Is there any recourse for a school refund?

Fair warning, this is long. At least I've calmed down. I was flippin peeved this afternoon.

I have a challenge with my CDL school. Namely, the instructor is on the phone all the time. I mean all the dang time. I'd estimate she's on the phone anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 of our training. I'm training with a company that's also a local trucking business. This lady (our instructor is female) manages drivers or something. I get that there's things with the company that need to be taken care of. If that's the case though, should she really be teaching?

She's been on the phone the better part of the few weeks I've been training. When we were doing mostly bookwork, it didn't so much matter. Now that we're in skills, it's getting annoying. Real annoying.

I passed the CDL (from the book-General Knowledge, Combination, + Air Brakes, not the full CDL) aspect of it not because of her teaching, but because of practice tests available here and tips from forum members. So I mean it when I say thanks for the help already given to me. Sometimes the help wasn't given to me directly, but to other members of the forum and I used the advice. Either way, thanks to the experienced people for helping us newbies out.

Today for instance, she was on the phone while I asked a Q. I had thought I was turning correctly when she said "no, the other way." She answered while distracted. Then right quick she retracted her statement. It was too late for the attempt, since I'd already messed up. That sort of thing happens frequently though. She's distracted on the phone when she's telling us something.

Later on, at about 4PM, she asked me if I thought I was ready to practice by myself. I didn't feel like I was, but the way the question was asked I knew that she meant for me to say yes. Had I said no, I'm pretty sure she would have said that yea I should try by myself. I hadn't gotten it right once all day (except for straight line backing, but this was offset backing) so I don't see where she thought I should be on my own, but I went with it anyway.

So I'm in the parking lot, not getting it down at all. She's sitting in the grass with her back to me, yappin on the phone. I'm trying to do offset parking. For one hour, I didn't get it right one time. Not one time did she offer any advice. She just kept talking on the phone.

I'm not even sure she saw me. I'm no angel in this. I got out of the truck and threw my hat, basically screaming at the top of my lungs "JFC" (unprintable 2nd word there). She didn't even react. Unreal. Then later on, with still no help (though by now I'm not even sure I want it I'm so livid) I yelled out of the truck something along the lines of "I'm paying $4500 for THIS CHYT?!?!!? I HOPE THAT M'##### PHONE CALL IS A GOOD ONE!!!!"

After that, the next time I looked over there...... she was gone. I even remember the time. 5:07PM. I was there from 4-5:07 and she was on the phone the whole time until she left. I didn't get one word of help from her. I picked up the cones, put them in the truck, and left.

Starting tomorrow I'm going to try and be more direct but calm. If she's on the phone, I'll try and say something along the lines of "no problem, take your call. We'll wait until we've got your undivided attention. We're only paying a few thousand $$ for this."

One thing I like about this class is there's only 2 students in it. The other guy feels the exact same way I do. It's also good in that we generally start at 11, since I'm not an early bird. The bad is we've got a terrible teacher. Saying anything to her boss isn't going to do any good. Those 2 are really tight. She's been there 19 years. He's already got our $$$, so I don't think he's going to do anything to help us out.

Even back in class, she'd babble a lot. Like she spent over 1/2 hour talking about how when she was in her car, she managed to get some maniacal trucker pulled into a weigh station, she knew the driver had about 5-6 years experience based on how he was driving, she called the guys boss, she was such a super hero that the boss offered her a job on the spot, etc. The stories of her being a super hero or "old school" or "Rebel Runner" are endless. The education we're receiving is limited at best.

However, when it came time to drive, today she 1) wasn't so great at backing up either. She's a lot better than me mind ya, but hardly what I'd call great. 2) She stalled the truck out. She made sure I smelled that "brake that was stuck." I didn't smell anything, but of course I'm out there checking for a tire that was stuck (not rolling) and didn't find anything because they all were rolling fine. 3) A general not smooth driving. Certainly not what I'd expect from someone who's supposed to be teaching. Then again, I at least learned that when ya don't do something very well and need an excuse, a "stuck brake" makes a handy reason for ineptitude.

Then add in we're supposed to be trained for 160 hours. Our class is usually from 11-3. We get 5 weeks. That's not going to add up to 160 hours. Today we went later. I'm concerned when I go look for a job, I'm going to be a total dufas at some company's orientation. This is our 3rd week, and I'm now just learning- or trying to learn on my own- offset parking.

In addition, we're made to feel like we're an inconvenience. Already she's let us know we'd better hurry up and get this figured out because we'll be bumping up against another class she's got coming in. I actually got the straight line backing down pretty well. I got that on my 3rd try. Missed on my 4th. Got my 5th. Missed on 6, 7, and 8. Got it on 9. Then got it right on 10, 11, and 12. That was back on Monday. I was feeling pretty good back then. However, those 12 tries were all the chances I got in 4 hours because the other guy was having difficulties. There's no issues w/ him. I like him well enough that we've been talking about teaming up. It's her not explaining it well enough.

Today for the offset backing I was having the same problems he was having back on Monday.

So being 3 weeks into this class, is there any recourse? I'm guessing a refund (even a partial) is out of the question. I don't feel like I'm learning anything. I'm taking a video camera into class tomorrow. I at least want to film what's going on so I have some sort of proof.

Thanks for any input, even if it's to tell me I'm griping too much.

 

I'd flip a U-turn and give her some tail swing while her back is away and shes yapping on the phone. Or give her a love top with the ICC bumper. That'll show her. But seriously, I'd go complain higher up and tell them you're not learning anything. She needs to hang up and teach, shes there to work not talk.

 

My school was the same exact way. Instructors didn't care, wouldn't instruct or were texting up all day or facebooking. They were even scared to police the skills pad. "You tell him to get out of the truck" Is how I was told to deal with the truck hogs. It was a joke. To say they were detached is a understatement. They would bring their home issues to work. Very unprofessional. I felt like commenting because I could identify. What happened in my case? The school owner, The head director also, they were all in on it. It did no good they were all in on it. The acted like they took care of your problem but they were laughing at us, and It got worse the more you complained. Instantly you would have a bad reputation among the boys.
You just do you and you will be fine. It's all in your hands when It comes test time. It does no good to fight. Do it their way, many times a student would walk off the the yard for the same exact reasons. We had come to a mutual agreement that we could only grin and bear it. I was in a 600 hour program. We had 50 students in between 3 trucks.
We had a financial aid whistleblower phone number.

 

Hang in there, DannyD, and complete their training to get your CDL.

CDL schools teach you enough to pass the tests and get your CDL. That's about it.

Tomorrow morning just walk into class with a smile on your face. Tell your instructor that you "really need her help today" to work on your backing skills. Be polite and respectful, but speak up and ask for what you need from her.

Once you get your CDL, choose the company you go to work for carefully. Some have excellent training programs and you will be paired with a trainer/mentor to go out on the road - that is where you will really learn how to drive a truck.

Good luck to you!

 

you have a phone, correct>?

take pics and complain to higher up.

it's the kind of BS that the gooberment wants to add MORE rules to. in an effort to make all you rookies more safer.

 

Are you my ex-wifes brother........

 

Absolutely the best advice....

 

Hey all, thanks for the replies. It's helpful to know that other schools have been similar yet their drivers turned out ok. I was thinking I'd be the laughingstock at the next level.

I've watched videos on backing up. Some of those guys are pretty dang good. Exactly what I strive to be. I picked up little tips that I hope I'm able to apply today. I'm bringing my tablet to class. If she can talk on the phone while I'm trying to learn, I figure I should be able to watch videos while she's talking. Especially if it's one of her "I was a hero!! A Rebel, and a Badazz!!" 1/2 hour stories.

I'm going in there w/ a camera today. I'm also taking the tablet. It may/may not get antagonistic. I hope it doesn't come down to this, but if it does I've got no problem telling her something along the lines of "hey, just stay on the phone. You're a lousy teacher and I'm learning more from these vids than you ever taught us."

Obviously the other student figures in here. I'm going to ask his thoughts before I do anything. He's paying a chunk of change too and I've got to respect him.

Oh, and another thread on this site helped me out where she was useless. Tuesday it rained, so we trained logbook rather than drove. I was wondering how to not do a reset. I wasn't sure, but I kinda/sorta recalled some people don't do resets. She said it wasn't possible. In another thread I see if ya keep your on duty time to 8.75 hours/day, you never have to do a reset. That's the exact kind of tidbits I pick up from this site that class lacks.

 

When i went to roadmaster i saw a handful of guys that always were filing formal complaints. For whatever reason, i failed to respect them as individuals, and moreover, as men.

 

I hope everything works out well for you. The title implies that you may seek a refund. If so, your enrollment agreement is the actual contract between parties, look to this document for refund/cancellation policies. Otherwise, you could look for breaches in the agreement. If attending in Michigan, here are the school (provider) rules: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/sos/Driver_Education_Provider_Manual_184253_7.pdf This can help you determine if they are performing within the scope of the code.