your'e done. However, if you are one of the last ones called and it is a bigger class, well, sorry...it just goes more into your evening.

Accommodations - I live in UT so I'm choosing to drive each day. Yes, that does mean I have to wake up early to get to class on time (2 times late to class...they send you home - mostly because if you are in the VIP lounge rooms (bldg #2), you are only a short few minute walk away from the class). However, by coming home every day, that means I don't have to pay for food, I'm in my own bed and my own bathroom for showers each night. Basically, I'm trading food money for gas money. Also though, because of the drive, it does take away some study time that I should be doing right now. So I can't tell you about the accommodations since I'm not staying there. I can tell you though that there is a WalMart, Target, WinCo, Subway, DelTaco, CafeRio, and other places a short 1.5 miles (2 miles tops) away. I understand that the shuttle can take you there...but then again, it's not a bad walk and would give some good exercise.

Well, I need to get some studying done so I'll post more tomorrow.

 

Hey Diner Man! Glad you picked up this thread. I have a similar background as you and spoke with a recruiter today. I just graduated CDL school and have my choices narrowed to 4 companies. Good luck to you!

 

Welcome Bluestraveler - what 4 companies are you looking at...not that I'm going to be an expert or anything. I can tell you my reasons for choosing Central - terminal close to home, quicker training time to be out on the road solo, and really, just a general good feeling (for me) about the posts read through various threads (Follow me through central training - the original post by Big Rigg, Central Refrigerated Truck Stop, and Central Refrigerated Truck Stop II). Posts from the likes of Lady K, Klingon, Chompi, Big Rigg, JJ, Chrome Dome, 1badz28, PSUMoose, and many others (I know, I'm probably leaving a lot out - just going off the top of my head...).

Central is not 'perfect', but seemed to have less gripes than others. No matter where you end up, you'll run into issues - it's all on how you make it...your attitude going in.

Would love to hear your background and your thought processes of going into this industry...as I'm sure others would like to hear as well as they continue to investigate.

Anyway, as stated earlier - Welcome!!

 

Training Day 2 of Week 1 (Oct. 2, 2012)

More class time with a small field trip...odd, field trips were those things you took in elementary school. This field trip is a good one though...well, informative.

The day started out with more class time. The first week is all about class time since the goal is to get the CDL permit so you've got to learn everything for the test in order to pass the test. Took two 'in-class' tests today - "General Knowledge", "Combinations", and "Air Brakes". In my opinion, the instructor teaches the class in a very systematic way...and to be honest, they are teaching you what you need to know in order to pass the CDL written exam (that will be taken on Thursday morning). Now, some of you may say...'well, if they are teaching you just what is on the exam, that's not very good teaching'. I will counter with this - are you learning something are not, and how different would this be in the following:

Tech World (Software company) - 2nd day of 'training' (if you really are 'given' training...), you are getting trained in two different aspects. 1) The software used (for whatever application/industry it is being developed for), and 2) MAYBE a BRIEF overview of the industry the software is being used for. During this 'training', the 'trainer' (really, it's just the guy picked to handle the new guy this time around), will go over the main points of the software and what it does and maybe 'why' it does what it does. Then it's more...here, read this and I'll get back with you.

Service Industry (Restaurants) - actually, not a whole lot of training going on here - it's more OJT (on the job training) than anything else. Again though, you are shown 'exactly' what to do and how to do...usually, without the 'why' behind it (and usually when you ask why, the reply is...'because that's how we've always done it').

So the teaching methods being used at CRS isn't anything new nor is it a method that they shouldn't use - their goal is to make sure you are able to get the CDL. You WILL learn something in the process because they aren't just 'giving' you the answers...there is a lot of 'why' behind the answers and from having done years of training in other industries, knowing the 'why' goes a long long ways!!

Anyway, most of the classwork was in preparing for the CDL test on Thursday. Took 2 practice exams - if you listen in class and STUDY the handouts and the book, there is no reason why you wouldn't pass - it's all on you. The first practice test I missed '0' in Gen. Knowledge, '0' in Combinations, and then missed '4' in Airbrakes. However, we hadn't gone over Combinations or Airbrakes yet. We took the 2nd test after going over Combinations - my score was the same (different test so some different questions and in different order). I realized my dumb mistakes on 2 of my Airbrakes answers so really, I would have only missed 2. We'll take a final practice test tomorrow. We also worked on log books as log books will now become a way of life.

The field trip - no, we didn't get to go into Salt Lake or up to Park City...we just walked out to the back yard and looked at different things on the tractor and trailer (as pointed out by our instructor). The information was really informative so in my view, it was good! Let me ask you this - when was the last time you got to go on a 'field trip' when being trained in either of the above industries....

Lastly, but not really in that order, they had some trucks (brand new) that we could take a look at - like I mean get up into and really look at it. I know...brand new trucks...propaganda because we surely won't be getting a brand new truck when we finish our training, but still, in my opinion, it was very cool!!

So, day 2 down and over with...other than more studying - yes, I did say studying because in the end, regardless of the teaching method used, it is up to YOU on how you want this career to turn out! If you don't want to study and just get by, by all means, you can probably do that. For me, I don't want to be 'just' another driver. I have my work ethics and I know what I need to do to get things done. I've been successful in two separate industries, and in both, I've had to pay my dues...and boy, did I put in a TON of time into both!!! I don't view this as any different - if I want to be successful in this industry, it will take WORK...and a lot of it. Anyway, I need to study more - I'll post more tomorrow.