Celadon School Laredo Location

Hellos everyone, E here to post about our lovely time at Celadon's driving school. J and I have completed our first week here and wanted to be able to write out our journey's beginning.

We arrived here last Sunday (April 12th) off of the greyhound bus and were able to check in to our room without much issues. (we had called ahead to make sure we got a room together.) Monday was filled with going over the school's contract and loading up to head over to get our DOT physical done. While the waiting is terrible, the actual physical isn't long. I will say, if you have any medication, please make sure you have records for it and a letter from your primary doctor clearing you to drive. Both J and I are not on anything, but there was one or two people who were stopped by this.

After that, Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning were spent going over the first two permit tests we would take Tuesday afternoon. It s very important and helpful to study for these, which are sections 6 (Combination vehicles) and sections 14 (Special Requirements) in the Texas handbook. It will be gone over very quickly in class, and having it already in your head will do wonders if you can't cram quickly. You can take your tests prior to coming to Celadon if you like, but it is not a necessity and they will pay for your tests here.

Wednesday and Thursday are spent going over the handbook for the last three sections of the written exams. (Section 2 [General knowledge, pre-trip] and 5 [Air brakes]) You will be tested Friday for these, so also study tat if you are unable to process information quickly. I passed all of my tests (by the skin of my teeth on the pre-trip!) and J had issues with the computers and got booted so he 'failed' his general knowledge test but will be retaking it Monday. Despite the hiccup at the DPS, J was still able to join us on the range Friday afternoon due to him acing all the pre-tests given by our instructor. We started learning straight backing and successfully avoided hitting anything, or running over people and relatively managed to keep the trailer straight.

J did stall the truck one time as he had never handled a standard before, but quickly got the hang of it. I have my road test scheduled for May 14th and right now I am terrified but know with practice I will pass it with ease.

P.S.

You will take pictures every time you go into the DPS. And you will surrender your current DL to receive a paper permit. Also, you can elect to have your Medical card laminated for 3$ at the DOT office or you can head out to Walmart and by a pack of 5 self laminating strips for 2.44$. J and I did this and tested it on a piece of paper and found it to be just as stable as the office one for a lot cheaper. Also, to reiterate everyone else here. The tests here help so very much, please use the free resources at your fingertips!

-E

Sounds like a good start! Tell us more!

Another week has flown by, and I have some time to write up about the past week.

Monday was J's chance to retake his general knowledge test, and he passed with flying colors. (Not without freaking out all weekend and using several resources to try practice tests online and memorized the CDL handbook!) He joined our class on the range about mid morning and we quickly set to learning and perfecting straight backs. During one of J's straight backs, our instructor hopped on the side and had him start what would be my week of hell: parallels.

I have never been able to parallel, so much so I would avoid it at all possible, or take fifteen minutes trying to do so in a four wheeler. However, our instructor is one of the most patient and helpful people. Despite having to teach nine people how to do it, he stood on the driver side and walked me through it every day. Even still, I struggled a lot with this concept, even getting so frustrated that I would pull the brakes and storm out of the truck and declare I was never going to get it and I was just crap. However, the friends I have made dragged my screaming butt back in the driver seat and gave me tip after tip. Even the instructor kept saying I was improving little by little. But I couldn't see it.

Our instructor talked to J about my hang up and it was later when I discovered were my fault lay. I was able to grasp the concept and theory of how to do it, but in practice was having issues. But the reason why was simple: I wanted it to be perfect. Perfect distance on either side. Perfect turns. No pull ups. The instructor looked at J and said a simple sentence that I finally figured out Friday. "This is the first week, it doesn't need to be perfect, and I certainly am not expecting perfection."

I was so obsessed with it being perfect I would totally reset when I made a mistake rather than just go through the motions of it. I finally came to the agreement in my mind that I have three more weeks until I test. Three weeks to perfect it. So I made myself a goal every week. This past week was to get it in the box. Even if I was crooked and looked like a lightning bolt, as long as I was in - I was good. with that in mind, several students showed me their way and I was able to get it in the box semi straight. After three times of it, I got out and let myself relax. J was able to get parallels quite easily, and has helped me every day to calm down and remind me of my goals. Next week will be to get the trailer in straight - even if it's off center.

Over the week, we have lost 4 students - two from our class, and two girls that have been here a bit. We also had two of the road trucks go in the shop, so our road time has been cut for now, tough we were able to get on the road for a day and learn to shift up to tenth gear. But we have three weeks and will be ready to take our tests at the DPS. Next week is a new week with new students coming in.

-E