Millis Training Institute - Cartersville 2019

The hotel is nice. There are several hotels closer but Millis went for a little better quality. I am glad they did.

 

As others chimed in, you read correctly. Millis does things differently. Our class sizes are small. Ours has five students. The $500 investment and no pay during the three weeks training, works out in the end because as Keen98 and packersfanmw87 pointed out Millis pays trainees for all miles the truck is dispatched while training, not just $500 or $600 a week like some other companies.

 

Day 4, started in the classroom. Using the book linked in the earlier post we completed:

Chapter 26 - External Communications
Chapter 29 - Drugs / Alcohol
Chapter 30 - Medical Requirements
Chapter 31 - Human Trafficking
Chapter 13 - Night Operations
Chapter 14 - Extreme Driving Conditions

We finished up the bookwork right at end of the morning. Joe from the garage, brought in lunch trays from Subway. We ate in the driver's lounge. In the afternoon we went out to a truck for our first lesson in the Pre-Trip Inspection. That was followed by Coupling Training.

Yes, our first time in a Kenworth, we were doing drop and hooks. We learned:

• How to slide our tandems.
• How to raise and lower our landing gear.
• How to release our fifth wheel.
• How to line up our tractor with the trailer.
• How to connect and disconnect air and brake lines.

 

Since Millis only has automatic transmission trucks hauling cargo, all training at Millis in Cartersville is done in trucks with automatic transmissions.

 

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Those seats are so comfortable. I think they are very appropriate for a truck driving school that uses them in their trucks. I know they can't be cheap to buy, a hats off to Millis on them.

 

Day 5, started with the graduating class giving us an example of the Pre-Trip Inspection. The class had four members so each was picked, at random to give a portion of the pre-trip. After three weeks in school they were each able to take us through it without any hesitation. Did they get it perfect? No, but neither will we. They all would have scored enough points on their section to get a passing grade on that portion of the CDL. Perfection, isn't required.

Then we went to straight line backing practice. Anyone can back a truck up in a straight line, right? It is a little more challenging than you would think but absolutely something that can be learned. It's something we will do every couple days, every day, or even multiple times per day.

By the time we had each done 9 passes in the truck, we all were feeling less intimidated by that huge beast with its rumbling engine.

Lunch was at a local favorite called Johnboy's Country Buffet. Next week will be mostly dedicated to backing. We have some backing maneuvers to learn, and we are all ready.