Western Pacific Truck School Modesto, CA

4th day. We reveiwed for the general knowledge test, as well as air brakes & combinations. We got our application after lunch, & then all went to DMV. I decided I wanted to find out how much I really know, so I took all the endorsements (exept passenger & schoolbus).....and....I passed them all. I did not miss any of the hazmat or tanker. missed 1 on the doubles & tripples. Did not miss any on the combo or air brakes. Missed two on general knowledge (I think 1 was cause of a DMV missprint). & missed 2 on the class C. The Instructor did NOT want us to take the extra endorsements, & I know why. After taking the tests I would not want to do all of them at the same time again. I was going to take my endorsements tomarrow, but DMV will be closed. I am happy & tired.

 

End of 1st week. We went through Haz-mat quite a bit. Took a couple of tests, & the final test for the classroom for the course. We also had has the recruiter from Stevens transport come by. He could lie with a straight face, but he did really like Harleys, so he wasn't all bad. He make claims of being able to clear 45g's the 1st year, & 90 the second...wich at .35 a mile comes out to a moving average of 45miles an hour, # 11 hours a day....maybe, but doubtfull. I just don't get why they feel the need to inflate #'s like that, as it makes everything they say suspect in my eyes.

Back to WPTS. IMO you could very easily pass the CDL without the classroom. BUT with it you KNOW what you are talking about, instead of just learning answers for the tests. I am paying cash out of my pocket to go there, & so far am very happy with my investment. I wish the placement lady had more experience (she has only been there for 3 months), but she is one hell of a nice lady, as well as everyone there. The instructors are easy to talk to, very knowledgeable, & not afraid to tell you they don't know (only time that happened is when we were talking about fire extingusher s/p? types). They also has one of the DOT officers come in & talk with us. I thought it was cool to know their point of view. Also the guy gave contact #'s for when we get hassled, to help fight bogus tickets. He was well aware of dot guys with a stick up their rears & the hassles & consiquences they pose for truckers....As well as truckers that try to get by by being not quite legal, & the ramifications of doing so

 

how much does the school cost?

 

Five Grand and Change for the Class A,that includes Hazmat ect. Ill be going to Stockton soon,gotta jump through some Hoops first.

 

$4800ish+DMV & physical.

I didn't update for a couple of days, sorry...so here goes.

Monday was cold as hell! but we were in the yard, & we went over the brake tests (everyone in the class did it), same with coupling & uncoupling. We finnished up with pretip.

I am on the 2-4 hour classes a day plan, so each day I get 8 hours.....

2nd half of the day was even colder...but luckily for most of it I was in the truck straight line backing with a 28 ft trailer, & doing the measured stop. Did more coupling & uncoupling. As the evening went on, I practiced my pre trip (vocalising it, & looking less at the paper)

Tuesday

The sun came out YAY! Morning class was more coupling & uncoupling. Pretrip (with a different instructor), where we would do the pre trip for him, & of coarse more straight line backing.

2nd half of the day....guess what we did....coupling & uncoupling, straight line backing, & Q&A with the instructor. After while we pulled out the 45ft trailer. I found that pretty easy to back, so with the instructors permission, I would get the truck at funky angles & back out of it to the designated postiton where we were supposed to straight line back into...that did make me sweat a little. The longer trailer really shows it's length like that.

I am having one hell of a good time. So far I am glad I chose this school (I am paying $ out of my own pocket). So far my only complaint is I am the only one doubling up classes, & I am a little worried I will not be able to progress as much as I'll need to pass the DMV on the 28th!...but we will see. If more wanted to double up, I think it would be easier. but $$ wise, I need to get back to work ASAP, so the 6 week, 4 hour a day wont work for me (my old job would not work with me on it)....I think we are driving on the road today...wish my luck (if I don't post back again....just keep waiting HA!)

 

do they guarantee you a job after finishing school

 

Nope. Although i would think that its like anything else, show them that you are serious about the Job and they'll help open some Door's.

 

No....but from what I have seen is the only students that have a hard time finding work is those that ONLY want local. Shure seems like the placement lady works hard for you though. Nobody gonna hold your hand though, You still gotta apply youself.

For my classes yesterday.

Morning class we did more pre trip. I have the front of the tractor down pretty good now. Then we started to learn how to alley dock (pretty much a long arc to the drivers side, when the truck & trailer end up at 90 degrees from where you started, about 100 foot away betwen 4 cones).

Afternoon class. We shared the same truck (for 3 students) for about 1/2 hour. I then asked Bob (my instructor) if it was OK for me to grab another truck & practice on the other side of the yard...& he didn't hesitiate on handing me a set of keys & a trailer #. So I went & hooked up. I quickly realised why he started us out on the other side of the yard...as it was easier. With this side now I cannot see the cones I am aiming into when I start to back up. Messed it up a couple of times. & now can get it in 1st time almost every time (28ft trailer, long wheelbase tractor). I did it so many times I had to stop cause my arm hurt from turning the steering wheel....2 hours of it or so. So we took a break, & after wards he had the other guys do pre trip, while he got me started on paralell parking the trailer (this is for the CA DMV test). He showed me 1 time, walked me through it 2 times, & (because I was ready) let me do it on my own. I am getting it right about 1 out of every 3 times. I am not hitting cones, just getting the trailer in to far to the curb (if you can visualise it). I was kinda tired at the end of the day, but shure feels good to have an instructor that will go at my pace & at the same time taking it slow for those that need it...& not making them feel bad about it. I take my DMV driving test on the 28th, so the psi is on....but with Bob's help I am shure I will be ready.

 

Nice!

 

Thursdays Class.

We were on the road! We went to what they call "kindergarden". A buisiness park that has almost no buildings in it yet. Bob showed us how to double clutch, & what gear to start out it (in the 10spd we were in it was 4th). He also showed us how to down shift. When we were ready he took us out on the "big boy" roads, & use the big boy gears (9th & 10th) LMAO! Only 1 student out of both my morning & even classes did not get out of kindergarden. Each of us drove for about an hour. The big boy roads were secondary roads out by farms & dairies. Durring the day not so bad, but I had a hard time at night judging my width...I never hit or went off the road, but it was just more difficult for me. With time I will get more used to my width, as it seems like my car trailer is wider than the thuck & trailers we are using.

Morning classes we did almost all left turns. & really fucused on where the trailer would track. My night class I did almost all right turns, wich I found easier for some reason, even though it was dark.

Throughout the whole day my hardest obsticle was down shifting. & I have the process, just need practice...my head thinks 8th is in the spot between 10th & where 8th really is....& giving it enough rpms for that down shift (take it down to 1000, out of gear, release clutch, throttle to the floor (up to about 1800 rpms), immed. release throttle, clutch in & into gear).

LMAO I drove about 35 miles..well on my way to being a super trucker LMAO! just joking.