The New FFE Driver Academey

does anyone know where they mainly run, i know they are a 48 state carrier but was just kinda curious as to the main states that they run. dont really like california to much ... also do they go to mexico or canada?

 

That's easy. Canada in a way yes but not forced. As to where we run. Think of a place that you'd hate to go
Poof you've just been dispatched. Just kidding. Between the time with my OTR trainer and my limited solo think I've been to or through 37 states. Yes We do new York NOPE no extra pay. As for Cali I just got back from Bakersfield via Compton/ east LA. When they say 48 they mean it.

 

Canada not so bad, except in the winter, no extra pay for NY kinda sucks, been through there to many times to count, but that xtra $40 made it ALITTLE bare able...... Good luck out there, stay safe!!!

 

I met my trainer a few hours ago and he is now taking a nap while we wait for a load. Hopefully we get one soon. I want to get out of here. I can already see how the truck is going to get very small.

While I am waiting I will start writing about the school, as I have been promising.

If you can fly, do it. Greyhound sucks more than words can describe. You could get the best poets and writers to describe it for you, but they would still fail at conveying the sheer magnitude of how much it sucks. The bus ride is not the bad part. What sucks are the bus drivers, the employees, the terminals and the other passengers. Now that I am getting paid and making money, if I need to go somewhere I will fly, and FFE can pay me for what it would have cost on Greyhound. If the seven concentric circles of Hell in Dante's Inferno needed a transportation company it would have been Greyhound.

That being said, the bus ride itself is not too bad. The newer buses have Wifi and electrical outlets. If you have a satellite radio you can plug your headphones into it and it works just fine. I tried it for myself and had no issues. Also, you can get a signal inside the dorm as well. Most of my nights were spent in my room listening to the radio.

When you arrive at the Fort Worth bus stop and tell the taxi driver where you want to go, they will automatically know you are with FFE. They will lie to you and tell you that they have a deal with FFE to charge $20. Tell them they are wrong and that they need to turn on their meter for the trip. It will take at least 4 weeks for you to get reimbursed, so it's much better to only be out $10 or so for a month than $20. The fare is $10 at the most, not $20.

When you arrive at the hotel they will give you a welcome packet. It has the homework that your recruiter sent you and a copy of the TX DPS manual. There are a few questions in the hotel packet that are not in the email, so check to make sure you have done them all. You can not get your own room unless you pay for the entire amount. Rooms are double-occupancy so you will have a roommate at some point. Go to bed early. Breakfast starts at 6am and the first shuttle leaves around that time. There is always more than one shuttle, so you have time to eat and catch the next one.

When you arrive at the academy you will want to go in the smaller building right in front of where the shuttle drops you off. The larger building houses the dorms. You might see a food truck when you arrive. They are not reliable. During the two weeks I was there, they never came for dinner and they were there on Monday and Tuesday morning for breakfast. Around lunchtime a truck does show up most of the time, but I would not rely on it.

When you go in the smaller building you will see a large table and 4 or 5 smaller ones. Have a seat at any of the tables. Class starts right at 7. You will be immediately taken to another classroom to watch the graduation ceremony of the outgoing class, and then Greg Peace and Mark Ray (the VP) will give you a welcome speech.

Each day Keven, the instructor for the classroom portion of week 1, will hand out dorm keys. If you are given a key you will go back to the hotel for that night and then the next day you will bring your stuff and go to that dorm room. Rooms 1 -10 are single dorms and everything else is double occupancy or more. Some rooms have up to 5 beds. Females always stay at the hotel, but they sometimes have to go to a different hotel on the weekends because the Country Inn and Suites is sold out.

The shuttle goes to Walmart on Monday and Thursday. You will get about 30 minutes to shop. If you can afford it, wait until you get here to buy bedding so you don't have to carry it with you.

I spent about $125 on food while I was at the academy. I also bought laundry detergent, bleach, Bounce, pillows, pillow cases, a duffel bag, gloves, and silverware as well. $125 for food was enough for me. If you avoid buying food from the truck and get it from Walmart, $125 should do just fine. Don't forget to add money for food while you are traveling here. Food at the Greyhound terminals is expensive. Wait to eat until you get to the stops in the small towns, which are usually at convenience stores. Those prices are high too, but they are not as bad as those at the terminals.

After you graduate and go to Lancaster for orientation, breakfast, lunch and dinner are free until Wednesday. You get breakfast and lunch on Thursday. Anytime you stay at the hotel in Lancaster you will get a free buffet breakfast. It's pretty good.

There's much more to write about, but I will stop for now. I still have to cover what to expect in the classroom and in-truck training sessions.

Oh, before I forget. If you can wait to come until it cools down a little bit then do it. It is miserably hot right now on the backing range.

 

On a side note - The newer trucks are NICE. They are nothing like the ones they use in training. They are much more comfortable and much quieter.

One more thing. The prices at the restaurants in the truck stops are sky high too. Save your money and buy food at Walmart and Kroger. If you do eat out, go to a stand-alone restaurant with normal prices.

 

Whats going on everyone. Today was my first day at the driving academy. The program seems very legit so far. The expectations have been set by all the instructors who have spoke to our group about being receptive and committed. in others words, pay attention, listen and dont give up! The first night in Ft. Worth i stayed at the country inn and suites. I did receive a key for a room in the dorms at the end of clasfrom Kevin so tonight will be my last night in the hotel. Many of the other students have claimed they did not know they were going to stay in the dorm but my recruiter Talana Halve did an excellent job setting the proper expectations fhat
We spent a lot of time today on administrative work as well as our dot physicals , eye exam, and drug test. they will warn you repeatedly to not go through with this if you know you are dirty. save everyone including your self sometime and avoid that bus ride if you are just going to get sent home. oh , be prepared to drop those drawers and cough during the physical. Road runners posts above are very helpful as well. as far as talking to students who are a week ahead of me, i have engaged a few few to pick their brain. some are willing to talk and offer pointers about class including drinking fluids to stay hydrated on the driving range. t asphalt is hot o
ut there! others have been downright rude and just blow you off when you speak to them.

 

you need to read roadrunner70's quote a few spaces down on here. he is right on the money about what he says.

 

I'm partially confused on what the hell your talking about to be honest, but what are they cracking down on exactly or what law is being changed? I just went to the Texas DMV website and searched around a few other places and have came across nothing.

 

OK you would have to follow the treat to understand my post. It's not really anything new, it's that they are going towell be cracking down on the driver lic. applicant proof of residency requirements that TX has been ignoring due to the amount of CDL schools in TX.

 

I bet they caught on Financial wise due to the mass amounts of people that pay the DMV statement fees for it.

On another note:

I thought you had to be a resident for three weeks anyway before getting it? I don't know the procedure, so maybe you can fill me in? Also, don't you just get a "Temporary" Permit while there anyway and just have it transferred to your original home town before the 60-90 days run out on it?


Omg, I'm so confused......

I'm more interested in knowing what the process will be after this affect takes place as I don't turn 21 until early Oct. So I'm #### out of luck getting it any sooner, through a Company Sponsered Academy anyway. So does this mean it will take longer to get then now having to be a resident for a longer or extended amount of time?