Five Month Professional Driver Program??
Topic 23773 | Page 6
Got thinking about you today, how're things going in school?
Hey everyone! So- I wanted to go ahead and report my updates on this school. I took my cdl exam Wednesday and passed! It was nerve wrecking- I even stalled the truck to a dead stop once near the ending. The state trooper was very kind and understanding and that helped a lot with the test.
I am excited to say that I have a job lined up with Foodliner. Hopefully I will get started within a couple of weeks.
In regards to the school- I was more or less disappointed. I was expecting a more structured approach to the learning materials- rather than just handing out a packet to read. Five months was a long time and I spent most of it twiddling my thumb day dreaming. I feel it could had been more beneficial if my instructors cared more about the classroom time than the drive time.
Fortunately I was able to clear up all issues on my MVR - which was the main reason I decided to pick a five month course. Idk how many of you actually attempted to contest stuff on your driving record- but it took me 4 months.
I had a ton of issues with finance and so on- but outside of that- it was nice to spend three hours a day for five months practicing ore trip and maneuvers as well as shifting.
Could I had learned all this in four weeks? Yes. However- I’m grateful for the five months. It also showed me how much I didn’t know. How easy it is to make a mistake. I also made some good friends. I’m grateful.
Maybe I’ll start a thread with my Foodliner training if anyone is curious.
I hope everyone is doing well- and thank you for all your input!
-Jesse
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.
SAP:
Substance Abuse Professional
The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.
MVR:
Motor Vehicle Record
An MVR is a report of your driving history, as reported from your state Department of Motor Vehicles. Information on this report may include Drivers License information, point history, violations, convictions, and license status on your driving record.
Update: Foodliner was an amazing company. They made sure I was trained proficiently and effectively in maneuvering a tanker. I had a lot of issues tho with home time, mostly staying out for over a month and only getting two days home. I tried resolving this issue to no avail, so I relocated to team driving with a buddy as a fed ex contractor pulling doubles. I am much happier here, as I get home time weekly, make the same amount of pay, and never have to worry about finding parking for my 10 hour break! Lol hope everyone here is doing well. Stay safe out there with this COVID19 going around, and protect yourself and others. Peace.
Doubles:
Refers to pulling two trailers at the same time, otherwise known as "pups" or "pup trailers" because they're only about 28 feet long. However there are some states that allow doubles that are each 48 feet in length.
I just wanna say that I went to a 4 week program graduate my 4th week first try and I have a few miles under my belt and im tellin u i learned enough to drive a truck just in 4 weeks you really dont need 5 months. Thats my opinion
I just wanna say that I went to a 4 week program graduate my 4th week first try and I have a few miles under my belt and im tellin u i learned enough to drive a truck just in 4 weeks you really dont need 5 months. Thats my opinion
Driving is easy. It's everything else that takes experience to master.
Welcome to Trucking Truth, Dylan!
PackRat is right . . . AND THEN SOME!
ps: CHECK THIS!
- Truck Driver's Career Guide
- Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
- High Road CDL Training Program
- CDL Practice Tests
I just wanna say that I went to a 4 week program graduate my 4th week first try and I have a few miles under my belt and im tellin u i learned enough to drive a truck just in 4 weeks you really dont need 5 months. Thats my opinion
Driving is easy. It's everything else that takes experience to master.
Best wishes!
~ Anne ~
ps: Quick note: if you have 'more' to share than Brett did, with the links I just sent you, PLEASE, feel free!!! We ALL love to learn, that's why this site is here, to teach people!!
pps: Can you share who you're going to be driving with/for? Fair question!!! NETTTS school?? Which one? TransAm? Stevens? Please share; some of us would like to know your secret to success!
ppps: THANKS good sir, in advance!
I just wanna say that I went to a 4 week program graduate my 4th week first try and I have a few miles under my belt and im tellin u i learned enough to drive a truck just in 4 weeks you really dont need 5 months. Thats my opinion
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.
Update:
I can’t believe it’s been 3 years since I got my CDL. I still see people commenting about the five month program I participated in. I enjoyed it, and used my gi bill (or a portion of it) for that program. It helped with my mental transition. I won’t argue that it’s worth it, because now I realize nothing beats experience. I made some good friends in the process tho.
Covid caused a break in my driving career until I knew the full extent of this virus. After a little while, I started going crazy not having a job, and jumped into a wholesale food distributor local route. Delivering groceries to restaurants wasn’t what I intended to do when I picked up my CDL , but I got to say- I’m enjoying it. Lost 15 pounds since I started and it’s super nice to sleep in my bed every night and have weekends off.
Who knows where the future will take me, but wherever it is- I’ll be sure to post a little update.
Thank you for everyone who has given me support.
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.
Update:
I can’t believe it’s been 3 years since I got my CDL. I still see people commenting about the five month program I participated in. I enjoyed it, and used my gi bill (or a portion of it) for that program. It helped with my mental transition. I won’t argue that it’s worth it, because now I realize nothing beats experience. I made some good friends in the process tho.
Covid caused a break in my driving career until I knew the full extent of this virus. After a little while, I started going crazy not having a job, and jumped into a wholesale food distributor local route. Delivering groceries to restaurants wasn’t what I intended to do when I picked up my CDL , but I got to say- I’m enjoying it. Lost 15 pounds since I started and it’s super nice to sleep in my bed every night and have weekends off.
Who knows where the future will take me, but wherever it is- I’ll be sure to post a little update.
Thank you for everyone who has given me support.
Really good to see you stop back, Jesse! Shame you had to leave that FX/LH job over Covid. My guy did that same job for awhile (teams, too..same deal) back in his OTR days; he's gone local/dedicated now, too. He's just a bit too 'old' to do foodservice.
You should read PapaPig's and Rob T.'s diaries; those are our 2 foodservice MASTERS up in here!
Wishing you all the best; thanks for stopping back!
~ Anne ~
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.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.New Reply:
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The end of my 1 week orientation, I met an instructor who saw I already knew the pretrip from YouTube and Trucking Truth. He told me to put my back to the truck close my eyes and do the entire in cab inspection. I did it and he said, nice to meet you I want to be your instructor, get on my truck and lets go." It didnt matter i was a woman. What was funny is that I was teaching guys who claimed to be mechanics.
lol. It should only really take a few days to a week if you really try and practice. People use the "i have never driven a manual or worked on a vehicle" as an excuse. Most of us are not mechanically inclined or driven a manual.
good luck. Im dying to hear how long the weogh station class is.