Simulation for CDL prep

Not following. I've not made up my mind on anything. No idea why asking the question is wrong. Not bothered if that's the case or been beaten to death in the past.

 

Unfortunately -- he's correct.

I've used a truck simulator (Schneider). They don't even come remotely close to immulating real world conditions, because (in part) there's no real trailer (with say, 40,000+ lbs of freight) pulling behind you.

Your time at this point is probably much better spent researching:

• What carrier with which you'd most like to begin -- & why
• What nearby CDL schools are there from which said carrier prefers to hire
• What nearby CDL schools will still train & final test you on a 10-speed manual transmission -- thus deleting that pesky "automatic only" restriction on your CDL.

Later on....if/when you attend a nearby CDL school...recruiters from different "starter" carriers will at some point very likely visit your class...to tell you about their offerings, & encourage you to sign on with them.

You might start now....to put together a list of questions you would want to ask them. Some examples:

• How long can I expect to be out on a trainer's truck? Will I be sleeping in the truck during that time -- or somewhere else?
• What areas/lanes will I be running -- once I am solo?
• Where is new driver orientation? Will I share a hotel room with someone else during orientation? How many days is beginner driver orientation? How will I get to orientation (plane, bus, rental car, personal vehicle)? How will my travel expenses be reimbursed?
• If I later find that my trainer is not a good one -- what are then my options?
• What do you pay beginning drivers for:
  • Orientation?
  • Time out on a trainer's truck?
  • CPM?
  • Breakdown pay?
  • Detention pay?
  • Live load/unload pay?
  • Bad weather delays?
  • 34-hour resets (away from home)?

Within the Houston area -- I wouldn't be surprised at all to see your class visited by:

• Swift
• Knight
• Schneider
• Stevens Transport
• Melton Truck Lines
• and/or others

​

Schneider may well visit your class -- also to look for new drivers in their tanker fleet. You thus may have to decide:

• Do I want to start out things by doing tanker duty? -- OR --
• Do I first want to learn to drive a big rig running dry van freight -- & then...later on....switch over to tanker freight...as an experienced driver?

CAUTION: Training on tankers in the Houston area during the warmer months will suck. BIG TIME.

-- L

 

I have used 4 different types of simulators. Only one came anywhere close to being realistic, and that one cost $50,000 circa 2000.

There is some value to the backing games to understand theory, but that theory is useless without real world inputs. You can spend time and money on simulators, but both would be better spent getting behind an actual steering wheel.

This guy got "5 STARS" for this maneuver. In the real world he would have bent his fairings and flat spotted his tires, not to mention hit several things with various parts of the truck.


It's not going to give you any advantage over someone who didn't do any prep for cdl school. For less than $3,500 you can enroll in FVTC's ptdi certified cdl program and get 10 weeks of instruction. Im sure there's a similar community/tech college option near you.

 

I just graduated a CDL school in August. They used a truck driving simulator and I didn't like it. I have previously driven before as I let my CDL expire so I had to go through the CDL school to get my license back. When I tried the simulator it felt more like a video game not giving you a real feel of how a truck felt. The school had just received the simulator and I suggested that they use it at the beginning to give the student a feel of how it feels but to tell the students that this is just for a guide and not to think that driving a real truck is like playing a video game.

 

Don't overthink the truck driving thing. It's not that complex or difficult. Mostly just common sense.
I worked for one hazmat/tanker OTR company that usually only hired experienced drivers. They got behind on hauling loads, so hired a guy right out of cdl school. He proved to be one of the best drivers they had; the most safe and conscientious driver there. He didn't hang around the breakroom crying and whining and complaining as you'll probably see beginning with your first job. Ignore all that, because you're there for a good career and decent paycheck, so don't let the negative-nancys drag you down with them.

 

get a toy truck w/trailer, it'll give you the general idea of the actual mechanics involved.

 

Thanks, guys. This is all good stuff.

I was never convinced about the simulators and wasn't sure they're worth the effort and cost which is why I started this thread. $200 is a decent amount of beer and bacon. From my experience, simulators generally aren't that immersive or even applicable except for some technical aspects (ex. VOR navigation in flight sims). Just wasn't sure about a truck sim as I've never seen or been around one.

Seems that most of the companies that hire newbies have their own programs, so probably just best to continue to watch vids and see about getting some study materials prior to attending one of these.

Again, thanks for the input and advice.

 

Had a simulator at my school. Fun to play around on but didnt help one bit when I got in the truck.