Man What A Fast 2 Weeks

Believe it or not tomorrow is my test date for the Pre trip inspection and the backing test. Tuesday will be the road test! I knew coming in (thanks to TT) that Centrals Training Program was fast paced but I didn't know it was a whirl wind! I would have been lost had I not used the High Road Training Program! Keep your fingers crossed and I will let you know how it goes tomorrow! Special K

We're here rootin ' for ya....remember....BREATHE...be confident in your acquired knowledge..you can do this...you've proved it already...now prove it to yourself and the testers...

GOOD LUCK SPECIAL K....

You'll be in my thoughts and prayers...

Keep it up Kathy, and strike while the iron is hot. We're all pulling for ya!

Oh you know we're pulling for you in a big way!!!! Just keep smiling, relax, be confident, and show em what you can do!

You're gonna do awesome!

You are ready, just get it done & know there is a cheering section rooting for you!

Special K comments about whirlwind schooling is starting to concern me. I've read in a couple of other posts where people have not passed their parallel or backing portion of the driving test. I'm not really concerned about the written portions of the CDL , but do these driving schools give you enough time behind the wheel so that you can get enough practice? With a car, you can practice driving with your permit as much as someone will allow you to drive for 6 months. It seems that with the driving schools, you get a small window of opportunity to become proficient. And if someone doesn't pass, it's not like they can borrow someone's rig to get better before taking the test again. They have to pay for more schooling.

How probably is it that someone could find a friend who would let them drive with them to become a better driver using their CDL permit?

Daniel, nobody's proficient at driving, parking, or backing a big rig when they go to test out. The testers understand this. The main thing is that you can show them that you can safely and responsibly maneuver that thing within the tests rules and boundaries. Personally, I think proficiency comes after two or three years of continuous driving. Don't let it make you nervous, it's just one of the challenges of breaking into the industry. It's a great way to earn a living and it's a great field for the type of person who likes a challenge. Everyday brings something new and adventurous, and every day I learn something new. So, look forward to being a professional who gets to improve his skills with each new challenge.

Hey Daniel. There are several major differences between Private Truck Driving Schools and Company-Sponsored Training Programs and one of those differences is the speed at which the program moves ahead.

At private truck driving schools you're a paying customer. The pace is quite a bit slower, you get more time to practice, you get more one on one time, and you're (supposed to be) treated like a paying customer. You pay em up front, they teach you what you've paid to learn. There is ultimately a time limit on how long they'll work with you and each school is different. Some will give you an extra week or so to practice if you need it, others will make you pay for extra time if you can't keep up with the class. But normally these private schools give you plenty of time to learn what you need to learn before your state CDL exam for driving and backing. Only a very small percentage need more time than you are given.

Company-sponsored programs on the other hand are more like a tryout than a normal school. When you arrive at their facility, you are not a paying customer. You're being given an opportunity to learn how to drive a rig and get your trucking career underway but the trucking company is paying the up front costs, in terms of time and money, out of their own pockets for your training. Since the trucking companies are the ones taking the risk, they keep the people they feel have the best potential to pick up on things fairly quickly and eventually become safe, productive drivers. Because they're looking for the "better prospects" and they're paying for your training up front, they move the pace along more quickly and have a lower tolerance for those who need extra help. If you don't pick up on things quickly enough they may send you home permanently or offer you the opportunity to pay some money out of your own pocket to return and try again.

Now don't worry about being sent home too much because most of the company-sponsored programs you go to will have several students that were sent home from other company-sponsored programs. So it's not uncommon for people to take a shot with one company, get sent home, and then get another opportunity with another company and capitalize on it.

So it's not a "one and done" kind of thing if you choose a company-sponsored program and get sent home. There will likely be other opportunities to either come back, pick a different program, or just forget about the company-sponsored programs and go to a private school instead.

Step 2 and3 completed!!! I passed both pre trip and backing, shew....now tomorrow is the road test. My last hurdle in the schooling part, and hopefully I will be a proud Class A CDL Holder! Then the real work will begin with my trainer! Say a prayer for me as I complete this last phase of training.

Step 2 and3 completed!!! I passed both pre trip and backing, shew....now tomorrow is the road test. My last hurdle in the schooling part, and hopefully I will be a proud Class A CDL Holder! Then the real work will begin with my trainer! Say a prayer for me as I complete this last phase of training.

WOO HOO! Congratulations, Kathy! Best of luck tomorrow...looking forward to reading the good news tomorrow night. :-)