Newbies/recent grads: Which classroom subjects were the hardest to get a handle on?

I've been studying a little bit in advance of going to driving school. Much of the material is "rote" memorization. Some is conceptually difficult to grasp. What did you find to be tough to grasp? What made the light come on? I'm asking about "classroom" subjects here, not driving. I've never driven/operated anything more contrary than a backhoe, so I know the driving part will be a challenge.

 

Well in my opinion they were not hard to grasp. If you pay attention and can get over the sometimes bordom and yawning you will pick it up quickly. That said I say the log books section and hazmat section, alot to remember but after a couple days its all repitition.

 

Well, I gues the logging and HOS stuff could be a little difficult 'cause there's math involved but, pay attention to the details and remember there are 24 hours in a day and you're halfway there.


Hazmat? Meh, as a general rule it's pretty simple stuff. A little common sense, a little rote memorization and you're there. Rule of thumb for Haz is the lower the classification number the more hazardous the material.

Other than that I don't think that you'll run into anything really complicated. The toughest is gonna be the paper flow and little details for the comapny you hire on with.

If, after having driven the bus you think that the driving part is going to be complicated, I think you'll be in for a pleasant surprise.


just my 2 cents.....


.............. Jim

 

Logbooks!

Shortly after I started driving the split/sleeper break was gotten rid of and that made it alot easier to understand, but that also made the 14 hr rule rather inflexable.

 

HazMat was pretty tough..but very doable....the rest was pretty easy

 

Everything was pretty easy for me on the classroom stuff. I can see logbooks being hard if you don't have a grasp on basic math and graphs

 

While we're on the subject of classroom subjects can you guys that went to school give a list of what is covered? Of course we know Hazmat and Logbooks but what else?

 

Hard to grasp? Nothing.

Mind-numbingly boring?

Most of it.

 

HazMat is a pain in the ###.
the HOS sucks too, just a whole bunch of information to cram in.

we had to do a 109 point inspection before we're able to take our road test.
I spent way too much time studying it.
Instructor said I had the first 100% inspection in a long time.

 

If I may ask...

What parts are you finding hard to conceptually grasp?