The journey begins.....

Monday August 26 7 am at smith and Solomon bellmawr nj....

 

Got the CDL book from the DMV a week ago. The general knowledge stuff was pretty easy for me today. I am going to study every night to go Friday to test. Are there any sites for cdl practice tests. I can't get the ones here to load. I'm gonna test for all endorsements as well this week

thanks

 

Tomorrow is the last day for the week. They do mon-thurs 7-5. This was a good week. The classroom instructor is good. Very through. Told /taught us alot about the business which i was surprised at because they basically tell you there just there to get you your cdl. He was good. Tomorrow we go to the yard for the first time. Per trip and coupling and uncoupling. Next week it will get dicey. Everyone who has test to go for their road test,failed their road test, plus my class will be in the yard. That's prob 30 people. You put your name on a list for straight back,angle back, and alley dock. You get 3 tries then move on to the next. I guess maybe one shot at each each day. I have a feeling next week will be a test on patience

 

Took general knowledge,air bakes,combination and tanker today passed all. Got permit now. Hoping to take hazmat and next week

 

Spent all weekend backing at in laws. Alley dock and angle backing. Fri sat and today. 6 hours each day. 45 foot flatbed. By tonight i was feeling pretty good but long way to go. Went on the road tonight. First time. Had trouble downshifting. Couldn't get engine speed right so that was a problem. All in all a good first experience.

 

Out in the yard today. First time. Did air brake pre trip and straight backing. You need to get tested on all 3 before you can move up to alley dock. There are about 25 people doing alley dock and road driving. That looks like it can back up fast. Problem is there is only one instructor in the yard to watch straight backing and alley dock. If you have a problem you could fall behind because one instructor to watch / help so many. They take 4 students road driving 2 times a day. They have 2 road trucks but only one full time road instructor. If you don't get it quick looks like you could be here for awhile. I heard today 6 out of 7 failed road test last week. You can go in for additional ten nights and weekends if need be. All in all so far my experience has been good but you have to work hard and apply yourself to get thru in a timely manner. If you take the road test and fail you go to the back of the list so any first timers have priority for testing. Better to wait till your sure you can pass and go one time. Good instructors there for sure jet a bit understaffed.