Decision Time ..

In my neck of the woods there seems to be plenty of opportunity for class b . That's besides the point , I'm desperate to get into. a big rig! Ever since i agreed yesterday to downgrading it really hasn't sat right with me. I've driven 5 & 6 speed vehicles my whole life. i think I'm doing well into a. B with the academics in class,but the reality is i dont have the extra cash for the time. I'm almost ready to take the gamble of signing on to another scho iintool assuming its just going to take some extra time for me to get this one part. Been talking with an old friend who has many years on the road who confirms my thoughts that after i sign on for a year they would be more apt to spend the extra time vs a small school that doesn't want you to over-rev HIS truck even. just for the sake of learning .If i wasn't getting ANY of the other techniques we've been shown id probably be greatful to get into a B. He admits I've got the knowledge and upshifting is great ,so I'm halfway there . Bottom line is I'm not giving up just yet! Maybe i can get some feedback on choosing a specific school over another ?

Yeah, having to settle for a Class B and changing the entire future of your career because you needed an extra hour or two to learn downshifting would be a terrible shame. That's no small step down from class A to class B.

I agree with Old School. The private schools usually do all they can to make sure you get through and get your class A. I don't think they're being genuine at all guiding you toward a class B. They're being lazy and selfish is what they're doing. None of the instructors at the school got to where they're at by downgrading themselves to a class B so why are they recommending it for you?

$5200 is a lot to pay and come up short. Man, downshifting isn't rocket science. You simply have to kick the accelerator a bit to rev it up to the right RPM for the next lower gear. That's it. The idea of completely changing your class of license and the future of your career over one small technique like that makes no sense to me at all. I understand the situation with the schooling but if there's any chance at making it happen I would go for the class A.

Just my opinion but I would think a School that you paid $5200 to attend owes you more than they are giving...If they have another 8 or 10 guys that are also behind why can't they reschedule the State Troopers for a week or so later..? I mean it only makes sense like Old School says, they need as many students to pass so they can to keep State level funding and grant money coming...I echo all the previous positive comments and say keep going for the CDL-A all the way up to the end and if for some reason you fail then go to a Company Sponsored School...you will already be ahead of the curve and at least you will have your Class A and a Job Driving

Yeah , I certainly learned great lesson about reading the contract entirely before signing it. The part about having to be 80% proficient by drive #4 ,I must have glossed over , thinking that I wouldn't have this much trouble with. I knew the part about being Dismissed for Insufficient Progress , but thought we'd have more leeway...

One of the guys that was training with me when we were getting our cdls could not even do the very first step in either down or upshifting. He kept forgetting to push the clutch in.

We only had four days to practice driving with about 2 hours a day for each of us. We all thought no way was he going to make it.

Turned out he got the highest scrore on the driving test and he was still driving the last time I saw him about three months after that.

So if he could do it then pretty much anyone can.

Once again I have to thank everyone for their feedback of encouragement!

I've spent the past 24 hours researching Company Sponsored Training and have decided to try and get into one of these schools as they seem to have a little more time dedicated to shifting. " Sandman" really got me remotivated with his in-depth log of the Knight School as they are one of the few that hire from New Hampshire. So I'll be on the phone with them first thing tomorrow.

You guys Rock!

Once again I have to thank everyone for their feedback of encouragement!

I've spent the past 24 hours researching Company Sponsored Training and have decided to try and get into one of these schools as they seem to have a little more time dedicated to shifting. " Sandman" really got me remotivated with his in-depth log of the Knight School as they are one of the few that hire from New Hampshire. So I'll be on the phone with them first thing tomorrow.

You guys Rock!

Glad to hear your going to give it a go still! Look into Prime's Driving School as well. Have heard great things about them and their training pay if very good compared to other places.

Reading this post maybe gives me some hope, I too can not downshift to save my life. I know the pattern, i know the speed you need to be in and I stink at it, but still I'm studying my air brake test and can back up and parallel park pretty good, as my classmates tell me "Don't give up", I've wanted to cry and go home but what would I tell my kids, that mom gave up? I can't let that happen, they don't expect us to be great, and talking to people in my class who have their CDL , they weren't great at first, just try and don't give up on yourself. Those feelings have come to me plenty of times, just regroup and drive on. You will make it!

My shifting instructor had what he called a tickle, a tap and a slap. 200, 400,and 600 rpm. how he taught me to down shift was 1) brake to 800 rpm 2) clutch in as you pull it out of gear clutch out 3) slap the throttle by that I mean hit the throttle so you hear it slap the floorboard and let off immediately 4) clutch in while shifting into gear, clutch out.

My driving instructor helped my refine my shifting by having me shift from 2nd up through 8th then back down through to 2nd over and over and over and over again. I must have done that for 6 to 8 miles down the road and it helped me 1000%.