I made a mistake and need help/advise PLEASE

Thank god the school im going to has a good reputation from former students and several of the companies I am looking at recruit straight from this school.

Much respect to the op for wanting to do the right thing and make sure the teaching he is getting is quality and that he doesnt want to injure anyone

 

There were truck drivers long long before there were CDLs, CDL schools and lengthy training programs.. there were drivers who taught themselves how to shift with a three stick or two stick shifter.. yup, because before there was that littly flippie switch to go from the low gears to the high gears there was a whole nother stick.. and a stick for the half steps ...

All you need from a CDL school is a CDL.. you can and will be trained...

So, get on with a company , go out with a trainer and you can learn this...

 

I like the part about parallel parking into a car parking spot. Now that is pretty darn impressive! That has to qualify a fella for a job anywhere.

 

I agree with Wooly, sounds like they need to be exposed. I know that's not you're intent, you want to drive, and I give you a lot of credit for trying, it's truly half the battle.If you have your CDL, a lot of companies have automatics now, and they need drivers, and you have the basics. Hooking up is no biggie, just get out and make sure the trailer isn't too high( no space between trailer & 5th wheel), sliding tandems, again, no biggie( pull handle, can be tough sometimes when loaded, release truck brakes, roll a little, and apply trailer brakes, but easy does it)Right hand turns are still tough, even for an old fart like me, swing 'er wide. It would probably be best to do a shot gun(rider) for a while, but you'll do fine. Good luck.

 

I am telling you that you will be just fine. It will take you all of 1 hr. To learn how to shift the truck with half a brain. It is not rocket science. If all you are worried about is shifting it is not difficult at all. I like the advice to go to a company sponsored training program. You will do well. Don't waste your money on more schools. Good luck to you

 

The first heavy duty truck I drove was a 1963 IH R-190 tandem dump truck with a 5X3. The boss asked me if I knew how to drive it, being a young, ####y buck, "Sure", I said, even though, I didn't have a clue. Limped it out of the yard, out of site to a gravel pit, and said, ok, here we go. It was a gas job, needless to say, by the end of the day, I had lots of practice.

 

Yikes. It doesn't sound like that school did you any favors. If you can get the money (or a refund from the CDL mill), I'd definitely say try another school. I get the feeling the CDL mill will tell you they don't owe you anything since you got your CDL, but they've set you up for disaster on the road. If you can't afford another school, you can see what kind of financial help you can get from your local Workforce Assistance office. If you qualify, you could get school funding to an approved driving program via the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).

If WIA doesn't pan out, you could also go to one of the megas' driving academies. Keep in mind you're indentured to that company for a year at a lower pay rate. If you leave early, you have to pay back your tuition fees. Some people on here have recommended Roehl and Watkins Sheppard. I am not a Swift fan, but I've heard their driving academy is somewhat decent. Do your homework on a company before signing on with them. Most importantly, if you're not comfortable behind the wheel, make sure your recruiter knows YOU NEED ACADEMY/REFRESHER TRAINING. Otherwise, they'll run you through the regular CDL hiring process. That will likely put you with a mentor who'll take you off the truck when he sees serious training deficiencies.

I also agree that this school needs to be reported to authorities. They are putting drivers in trucks who don't know enough to operate safely. Things can go from fine to extremely wrong and irrecoverable very quickly in an 80,000 lb vehicle.

 

Im under the impression transam only trains 7 to 10 days.How much can one learn with that even though it is automatics.

 

I have to disagree with you. I see how many Swift drivers handle their trucks. If that comes from their training program it cannot be very excellent.

 

When I went through the test part at Covenant, experienced drivers had to do all the things you can't but the fresh cdl graduates did not. The guy that was on the test truck with me was new. Tester literally had to shift the truck for him. He went from passing the test because of the lowered expectation, to a trainers truck. You will be fine.