Tractor and Trailer for Road Test - Manitoba

Just spent six weeks in a local, "Professional Driving School" (Edit: Note that this is NOT the school with that name) here in Winnipeg.

Long-story-short: The, "School" brags about training you to be a, "Truck Driver, not just pass a test." Good line, but the geniuses forget that one has to pass the blasted test _before_ becoming a Truck Driver. Consequently, after two Exams with MPI (Manitoba Public Insurance - the licencing body here in Manitoba) exactly one person out of my class of eight managed to get their Class 1 with Air. Yeh, wasn't me. Managed to get my Air Brake Endorsement, but didn't even get a chance at a road test because of time . . .

Regardless. I loved it! and I know I can drive, and given a fair shot at an Exam, even here with MPI, I will get the licence.


My predicament though, is that I need a Tractor, Trailer, and a warm licenced body to rent for a new test. I've reached out to the two other English speaking Schools, but haven't heard back yet. Frankly, given the scam (government pays the Student's ~$8,400 tuition) they got going here in Manitoba these days, they're probably filled past capacity so couldn't be bothered.

Anyone got any ideas? or better yet, a unit to rent for a couple of days?

 

Thanks. BTW, it wasn't the company named, "Professional Driving School" - sorry about any confusion that may create.

As for Students putting in the work. We, or at least myself and the one guy who passed did (we shared the trucks and Instructors). I attribute the disastrous failure rate on the School as well as MPI. The former for their poor communications; extremely poor curriculum; incorrect strategy (ie: ya gotta be able to pass the test!); inconsistency of Instructors and materials; misalignment of course materials with jurisdiction; and, arrogance of the Owner. The latter (MPI) for their eagerness to fail. I know they have had a reputation to the contrary, but their frequent interjections and general demeanor signal a change in corporate attitude has taken place and they're now in the business of failing folks.

Regardless, thanks, and sorry again about any confusion with the School name.

 

These, "mills" of which you speak. Do tell . . .

asking for a friend

Seriously tho. As per usual for Manitoba, it's a totally ridiculous situation.

MPI pays for you to go to one of their, uh, "accredited schools".

The school is one in name only.

MPI then fails the hell of you and the alleged, "school" is, "pfffft! ZFG mate! we gots the money"

Quick math. Manitoba taxpayers paid about $70,000 for one - exactly one! person to get their Class 1

I'm willing to give MPI one more shot at being honest and fair, then I'm off to another Province.

The "school"? As long as the Manitoba government stays as stupid as they currently are; I'd invest, but would never waste my time as a student with them again.

 

You can't imagine spending six weeks and failing something as mundane as a road test . . . I should have been so lucky to GET TO THE ROAD TEST.

After two attempts and not even getting to the Road Test - Crushing is the only way to describe it.

FTR. First attempt, auto-fail for compounding the breaks. Sure. You release the Tractor Brake, hammer the blasted button even; but when the unit is older than you are and in horrid condition, you push it in and it works (or not) differently every time.

Second attempt. Auto-fail on time. Given the 273 point (spot-on with adjectives) pre-trip inspection and 73 step in-sequence Air Brake Test, coupled with a chatty and intrusive examiner; making it all in under 50 minutes is a miracle.

I should have used an interpreter.

 

The Instructors are great people. Great Truck Drivers too. And though they went through a, "train the trainer" programme, they are not teachers. That too may be fine, but the combination of the Owner's lackadaisical approach to actually getting student's their licenses, combined with MPI's newfound Winnipeg attitude of, deny-deny-deny means that a lot of folks are wasting their time and taxpayer money.

The more I think about it, the more inclined I am to wait until I move out of Manitoba.