Sage Truck Driving School

First Day at Sage. Practice tests and written tests. Like trucking truths better they have been such a big help and just referred a fellow student to the site to help him feel more comfortable with his new career choice. Tomorrows another day of reading.

First two days you spend reviewing practices tests and then take all six tests for your permit. Once done they put you in class with the instructor who goes over the book in more detail and you start getting ready for the Pre-Trip Inspection portion of the driving side. The third day we went out and did coupling and uncoupling, fourth day worked on the Pre-Trip Inspection Sequence along with the Air Brake Test Sequence, Fifth day class room and then out to learn chaining up. Learned a few new ways to that, although I hope I never have to do. Looking forward to the coming week.

Tracy,

Sounds like a good start, good luck with week 2!!

Jim

Sounds cool. I wish they taught chaining up in our class. The company policy is no chains though. They feel if you have to chain up, then you should park. At least they back that policy with snow pay. Anyway, it still would be nice to know how to chain up to get out of a bad spot.

On my last week. Mostly driving and backing and then the skills test on Saturday. Need some work on my in-cab and learning to take my down shifting at a slower pace. Most will come with experience I hope. Winetaster the chaining up is not to hard and if you chain up you own vehicle think of it with two tires. Our instructor showed us some ideas so as not have to lay on the ground when pulling through. Me personally if don't have to sit it out.

On my last week. Mostly driving and backing and then the skills test on Saturday. Need some work on my in-cab and learning to take my down shifting at a slower pace. Most will come with experience I hope. Winetaster the chaining up is not to hard and if you chain up you own vehicle think of it with two tires. Our instructor showed us some ideas so as not have to lay on the ground when pulling through. Me personally if don't have to sit it out.

Hey Tracy I live pretty close to you in Moscow, Idaho and will be going to sage soon as well getting the finishing touches from WIA this week an will aim for a start date next week. what is your honest experience with them? I keep hearing bad things about sage that most truck companies wont accept their training is this true?

Most truck companies will take you from sage. The only draw back is not enough drive time and backing if you have never done any. They prepare you to take your written exam and then prep you for your skills test. Driving is 4 hours and backing on the 90 degree and the 45 degree or Cross over as they call it is two hours each, consists of 8 days total. For me I had an instructor conflict being a woman and on LOA for a few weeks to see if I can obtain some additional drive and back time on my own as I can not afford the additional fees required for more time with Sage. Just did not feel comfortable taking my skills test without having confidence in my 90 and 45. The street traffic driving I did fine. There may be some benefit to a Company school as some require that you have your permit before attending and then all of your training time is on driving and backing. Best of luck and you will do fine.

Interesting. I am starting at Sage in South Carolina on the 28th and they required me to get my permit prior to enrolling in class (I figured all their schools were a like). As far as companies hiring from Sage, a most of the companies I have researched so far recommended that I go there.

Hi Tracy I'm glad to see you're still on this site. I want to pass on that I took my test this past Saturday and passed. I feel on top of the world right now. Like you, I have a lot of problems with the backing. The examiner gave me some real good pointers on backing before I started. It helped a lot. This past week I almost gave up in frustration but decided that if I failed I will fail at the end and not by quitting. Also one of the instructors said that if I would have quit he would have kicked my a@@. For new drivers the five week course at Sage is much better than the four week course. One needs more time to practice. I did find the backing range a little tight and cluttered. I hope you continue to pursue your dream. We'll be waiting for you out there.

Erik - I will be returning in the next week to finish up. Like you frustration level just got the better of me and needed some time to regroup, had some issues at home that did not help either, but such is life. Happy to hear that you passed and will keep my an eye out for you.