Received Class A with Central

How did you like the program personally? I did it a few months back, with knowledge of trucks, and it was awesome, I liked the fast paced, as I dont like screwing around, just get to the point. I wouldnt say you would fail with no knowledge of trucks though. We had quite a few people in my class with ZERO knowledge of trucks, and they did good. You just have to be able to learn fast, like you said.

 

I got my start with them in 2009 in Utah. The training was ok. I had some knowledge because I have friends and family in trucking, but I had an issue downshifting and backing. They took me out on Rookie Road and worked with me until I got it, and my trainer (who was a friend of mine) did the rest. My only advice is to not lease a truck with them and to stay as a company driver because if you lease, you won't get the miles to cover the expenses and may come home without a paycheck some weeks.

 

So , i read somewhere that they want you to pass all of your tests in the 90's or you go home . How creditable is this , where i seen it was one of those go on forever threads about how bad they treated me posts, so just wanted to get a feel of how you liked it , and or didn't like it.

2 weeks and 3 days , that don't seem that that long of a time to acquire a cdl license . i am guessing it could have taken longer for some people that had maybe some troubles with things.

 

It's 80% at the dmv. You'll get practice tests all the time through out the first week for the written tests. Then the day before you go down to the dmv. He will give you sort of like a final practice test and he wants you to get an 85% on that to show him you're making progress. Buy they're pretty reasonable.

 

Oh , ok just woundering . Most all of the dmv tests are 80 to pass but wasnt sure cause of being a different state then I am in . How long is your temp cdl good for ?

 

If you have a lot of trouble, they don't really give you "longer". If you dont get it in those 2 weeks and 3 days, you get sent home. You can study on your own time after class but if you dont get it by the time the class is over, they send you home. The first week, we stayed in the barracks at the terminal. During that time, it's a lot of practice. The first couple days is paperwork and DOT physicals. The next day, you go to DMV to take the written part of the CDL test and get a learners permit.

From that Wednesday until the next Wednesday, you will hopefully master backing (straight line, alley dock, parallel parking), they will go over the pre trip about 100 times and then comes the driving test. Not sure about the GA or CA terminals because I took mine in Utah, but you will be mountain driving, shifting, etc. It will be yourself, the instructor, and about 3-4 more students. The second Wednesday, the did the pre trip test to make sure that you knowing that needs to be checked. Thursday was the backing test, and Friday was the driving test. If you pass everything, you get a temp license that's good for 2 months, so that gives you enough time to get to your home state to switch it over.

The next 3 days is basically laid back and we didnt do too much. Between Wednesday and Friday, your trainer will pick you up, and you go out with them for about 28 days. You will drive 48 states (or the majority of them), and they will run you like a team. Once you get back, you will test out with a backing, pretrip and another road test with just yourself and an instructor and then you will be on your own.

 

Everything lady trucker said is correct. Except the last bit. The road test after you're done with your trainer, you might have 2 to 4 people in the truck with you testing at the same time. The guy who tested me is really relax. He said. I don't expect you to be perfect at your shifting. And feel free to float gears (he was floating himself) and he even said this is not a state test. I'm not going to be all strict about it. Just show me you can drive.

And bed when it comes to the written tests. It's very important that you study every day of the week. I remember coming into west valley Monday afternoon off the bus (prévious days bus was full so had to come in late) with very very little sleep (45 hour bus ride) and I kept telling my self. Okay. Tonight's the night I'm going to get to sleep early and get caught up on sleep. But every night till Friday (test day) everyone in our class was up till at least midnight studying together. Then up at 5 or 6. Then you end up staying up late after Friday to studyfor that pretrip. So just study your ##### off. And take advantage of having someone to shoot questions back and forth with (if that's how you like to study). Oh. And don't listen to the driver standing outside the building. Or if you do. Take it with a grain of salt. Unless they have a trainer shirt on.

 

What's wrong with the guy standing outside ? Is he gonna be one of those whinny babies that I have been reading rant threads about ? Lol. How do you like your trainer so far ?

 

I've been done with my trainer for a few months now lol. And he wasn't that bad. We got along pretty good. About as good as two guys sharing a closet can