The New FFE Driver Academey

hey newberry and skinner im still here lol-- its a tuff course but they give you what you need to get through it and i have thought they were more than fair giving people every chance they needed to get through this --they are not going to hold your hand and walk you through it and except for the people that didnt pass the physical i dont think they really told anyone to go home yet --- they quit --- attitude is the most important thing around here ---- the instructors are really good here and i never ever felt like this was some kind of cdl mill -- you become aware very soon that they are really trying to make you into a safe proffesional driver --- i am fairly sure i am going to make it through ok , but even if i didnt i really made the right choice for coming here--- so look forward to meeting you both monday---- i had a good moment today --- altho i have the utmost respect for connie -- i no longer fear her and your not going to know what i mean till thursday --- but there are some pretty good folks running things around here and they are really good at there jobs so my advice to you is let them do there jobs and when its over you will be on your way to being good at your job --so good luck and have a safe bus ride and see you monday

 

Why would you "fear" her? she's cool as hell! you do have to RESPECT her though as you would any of the range cadre. good luck grabbing gears on monday!

 

spoke to a new guy in bridgeview yesterday. he was bummed out about getting 600 mile trips with 3 days to do it in. told him that's how the rookie board works. we all had them... only thing you can do is just bump your docks on time, every time. Your dispatcher is trying to figure out if you can handle it or not.

eventually as you prove yourself, you'll see that your schedules will begin to get tighter and the trips will get longer. hell i'm scheduled so tight sometimes, i wish i had 3 days to run 600 miles!

once you graduate off the rookie board, it gets a whole lot better (or worse, depending on your point of view!)

don't flake, don't leave the load planner hanging, and bump those docks on time, and you will do good.

 

i have a few questions about FFE.
1. since i already have a CDL, but no otr experience am i still required to go through the training academy, and stay six weeks with the road trainer?
2. what is the pay like, mileage, detention, breakdown, layover, etc.
3. what is the average miles per week in the otr division vs. the ltlt regional division?
4. what the home time poilcy?
5. i was looking into the LTL division so that i can be home weekly, and are the miles still there so that one can make a good living and be home weekly?
Thanks in advance!!

 

Well, I made it through. I have to head over to the dps shortly in order to take my road test, which isn't hard in comparison to the FFE road evaluation. This has been an interesting experience, many of you thinking of coming are probably thinking it isn't super hard, that's sort of true. Over half of my class washed out, same with the class before us. It happens. It will happen. And it will happen to you or someone you may meet here.

 

I am at the hotel now looking forward to meeting those of you I have talked with I will be for breakfast in the morning.Thank you buckeye for clearing up that most that left because they quit not that they were told to leave. I am sure I have the right additude to get through this.

 

Hey newberick im here at the hotel if i wanna chat, give u a few tips about tomorrow

 

call me in room 225

 

probly bad choice of words virus -- she made me nervous the first morning --- but a very good instructor if not the best --- helps when needed and really wants you to be a safe driver -- hope this week goes as fast as this last week

 

so sitting here on my 3rd night of my 5 days off after completing the ffe academy and otr training. got my truck assigned and due back on thursday at 0700 for my first load out. this is the first time in almost 9 weeks i've had a chance to catch up on this thread.

thoughts on the academy. trust them. do what they say and you'll be fine. out of about 45 that started on monday we had 21 "graduate" the academy and outa that 19 passed the dot test. outa 19, 14 of us went otr and 5 went out to midland. to me the ffe road test at the school and the dot road test were about the same. just don't f'n stress out. easy to say i know but that is the key to both of them. IF you live in Texas and are going there do yourself a favor and take the dps written/permit tests BEFORE you go and show up thursday. before you go get as much sleep as you can, because once your there lol you may not get much. if you are planning on getting there on sunday, bring a few days of food with you and try to avoid the rush of having to go to walmart on that first monday, do what you can to wait till thursday when it's a little easier to get a seat on the van. there are some really good people/trainers there. Connie has YOUR best interest at heart, she really does. as for the driver trainers, I had Lisa, and to be honest, i wouldn't have wanted anyone else. regardless of who you get, just follow directions and bite your lip and don't talk back. leave any attitude at home before you get there.

ok, once you get through the academy, you'll get a few days of RNR in lancaster for orientation. enjoy that time. the beds and the hotel are nice and the food is plenty.

once past that you'll get assigned to a trainers truck. i'm NOT going to go into details @ my experience there. outa the guys that i was able to keep in touch with the vast majority had really good trainers. IF you get a bad one DO NOT STAY ON THE TRUCK! there is absolutely NO reason for you on average to have to go without a shower for more than every other day. IF YOU HAVE TO GO LONGER THAN THAT GET OFF THE TRUCK! while on that truck you will learn a ton of things. MAKE SURE YOU GET TRAINED ON PEOPLENET. ESP ON PACOS AND NAVIGO. YOU NEED THIS TRAINING. you will NOT get this training @ school so get it while you can. i CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH. also while in the trainers truck back every time you get a chance. then back some more. then if possible back some more. rest assured you will get miles behind the wheel in that truck. in 5 weeks i drove in 32 different states.

once past that, you'll get off his/her truck to test out at the yard. you'll prob get at least one night in the hotel so enjoy it while you can. the road test @ the yard is about what you went through at the school, and for the backing part of it you will get plenty of space and time to get it in the hole. so don't worry @ it. well you will worry about it but try not to worry to much. after you test out you'll get assigned to your truck. outa the 5 that tested out with me i think 2 got 2013's and the rest of us got 09's. i have no clue how it's determined but in theory they are getting rid of the 09's soon so i might be seeing a newer one soon. i can't really complain, it's clean and thats what i was hoping for.

over all, it aint the easiest thing that i've ever done. and actually i am proud that i've gotten through that part of it and nervous as anything about going out next week solo. but, i'm glad i chose ffe over the others that i had on my list. and one last fyi, afternoon rushour in D.C. really sucks so try to avoid that if ya can.