Great Lakes Truck Driving School Diary

Day one: started at 730. Instructor explained the basic layout of the classroom instruction over the next few days and about school policies and such.

9 am a recruiter from Maverick came. Seems like a great place to start. I can give specifics if anyone is interested.

After the recruiter left we went over truck basics. Like the steering wheel turns the truck and the oil pressure gauge tells the oil pressure. They covered everything like that til lunch.

After lunch we had another recruiter. Event Source. They are looking to hire drivers to load unload and drive their 26 ft box trucks. $13-$18 an hour for new employees. However, that job wouldn't start until about April as they are coming to their slow season.

After that, we went over accidents and accident reporting. Also went over pre trip and in cab. I am sure I could pass the pre trip tomorrow. I would not ace it, but I would pass. I have done similar tests in the military. It seems daunting until you get into it. Plus I have been studying the High Road for months. I think I could possibly pass in cab as well.

I think I am well ahead of the other 20 students from studying here. Overall, I did not learn much today. Also Schneider was supposed to come today but did not. Not certain if they will just come another day or not. I will try to update daily. Tomorrow we are getting out 1.5 hours early and getting out 5.5 hours early on Wednesday.

Bill

Day 2 started at 730. The instructor just told us some of his experiences as a driver to start as Schneider was coming in at 8. After the recruiter left we had a short break. ComCar was supposed to show up at 9 but cancelled. However, nobody notified the instructor.

At 9 we watched several videos and took several tests. We take lots of tests. Some are after videos and some are after power point lectures by the instructor. I like the fact that we take tests often. I wish they would include questions from previous sections like THR does. I am very good at retaining information but not everyone in class is.

At 1230 we went to lunch. Class resumed at 1. More videos and tests. At 230 we had another recruiter. May trucking. These recruiters have not brought any power points or anything. The recruiter from May probably should have. She confused some of the students. Not entirely her fault. They offer new drivers a guaranteed $735 per week for 90 days. However, that is based on 2100 mpw. According to her, their drivers average 2800 mpw. They bank all miles over 2100 and payout after 12 weeks plus give you the $735 for the week. Most of the students forgot to include the overage pay after 90 days. Maybe these companies should adopt a critical review process for students to fill out after their presentations. Got used to doing them in the Marines. I don't normally post stuff that the recruiters say, however, I wanted to share what caused the confusion. After the recruiter left, there was a huge discussion about what she discussed.

4 pm and we watched a short video and took another test. 430 we signed out and went home.

Day 3 started at 730. The recruiter for U.S. Express was there. She was supposed to be there at 8. However, the instructor let her start at 745 as she was waiting for the late students. She said we should be filling out applications for every company even though we are only on day 3. I disagree. I am not looking for flatbed or tanker. I did get my hazmat and tanker endorsements. Still not interested at this time, but I got them in case I want to down the road. I did fill out the application for U.S. Express. She left at 845. We took a ten minute break.

At 9 was more videos and tests. At ten we had another recruiter. I forget who came as I left the packet on my desk. I will update when I get it. They are based out of Findley Ohio.

At 11 we watched a more videos and took more tests. At 1230 we went home.

So far I have not learned much. Most everything we have covered is in THR training modules. I can't wait to get into the yard on Friday to start going over pre trip and in cab. However, we go back in the classroom the following Monday.

Garner trucking is who I forgot.

Due to some bad weather delays I should graduate this week. I take my road test Wed or Thurs. The lady that does the scheduling could not remember off the top of her head so I will find out on Tuesday.

I honestly didn't learn much in the classroom part of the course. The refresher would have been easier to deal with if we weren't in class for ten hours daily. They are correcting this after the new year. They are going to 8 hour days in the classroom. It will be 8 hour days in the yard. That will be difficult when they have large classes like we have now. It's rough getting truck time with ten hour days.

So far I have 11 pre hires. It is a long process of narrowing down the companies.

The instructors are very helpful. They tell all students not to jump into owner operator status for at least one year. They also say to stick with your first company for a year.

The job placement guy told me to stay away from Prime, Swift, and Boyd Brothers because I have offers from better companies. I don't know why he says that. From what I have learned here Prime and Swift are great companies to work for. I have job offers from TMC, Valley transport, and US Express . Others have pre hired me as well. He cited these companies and Schneider as better choices.

I am still considering Prime. I heard good things about them before I heard of TT. At my last job, I worked with a former Marine and his dad worked for them for 20 years or so. When I first started talking about quitting to become a truck driver, he told me about Prime.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Bill