A Bit Overwhelming
Topic 11627 | Page 1
Encouragement #1: Are you using the High Road Training Program to study your CDL material?
Encouragement #2: lots of things in the classroom seen so crazy - Hours of Service, weight balancing and tandems , even trip planning with maps for some. Once you get in a truck and literally live with this stuff it's not so bad. But you need to learn it before you take your CDL test!
Encouragement #3: Backing a semi is a whole 'nother thing for most people. It was the most frustrating thing I had to deal with in school. This is the part you just have to work on and get past the CDL driving test.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
I remember when I went through CDL school and loved it, I also had no job.
When I started though I went in with the mentality of taking the bull by the horns and that's exactly what I did. I knew why I was going there, I knew what I was going to do after completion, and I knew what I was going to do later on down the road. Still trying to complete later on down the road lol.
No matter what your not always going to remember everything right off the bat, but still do the best you can in class and yes I know how hard school and work can be. Also another thing to remember is are there any other students you can talk with if you have time to have a study partner or group .
Oh and this may sound stupid, but after working and going to class if that is how you are doing it. A voice recorder will be a big help for you especially on days when your tired and it's hard to concentrate. Something to remember as well when you do go to a trucking company from every company that I have been with, what I learned in that classroom was very seldom ever mentioned by any trainer that I had to go out on the road with. Good luck and best wishes
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
You need a little breather from the real world, 
Hang in there, 
Now remember the following piece of advice I am about to impart to you:
10s, 100s, 1000s, 100,000s of good folks have become truckers. With the level if devotion you are exhibiting, working while going to school, you will preserver in the end.
Keep On Keeping On and best of luck,
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Thank you all for the words of encouragement. At the school I'm attending the classroom is the truck. It's one on one the instructor and myself which is kind of nice. I've driven around learning how to shift, right turns, left turns, straight line and offset backing. At the moment I'm studying pre trip inspection and brake system inspection, while at home and not in the truck. Again, thanks guys
That is a plus....one on one! I had to wait 3.5 hours for a 10 minute turn in the truck!
Take it a day at a time, be a sponge and soak it all up! After you pass your CDL , go through the orientation of your employer and start working....it will all click! You will learn as you go.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Probably one reason it seems overwhelming, is that this job carries a lot of responsibility, and you are taking that responsibility seriously. That is a good thing.
I agree with everything Errol V said. The High Road Training Program was a huge help to me, and gave me a head start on absorbing what seemed like a ton of information. Once I got started in school, having that head start allowed me to focus more of my attention on the info needed to pass my CDL exam. Memorizing the Pre Trip Inspection was a big hurdle for me, but I managed to pull it off in less time that I had originally anticipated.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
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Hey all, I've completed my 3rd class in the truck and I have to say I'm a bit overwhelmed. I'm sure you're all going to tell me this is normal, but jeez is there's a lot to remember, my head is spinning, I'm hoping this will get better. I'm attending a cdl school while working full time as a finish carpenter. Any words of encouragement or advice as I continue this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all for taking the time to read this.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: