New Beginnings Chapter One(Houston Community College
Topic 20357 | Page 1
Danielle
Good luck on your trainining! I will be following to see how your training goes.
How long is training since you are going evenings?
Scot
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Thanks Scott! Classes are set to end 10/20/17.
Danielle
Good luck on your trainining! I will be following to see how your training goes.
How long is training since you are going evenings?
Scot
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Congratulations Danielle and thank you for sharing your journey with us!
The pleasure is all mine @918girl. Thank you for reading!
Congratulations Danielle and thank you for sharing your journey with us!
Congrats, Danielle! I'm from Houston, too, and am set to start CDL classes in about two weeks! I took the company sponsored route but I think I found a pretty good thing. $300 deposit, of which I get half back and I don't have to repay any tuition, just sign on the dotted line for a 12-month contract. The only downside is that I have to get my own permit before starting.
Anyway, good luck! I'll be following your story and will post mine once things get rolling!
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.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Congrats on your journey and I will be following as soon as you start posting!! What school are you attending if you don't mind me asking? Lonestar? Steven's Transport? 12 months is not so bad. Have you ever driven a commercial vehicle before? manual shift vehicle? I wanna know details:)
Congrats, Danielle! I'm from Houston, too, and am set to start CDL classes in about two weeks! I took the company sponsored route but I think I found a pretty good thing. $300 deposit, of which I get half back and I don't have to repay any tuition, just sign on the dotted line for a 12-month contract. The only downside is that I have to get my own permit before starting.
Anyway, good luck! I'll be following your story and will post mine once things get rolling!
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.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
8/1/2017 Day 2-(sorry for the late post) I arrived at the college a few minutes early after work to grab a few pamphlets from the job board at the entrance hallway of the school. I have not decided which company I want to start off with but I have been looking at Steven's, Schneider, Maverick and Rohel. We started class with two short videos on space and speed management while driving and backing. The instructor seemed to drag a bit maybe because she was still feeling stuffy from the night before. Which she is human and I don't blame her. She let us know that she had been teaching since 2002 and she hasn't driven (otr) since then so I assume that is why she's not as enthused as say a newbie like me.But again it could have been because she wasn't feeling too hot from allergies. After watching the video out the blue a discussion out of nowhere came about from an older guy who has interrupted the teacher about 24 times in just day 1 and 2 with silly questions that have nothing to do with the subject were discussing(backing &speed management). Why would big trucks have to worry about tailgaters? Can we carry weapons? Would the feds know? why would they care if they did know? questions like that! I literally wanted to say if you just give her a chance to explain she may answer your question but I just maintained a smile and listen to the discussion. After we finished the two videos we answered a study guide the instructor gave us the previous night on the special requirements section of the handbook. Out of 45 questions I had answered 30 of them when I got home on day 1. Special requirements is the first written exam we will takeout of 4 to successfully obtain our clp. The instructor let us know we had to get 16 out of 20 right to move on to the second test general knowledge which we have to get 40 out of 50 then Combination Vehicles 16 out of 20 correct in order to take the last exam which is the air brakes exam and to pass I need to get at least 20 out 25 correct to obtain my class a permit. These next two weeks will be focused on these 4 exams so that I cant take the written test at the dmv no later than 16th of August. The instructor did say we have until the end of August to get our permits so the next half of the course will be focused on learning the shifting and how to maneuver the truck. Class is scheduled until 10:30 p.m. but she let us go at 8:30. Which is good and bad on one hand I feel like that's 1 hour and 1/2 we could be using to learn more and get more familiar with the gauges and pre-trip techniques but on the other hand I just finished 8 hours at an office and I wanna see my shower and bed but either way I am still excited and grateful that I got this opportunity to be able to work and continue to make money while going to cdl school to learn a new trade that can possibly change my life for the better so however she wants to do is fine with me I have been studying this book since November so I know a lot more than I did at first and a couple of apps on my phone help me to get certain things drilled into my brain. so I am good with the pace of the class for the first couple of days. I am just ready to get inside the cab and take a load off sit in the seat look around enjoy that feeling of knowing soon I will be a professional driver.
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.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Combination Vehicle:
A vehicle with two separate parts - the power unit (tractor) and the trailer. Tractor-trailers are considered combination vehicles.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
CLP:
Commercial Learner's Permit
Before getting their CDL, commercial drivers will receive their commercial learner's permit (CLP) upon passing the written portion of the CDL exam. They will not have to retake the written exam to get their CDL.
8/2/2017 Day 3 Our instructor greeted us at the door and told us she would not be staying for tonight but she will see us tomorrow. Another gentleman took over for today and started the class with a video on pre trip inspection and the 7 method Inspection method. The video last about 30 minutes and we watched a couple more videos about road rage and road behavior. After the video we discussed the different weather conditions we could inquire while out on the road. We also watched a video about security and make sure your loads are sealed and locked tight because of theft and other situations that can occur while at truck stops are parked at shippers. Soon after that we were given a study guide over general knowledge and rules and regulations packet to complete while reviewing the book to find the answers. Class ended around 8:30. I'm eager to see what tomorrow may be bring just wanted to give you guys a quick update. Thanks for reading I appreciate your responses and look forward to reading your diaries ttyl goodnight! 
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
I guess you can tell I am extremely sleepy by the grammar of my last post lol I just reread it and I apologize I don't know how to edit a post I have already submitted. Tomorrow I will be better thanks goodnight
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
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Hello to all my fellow newbies! Today was the first day of starting a beautiful new journey and hopefully a long time career that I have been waiting for over a year now. A little bit about me before I give you all the details of my first official day as a trainee. I am a 28 year single female with no children. I currently work as a receptionist with a state agency here in Houston. I have been doing customer service/administrative work since I was 18 and my passion has always been resolving issues,customer service, and helping others but lately the office scene has grown extremely boring, and it seems that at least for about 6 months I have dreaded going in to work dealing with quotas, paperwork, an somewhat of unpleasant supervisor,bickering customers, and a monthly salary that made it nearly impossible to survive especially without another source of income to go with it. I literally felt like I was working only to pay bills.One day watching a couple of vlog videos I ran across a male trucker (I wont mention his name) who was venting and expressing how trucking changed his life. The situations and scenarios he spoke about was like if he found a book about me and read thru chapters of my life. it seemed as if he was talking directly too me. I am person who enjoys traveling and driving (especially in a lite rain, call me weird but its true) and like I said I don't have any children that have to be settled in one state. trucking intrigued me and I had to find out what is was all about. So I did my research on this industry. And you must know there's no way you can research about the trucking industry and not find this website. so for a while I have been coming here reading the diaries, doing the practice test, and gathering information on different companies that will accept me right out of school. I have learned a lot from all of you and I thank you for sharing your experiences with newbies wanting to take a leap of faith into a new career and fellow drivers who have questions or just maybe wanna let you know what's going on with them. You guys keep it all the way real and that's what I love the most about this site. Man this site is really the bomb!!!!! any who during my research and figuring out how I Wanted to obtain my cdl I called the community college and figured out that tuition was $3500. That amount would include permit fees, written exam fees, licensing fees and also the schools tuition fee($3150). The other option besides paying out of pocket was to wait 6 months on the financial aid grant list. The only requirement was to be in compliance with fafsa.( federal student aid department) so I submitted a financial aid application went to the school and filled out paperwork to get on the financial aid grant list. (January 2017) during the 6 month waiting period I don't wanna say that I harassed there office but I made them remember my name when I called to check the status of weekly they knew my voice. so around about 06/20/2017 one of the program coordinators called me and said my name was selected and I could start 07/31/17. so finally..... today is the day that I started class yayyyyyyy!
Thefirst day wasn't anything special. There were only 7 students in the class all men but the instructor was a female. which it doesn't matter to me either way I just wanna learn how to drive that truck proficiently. Today was really about the paperwork. The instructor didn't really feel pretty good due to allergies and said that we would probably be leaving early. so when class started she had us go around the room and say what made us decide to do trucking and what type of lane we would like to run and why(local, dedicated, otr etc). She also gave us a brief description on airbrakes testing and pointers to remember while testing. One thing she advised us on that made sense was watch the wording for the test questions because dps can get kinda sneaky with the wording and moving to fast may cause simple mistakes like do you agree December has 31 days? and how many months have 28 days?? what's your answer? Mine was 1 I shouted it like I was right too lol all months have 28 days see listen to the question or read the question carefully before answering. last question! how many sets of animals did Moses bring on the arc??? what's your answer? mine was 1 set of each animal?? WRONG!!!! Moses didn't bring any Noah did!! I shouted that wrong answer too. lol That not only made me pipe down for the remainder of the class lol but it help me realize her point. anywho I still work 8-5 and class starts @5:30pm so for now I am going to close the first page to this chapter. Hope you guys stay with me throughout the training phase and there after see you tomorrow. goodnight!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.