Starting School On July 8.
Topic 820 | Page 3
Are you going to actual school, or company sponsored training? If company sponsored, which company? I am in Atlanta and still deciding.
Thanks
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
Actual school. Truck Drivers Institute, (TDI), in Murfreesboro, TN. They have several locations for you to choose from. The plus in this is there is no loyalty (servitude) to any company. You can choose a company that suits you, plus, a lot of companies offer a tuition payback program.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Ah, week 2, day 1: Drive, pull forward, pull backward, repeat, repeat, repeat........... BUT, that was after lunch. We actually grinded...er...worked some gears this morning. Nice lesson on a four lane with divider, that is until the instructor looked over at me and said "take us back to school" (I was the last in the seat). Needless to say, the pucker factor raised several notches at that moment. It was fine though. Here is one for ya: My first time behind the wheel of a truck, at my first ever left turn with traffic, and there is a cop in the lane next to me. Nice. I didn't run over anything so all is well.
Off I go calling pre-hires and resting up for tomorrow.
Pre-hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Pre-hires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
My first time behind the wheel of a truck, at my first ever left turn with traffic, and there is a cop in the lane next to me. Nice. I didn't run over anything so all is well
Nice!!!
Ya know, it's almost better that he spontaneously told you to drive back to school instead of telling you a day or two ahead of time when you'd be driving around the highways a bunch. Sometimes it's better to just go for it than it is to sit around waiting and worrying for two days.
Sounds like you guys are moving right along though. Are the instructors pretty patient and friendly?
I can't find one thing to complain about. The instructors are great! Very patient and knowledgeable plus they keep a light atmosphere. Jokes are plenty
I know, at least for me, I made a good choice in schools.
You are right Brett, not knowing is best. I was a lot calmer on today's road trip. Still have trouble doing the double clutch down shift. I will get it though.
Wk 2, day 2: I had a nice drive on I24, then through some town, I believe it was Smyrna, TN. Plenty of lights, turns and traffic. It was a breeze (minus the mentioned down shift trouble).
We also worked on some maneuvers after lunch on the range. It was a bit hot, but not bad overall. Plenty of cold water and shade.
Double Clutch:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Yeah, it's been hitting 90 degrees every day here lately. A little relief is on the way this weekend.
Glad to hear the instructors are keeping a light atmosphere. That's the best conditions for learning - no doubt about it.
Let me warn ya - you will have days once in a while where you can't do anything right. You'll back like garbage, you'll grind every gear - heck, you'll even bang your knee on the step trying to get into the truck! Don't sweat it. It happens to everyone. I drove for 15 years and that never changes. Any driver will tell you that. There were days I couldn't back up against the broad side of a barn! But then the next day I'd be backing like a superhero and I'd be thinking, "Man, I should call the television studios. They should be filming this!!!" 
But keep learning every day and keep having fun. There's a lot of ups and downs early on in everyone's trucking career. Keep a great attitude, don't sweat the small stuff, and learn from everything you do. That's the way to get your career off to a great start.
Let me warn ya - you will have days once in a while where you can't do anything right. You'll back like garbage, you'll grind every gear - heck, you'll even bang your knee on the step trying to get into the truck! Don't sweat it. It happens to everyone. I drove for 15 years and that never changes. Any driver will tell you that. There were days I couldn't back up against the broad side of a barn!
Wk 2, day 3: What timing! One was today! First I did not release the parking and emergency breaks during the 3 & 4 second air pressure test (fail). I pulled out of the yard, no problem. Promptly rolled, with acceleration, through a yield sign while getting on the off ramp (fail). At this point my nerves were shot and I haven't driven a mile yet! Luckily the traffic on the Interstate was light so I took a minute to gather myself and push those two mistakes out. The rest of the trip was okay, not good, just okay. After lunch it was off to the range to practice offset and straight backing. I went from "ace supertrucker" yesterday to "who the hell let this guy back a truck?" (jokes and ribbing were well earned at this point). So, great timing. No worries though, we all made mistakes, had some laughs and learned from each other.
By the way, I think I forgot to mention that this a 3 week course. Mon thru Fri, 10 hours (7am to 5:30pm) each day. Just in case anyone was wondering.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Rolling Thunder, great to hear that school is going well and that you like it. I have been there with the mistakes too my friend. All you can do is laugh and learn from it and take the ribbing and move on. I have forgotten to pop the breaks before trying to get out and forgot to take it out of gear and having it jump all over the place. Ah the rookie mistakes that we all make. I drove yesterday and was shaking so bad going on country back roads that had so many hills. I was so focused that I didn't realize I was shaking. You will get better at this. You have all our support. Good luck. God speed.
Rolling Thunder, great to hear that school is going well and that you like it. I have been there with the mistakes too my friend. All you can do is laugh and learn from it and take the ribbing and move on. I have forgotten to pop the breaks before trying to get out and forgot to take it out of gear and having it jump all over the place. Ah the rookie mistakes that we all make. I drove yesterday and was shaking so bad going on country back roads that had so many hills. I was so focused that I didn't realize I was shaking. You will get better at this. You have all our support. Good luck. God speed.
Thanks BuckeyeCowboy. I am having a blast. This is a really good (not uppity good) school.
Wk 2, Day 4: I am back to "ace supertrucker" today! Well, not really, but I did have a good day. I am comfortable with my offset and straight backing now and know without a doubt I will pass those maneuvers.
OOH! OOH!... I drove a Peterbilt today (have been in a Freightliner) and I must have one. What a truck. I was on country roads for the most part and she handled, shifted, and drove overall like I have been in her for years. After I graduate from rookie next year, I will be driving one, mark my words, she will be mine.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.New Reply:
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1 week down, 2 to go! Put hands on a rig today for the pre-trip. Very cool to finally move to the real deal after a week of classroom. Pretty much just finished up on mini lessons to close out the classroom portion of school. We did go through the HAZMAT section which was cool. I am confident that I will be adding a HAZMAT endorsement really soon.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations