Profile For Shirley B.

Lexington Lady,

Disclaimer: My opinion only of my own experience when I was in persuit of getting my Class A CDL.

CDL schools should not be using discrimination in any form. They need to be respecting and providing positive reninforcement of how to stay safe around different environments that entry level drivers may come across.

When they condone the negativity they are: *** Training you to be an unsafe and distracted driver. *** Setting the stage for a critical and dangerous failure event which = to getting you killed or you killing someone. *** Wasting your time and money. *** They are not living your life or helping it. Tell them "see ya... never again"

Bad Karma will eventually follow the instructors and the rest of the school staff if they don't change their negative mindset.

Request copies of everything documented in your student file, and dispute whatever you find untrue. Example: training policies, tuition contracts, refund policy, attendance/performance reviews, student application and so on.

Get with a different school that offers company paid training with tuition reimbursements and the like.

Here is a link of what truck driver training schools are suppose to be training you in and regulations to stay compliant with so as to avoid initiating an investigation from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&ty=HTML&h=L&mc=true&n=pt49.5.380#sp49.5.380.f

You will need to research and know how to use all levels ( federal, state and local ) regulations/laws of government to protect yourself from unsafe ignorance and retaliation. It's not all butter and cream after upgrading to a Class A CDL. There is a life time of learning. You will learn that OSHA (toxic work environment), FMCSA, State Attorney General, Consumer Affairs, DMV, and other authorities are there to protect everyone from a variety of mistreatment.

WE ARE ALL BORN WITH GREATNESS..It's up to YOU to bring it out from within.

Latifah,

The point is you will need to be able to climb in and out of the trailer no matter who you work for. *** No touch, drop and hook freight is not gauranteed especially being a company driver... loads are forced dispatched one way or another. You can't rely on a step ladder all the time due to unlevel/soft ground in most shippers' and receivers' property configurations. The trucking company's insurance most likely will deny paying medical expenses if you get hurt on a ladder outside of the trailer or truck. Getting in and out of the tractor and trailer is a form of excercise activity to condition your body to meet the demands of the trucking occupation. Plus, in case of an emergency you need to be agile enough to move out of the way of things coming at you.

Example: Offloading away from the dock...A row of Walmart shopping carts- the wheels were not locked in by the shipper. I was told by receiver to break the seal and open the door. I opened the right side trailer door and rows of carts were being held back from falling out by the left side trailer door. I had to climb in the trailer quickly to prevent them from rolling out onto the ground and hitting a couple of Walmart bystanders. Thankfully I was on almost level ground giving me enough time to lock in the wheels and get help.

Since it's an agility test...I agree with Nae Nae In NC:

** Try Again as much as you are allowed to retest. Do push up exercises to gain upper body strength.

Possible steps to analyze and pass the agility test. *** Safety disclaimer: Do Not attempt the steps below without further advice and approval from the safety compliance examiner. The examiner will most likely give you instructions on how he/she would like you to climb safely into the trailer. If not... find another place to work.

Keeping atleast a 3 point contact and staying safe:

(1) Wear a hard hat at all times outside of your truck and trailer even if others don't require or don't adhere to their own safety. *** It's your head and mind- PROTECT IT. (2) Wear well fitting work gloves to prevent cuts and injuring your hands (3) Wear long sleeves to protect your arms and body. (4) Keep the left side door closed, locked and grip the edge with two hands to pull your body onto the ICC bar. (5) Keep the body tight against the trailer's edge still holding onto the left trailer door and standing securely on the ICC bar. (6) Place and Secure the back of your left elbow, arm and shoulder up against the inside of the door while both palms are secured on the floor of the trailer as if preparing for a push up. For security be mindful of grabbing the closed trailer door at all times to prevent any falling. (7) Gather your strength..Keeping your left elbow,arm, and shoulder anchored to the inside of the trailer door (a) when secure and ready. (b) plan on slightly pushing up and forward into the trailer to plant your upper body on the floor and bringing the right leg up into the trailer in one complete motion. Keep using the trailer door for balancing and security until you are completely inside the trailer.

Sorry, $50 each module(4-5) & .10 cents a mile on loaded and empty with trainer`s truck.

Once your in a truck the pay is good if Otr. Company driving I can not confirm.

I forgot... Have expense money if you go for cdl school & training because the first 2 months is not a walk in the park as far as pay($50 a wk).

Hi Ms. Sunshine Melly, Try Cr England they gave me a headstart. Ofcourse you have to be patient with the way they do things example: Company driving you will wait for a truck approx. 3 wks or longer after completing your modules and driver training with a trainer which will take you out for about 8 wks or less. Lease program allows you to get into a truck sooner (not recommended if you do not have atleast 3-4 wks of lease amount saved up). Both are contingent on what your trainer has to say about you. Do not suck up to them. Be prepared to have a nothing to lose attitude. As a woman you may get a trainer who is not respectful to females. Set boundaries. They cross the line be prepared to file a complaint and possibly unemployment. All & all I had 4 different trainers because I just so happened to catch their hometime schedule but they were very respectful and encouraging. Hope this helps.

Look at it after expenses are paid. Although I was a lease operator made $65k in 6 months actual take home was approx. $27k for the year. DM maxed me as solo @ 2800 miles per week.