Starting at Great Lakes on 8/22/11

I'm starting at Great lakes Driving school monday 8/22/11

I'm 54 now. I went through United Truck Masters driving school in 1986, drove for 3 1/2 years and left to help raise the family. I'm now single and ready to get back to trucking. I did a lot of research before I made my school choice. Lucky for me it's only 20 minute drive from my home.

I have a good understanding of what to expect as I knew what questions to ask of my recruiter. He was really good to work with. If you want his name private message me.

I'll continue to post every weekday for the next 5 weeks as I attend school. I'll post additional information tomorrow even though it's Sunday.

 

Sorry it took so long to get back to this. I quit driving 22 years ago to help raise children. I drove for 3 1/2 years and logged about 450,000 back then doing 48 states and east coast regional operations. To get back into driving I have to start out again just like a rookie.

To start my return, truck driving school.

Day 1 8-22-2011

I arrived to Great Lakes Truck Driving School "GLTDS" a few minutes early. I was surprise to see how many people were there. I knew that they started a new group every 2 weeks but didn't know how many per group. I walked into the break room and left my lunch in the refrigerator. I looked around and there are two microwaves, candy machine and pop machine. There a pool table in the break room also to play during lunch if you'd like.

There is a 5 week CDL class so 3 groups are there at one time every other week. Plus some in heavy a equipment class.

The group 3 groups are in different parts of the training cycle:

Our group, in week 1, are staring in the class room and will be there for 2 weeks.

The second group, in week 3, was starting in the yard for the first time. They'd be doing straight line backing for the first few days until they've master it. Then they don onto other yard maneuvers. Next week they start to go on the road.

The third group was in week 5 finishing up on road work and doing final preparation to take the CDL.

My recruiter, Chris, told me that all the trainers are good at what they do. Now it's time to go to class and find out.

I went to the classroom and there were places set up for 10 students. Each had a name tag, 2011 Rand McNally Motor Carries atlas, a safety regulations pocketbook and orientation folder. By time we started class there was only 8 students. Two couldn't get started this week and will start with the next group in 2 weeks.

Our classroom instructor name is Brad, a training coordinator. He gave us his 2 minute resume. Brad was from the area and had worked at BP for almost 25 years and was laid-off along with all of his co-workers. He started at the school soon after he was laid off and handles most of the classroom studies. He's been there about 3 years and said this is the happiest he's ever been. I for one believe him because it has shown over the past 3 days. Even with the amount of material he has to cover he still finds time to joke around and loosen up the class. It helps that he has Scott, another training coordinator to pick on.

I'll list all the topics we've covered the past 3 days in a post tomorrow.

Day 2

We meet Scott on Tuesday. He came in to cover the topic of double clutching. I haven't done that since I left truck diving school over 25 years ago. Like most drivers I learned to float gears when I went to work out of school. For the school we have to double clutch. It's what is mandated by the State Of Ohio and is expected and graded in the CDL driving test. Having Scott in the room with Brad at the same time you can expect a few laughs. Even some deep belly laughs. The two of them would make a good comedy team. When it come to what they teach they couldn't be any more serious. Both have a different style and both teach effectively. They make it easy to learn the material.

The school has been open for a little more than 3 years. The owner had worked with Hamrick Truck Driving school when she decided to branch out on her own. Her name is Doris. I met her briefly and I found her to be pleasant, approachable but very busy. I was lucky to have a chance to talk with her.

I spoke with Scott in his office during a quick break. I wanted to know the average amount of trucking experience the trainers have. He pulled out a sheet of paper counted the number of employees, added years for each and made a quick calculation. There are a total of 13 trainers right now with an average of 25 years each. If some one can't learn how to drive from one of these guys they never will learn. If you have problems they help you one on one until you get it.

The state inspectors came in to do a spot inspection of the paper work and talk to some of the students. We had told they were coming and they never no what to expect. A lot like the DOT on the road. Always looking for problems they can fine you for. The school passed 100%. I wonder if the owner gonna buy pizza for everyone on day soon to celebrate. I doubt it, she expects the school to be ship shape at all times.

Day 3

So far Chris, my recruiter is right. The instructor's I've meet are nice guys and are excellent teachers. Didn't meet anyone new to tell you about. Class went on as normal. Plenty of learning and a few laughs along the way.

As I said earlier, I'll list all the topics we've covered the past 3 days in a post tomorrow. Now I'm caught up on the past 3 days I'll be easier to keep up with this. If you have any questions ask. If I can't answer them I'll direct you to someone who can. Your welcome to private message me also.

 

I wanted to post daily but obviously it didn't happen.


Day 4 we started off doing some more subjects in the classroom. Brad had to leave unexpectedly at lunch. When we returned after lunch we got to meet Steve. Steve voice will remind you of a drill instructor. He's retired from a company he drove doubles for. He has been teaching driving for 17 years. He came over from Hamrick with the owner. Steve is one of the managers. Several of the instructor's came from Hamrick for one reason or another. I'm sure we won't hear the whole story. Steve spent about an hour talking about pre-trip inspection and how important it is we start learning it right away. When you go to take the DOT test with the state they want you to pass it the first time. If you don't you have to wait a week to go take it over.
We spent the last 3 hours of the day going over the different parts of the truck and what they need to know about it for the pre-trip. It was a beautiful day out and it gave us a break from the classroom.

Day 5 Brad took at day off so we got a new instructor for the day. His name is Jerry. He was thrown in for the day not knowing what we had covered. Plus the Doctor was coming in to give DOT physicals to those who didn't have them already. Jerry started out by having the students that needed physicals prepare the forms they needed to do. class starts at 8. At 8:30 there was a surprise visit from a recruiter. He was from Boyd Bros. a company that runs flatbeds. He was there safety man and talked the company into letting him get out for a week and recruiter. Boyd Bros doesn't have a recruiter that visits the schools. He said he may be back again next year.

At 9:30 the Doctor came and took care of physicals. At 11 AM Jerry had us do the the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Regulations FMCSR test. Its an open book test. You have to look up regulations and answer questions about them. Every one did 94% or better.

In the afternoon we continued on more chapter, power points, movies and quizzes.

Below you will find all the subjects covered in class over the first 2 weeks.
There are 32 chapters. Each chapter comes with a power point and sometimes a movie or two. We aren't doing the chapters in order. At the end of each chapter there is a quiz that needs to be taken. After we complete the quiz we go over and keep them so we can study them for when we do the final sometime next week. The quizzes aren't scored and don’t go toward your class grade. A word to the wise, do the quiz as if it counts. Make corrections so you can study them for the final. Below are the 32 chapters that have to be covered. We have completed 22 classes by the end of the first week.

1. Orientation – regulated industry, commercial driver’s license (CDL) and driver qualifications
2. Control Systems - engine controls, vehicle instruments, primary and secondary controls
3. Vehicle Systems - the key parts of the tractor-trailer (frame, engine, suspension, etc.)
4. Vehicle Inspection - pre-trip, en-route, and post-trip inspection procedures; reporting findings
5. Basic Controls - starting, warming up, and shutting down the engine; straight line backing, turning the vehicle
6. Shifting - shift patterns and procedures, shifting automatic and semi- automatic transmissions
7. Backing - backing procedures, basic backing maneuvers
8. Coupling & Uncoupling - coupling and uncoupling procedures, summary of safety hazards
9. Visual Search - seeing ahead and to the sides, using mirrors, seeing to the rear
10. Communication - communicating intent and presence; misuse of communications
11. Speed Management - speed and stopping distance, speed and surface conditions, speed and traffic flow
12. Space Management - space cushion concept, space to the sides, giving space to others
13. Night Operations - night driving factors and procedures
14. Extreme Driving Conditions - adverse weather, hot weather, mountain driving
15. Hazard Perception - road characteristics, road user characteristics, road user activities
16. Railroad Crossings - recognizing dangers/hazards; safety procedures
17. Emergency Maneuvers/Skid Avoidance - evasive steering, emergency stopping, blowouts
18. Skid Control & Recovery - skid dynamics, tractor-trailer skids, skid recovery
19. Special Rigs - oversized vehicles, special cargo vehicles, special handling vehicles
20. Preventive Maintenance & Servicing - types of maintenance, inspection and maintenance requirements
21. Diagnosing & Reporting Malfunctions - troubleshooting, reporting requirements
22. Handling Cargo - proper cargo handling
23. Cargo Documentation - definitions and forms, shipping documents, consequences of faulty cargo handling
24. Hazardous Materials - classes and divisions, loading and unloading, shipping papers
25. Hours of Service - introduction to logbooks, driving and on-duty rules, using sleeper berth time
26. International Driving –
27. Trip Planning - recordkeeping and trip reports; estimating time, fuel, and
28. Accident Procedures - steps to take at an accident scene, reporting and evaluating accidents
29. Security of Cargo, Truck and Driver
30. Personal Health and Safety - fatigue, alcohol, and drugs; roadside emergencies; on- and off-duty job stresses
31. Public & Employer Relations (Trucking Professional) - customer relations, applying for a job
32. Basic Business Practices for Truck Drivers -