Has anyone heard of this:?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Jrivas23, May 15, 2014.

  1. Jrivas23

    Jrivas23 Light Load Member

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    Ok, so I have been checking for companies and trucking school to get my CDL the right way (tried it on my own and failed 2 road tests for lack of practice), so I have been doing some homework on "sponsored CDL training" and found this service called "Driver Solutions".

    For what I've read they are sort of associated with "Pam Transport" and "USA Truck"

    So what they seem to offer is CDL "sponsored" truck driving school tuition with no upfront costs, but the driver repay in a weekly basis during the first year. So in other words, they get you your cdl and a job and in exhange you work for them for a year.

    They say you'll have the opportunity to make up to 40,000 (not sure if this is deducting tuition repayment or not).

    Their training lasts 2 to 3 weeks, but they dont really specify if I'll be traveling to a school of their own, or if they work something out with home-state trucking schools.

    My thing is I have close to 0 (zero) information on USA Truck and if they tend to screw drivers up or not and I would like to get some feedback on how this sound to you drivers.

    Any idea on if this is something worth a shot since I've got close to none saved to pay for school myself??

    Have you heard of this "Driver Solutions" program?? ( Their website is www.greatcdltraining.com )

    Appreciate those who made it all the way down to this post and their intention of helping me out.
     
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  3. Gunner75

    Gunner75 Road Train Member

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    If that is your last ditch option, then that might be your best choice, however. I would stay clear of companies offering to send you to CDL school in exchange for a year of work. CDL school doesnt cost nearly as much as it does to get on with a decent carrier after school. Sounds like you need a school who has smaller class sizes, or a school with more trainer/student interaction.
     
    road_runner Thanks this.
  4. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    What part of the road test did you fail?
     
  5. Jrivas23

    Jrivas23 Light Load Member

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    I had some issues trying to sync my gears (down-shifting). I completely missed my windows and ended up not being able to get in the right gear when traffic started to move (almost right away). Not in the highway btw.

    Did my pre-trip, in-cab inspection, straight backing, parallel parking, etc in a very nice way. No points taken off from there.

    Anyways, the down-shifting situation costed me points on "impeding traffic", "failure
    To anticipate speed changes", "driving too slow"... She even told me: "you were inches away from getting it, but I will need to see you one more time".

    My problem is and has always been getting too nervous when driving with another driver next to me, plus I admit not been able to have paid for more classes-training.

    I felt soooo dissapointed at myself that day...
     
  6. Jrivas23

    Jrivas23 Light Load Member

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    My problem, as I mentioned on the previous comment, is not being able to afford lessons. Do not know anybody that i could try and pay (at a more convenient price I guess) for practices.

    I know that with more practice I'll ace that test.
     
  7. Wooly Rhino

    Wooly Rhino Road Train Member

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    You are going to run into the problem of not being insurable without going to a CDL school or having experience. The insurance companies are the ones driving that. Those of us who have attended a CDL school, my self a proud graduate of Fort Scott Community College in Kansas City, KS, know that they are just a prep school for taking your CDL test. They do not teach you anything about trucking. I asked to be shown how to uncouple a truck and trailer. They had never taught that before. It isn't part of the CDL exam. But I believe it to be basic information a trucker should have. Therefore, getting a license on your own should be equal to what I did but it isn't. Insurance companies will charge a higher rate for you not having a certain amount of "training". At some point in the future, Insurance companies will start only excepting certain schools training programs. Those schools will have some how paid or become customers of those insurance companies. It is all about the money.

    You are going to have to bit the bullet. USA truck and Pam are both starter companies. They both need to have drivers who work for little or no money. The facts are until you have a year in you are s cr ewd anyway. If you have to put up with it for awhile it will be worth it. It gets better after a couple of years.
     
  8. fishnman

    fishnman Light Load Member

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    Jrivas23, there is something else you need to consider here. I believe that the FMCSA has made driver training school a mandatory requirement for doing many jobs requiring a Class A CDL.. Not positive though, so check that out..
     
  9. 70s_driver

    70s_driver Medium Load Member

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    I have a question? Do you double clutch when shifting gears?
     
  10. Jrivas23

    Jrivas23 Light Load Member

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    No, no double clutching! I do regular clutxhing at the test but prefer floating on normal practice and driving
     
  11. Jrivas23

    Jrivas23 Light Load Member

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    Why the question brother?
     
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