Trailer Length

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by 26th LGS, May 24, 2011.

  1. 26th LGS

    26th LGS Bobtail Member

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    May 16, 2011
    san jose, ca
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    This afternoon I was talking to a recruiter and he asked me what trailers we
    practiced with in school, when I told him 28ft he told me I would have to go through his companies training program because they used 53ft. Does this
    seem right ?:biggrin_25521:
     
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  3. Pa geargrinder

    Pa geargrinder Light Load Member

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    Aug 1, 2010
    Pa
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    Yes

    How do these mills get away with teaching someone to drive ,pulling a 28 ft trailer !

    Hoping your schooling did not Cost you much !



    Pa.
     
  4. gravdigr

    gravdigr Road Train Member

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    May 2, 2011
    Hollidaysburg, PA
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    We use 53' trailers in school. They really don't seem as long as I expected.
     
  5. Freebird135

    Freebird135 Road Train Member

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    May 7, 2009
    In the air conditioning
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    seems right to me

    the fact that any school is teaching on 28 foot pups just blows my mind
     
  6. Diesel Dave

    Diesel Dave Last Few of the OUTLAWS

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    Jan 20, 2010
    Hesperia, Ca.
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    You can take your driving test on a 28', it's easier to get around, but schooling should teach both long and short trailer, preferably FLATBEDS:yes2557:, (look who's talking).........
     
    bergy Thanks this.
  7. flyingmusician

    flyingmusician Road Train Member

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    Jamestown, NC
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    we use 48's and 53's in our school as well.....we only use the pups for initial backing training but for road work and testing we used the long ones....and now in the last week we're pulling a loaded 53 with 20k in it to get the feel of driving with a load now that we have passed the CDL testing and have our licenses....

    if they haven't had you pulling anything longer than a 28 then you aren't getting your money's worth
     
  8. soderlund416

    soderlund416 Light Load Member

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    Feb 7, 2011
    mass
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    Even my school had us pulling 40 footers and I thought they were pushing it with how short they are.
     
  9. Saienga

    Saienga Medium Load Member

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    Jul 28, 2009
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    There are several independent, reputable schools in my area that use 28' pups for breaking students in, teaching maneuver and backing, etc. From what I've seen, they take 40' or 48' trailers for on street drives. I'm guessing they do this later in the curriculum.

    I wouldn't jump on a school that uses 28' trailers. I'd jump on the school that I could prove didn't use anything else.

    # OP: Yes, that's right. 53' is the standard van/reefer length. Regardless of how you trained, the company would likely send you through their training anyway. Liability.
     
  10. 26th LGS

    26th LGS Bobtail Member

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    May 16, 2011
    san jose, ca
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    Well I guess its time to jump on the school, 28ft trailers were all we drove.
    I graduated last month, the state picked up the tab because my job in
    electronics to china. Thanks for all the reply's
     
  11. G-Dog

    G-Dog Bobtail Member

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    Jan 18, 2011
    BC
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    This is pretty much bang on. Most of the places I've checked into since graduating 12 days ago have their own training programs for new drivers.
    The same rules of driving will apply, you will just have to take more space when cornering, etc. However, I can't understand why they would train you with only 28 footers when pretty much everything you're going to haul is going to be 53' or 48'.
    What do they do for b-trains? Tell you to just imagine that 2nd trailer?
     
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