TMC Transportation, Inc. - Des Moines, Ia.

A refresher course has nothing to do with safety. It is just another way to gouge a driver out of pocket. If I owned a company who do you think I would hire. A brand new driver fresh out of school with no exp or a million miler that has been out of a truck for a year?

 

In your case I would probably agree with you. The person you are responding to, seems to have no experience other than CDL school which was many months ago. In his case, do you believe he needs no refresher?

Anyway, it is the company's insurance carrier that imposes these rules in most cases.

 

No he will get his exp with a trainer and solo. The classroom has nothing to do with real world trucking. All the class will do is set him back a grand or two. Make him want to push harder and run harder to start making money instead of spending it on a class with no income. He would more likely not push himself to make up for lost wages resulting in going back to a school. The school is good for a few saftey points and getting a CDL. The real learning comes out here on the road.

 

So, why have CDL schools at all?

 

To get a CDL. Do you think the CDL school gets them road ready? If so, why do they need a trainer when they get hired? If the school gets them ready why do they not hire on as solo drivers and not trainees?

 

No, these are thought I have had since my CDL school. It was next to worthless. Still, there has to be standardization of some type. Maybe a DOT approved cirruculum training course.

 

I was driving before the CDL. I never grandfathered. When I went back it cost me 3 grand to learn how to drive a big truck again. I got one thing out of the school. Qualcomm that was a new concept. I went with a trainer. I saw a car that was going to be merging on the highway. I checked my mirors, put on the turn signal and went to the hammer. The trainer asked me why I did that? My reply was the white car will be merging. He said what white car? The one that is behind the hill and is going to pop out when we get to the on ramp. Bam; there it was and it came right on out. I was aware of my surroundings long before the trainer was. I started floating gears. He asked me where I had learned how to do that? Now tell me, what does a school do for you? I had more stick time than my trainer.

 

You still needed to learn your new company's proceedures. Still, this thread within a thread was started with someone without your experience asking about might be required of him. Right or wrong, each individual company has its own requirements. If you want to work for them you have to comply.

 

I don't care if I had no exp if I paid out of pocket for a school and I had to do it again I would not. I would find another company. That was my reply that started this debate. He does not need exp or have to do a refresher if he looks around before he opens that wallet again.

 

That's a moot point, since all the major trucking companies will reemburse your tuition. You may have to pay for it up front out of your pocket or you may obligate yourself for a certain time. In the long you are not paying for it.