Question:
Started reading several trucking sites in early September and found this
to be the most robust. I just picked up my CDL and thought I'd share my
notes on the process of getting it...
Thought I'd do a bit of writting to get my thoughts and experiences noted
before too much time passes and the memory fades.
I attended a CDL Mill school in Indiana from Sept 18 to Oct 5,
2006. The first week was paper work (drug tests and medical exams)
and classes designed to get students through the CDL tests required
to obtain a CDL permit.
The class was small. About 12 out of 18 showed up for class. Lost one
student on a drug test. Lost two other students due to death in the
family. Lost at least one more because of a change of heart. And
another was lost because their carrier ended their interest in the
applicant. Then, before the paper test week was over another two
were lost because they had not obtained their driving permits (they
stayed on as holdovers to the next class).
Only six class members made it to the driving range that began on
the second week of the training. In a CDL mill the only goal is to
pass paper tests and prove you can move a tractor/trailer in a manner
safe enough to convince a state inspector that you are ready to be
on the road. Nobody suggested we were there to become skilled
drivers or any other such claims.
The goal of the second week was laid out plainly. By Friday you must
be able to pass three tests to a state inspectors satisfaction. One,
perform a Pre-Trip Inspection. Two, move the tractor/trailer through
three test manevors (straight line backing, off-line backing and parralle
parking). Three, drive a road test.
Our class lost one student during the second week. The guy just couldn't
get the straight line backing working and was held over.
Week three there were five students left. But, one of those was lost for
a reason(s) none of us knew the reason for. He was a day away from
taking the state test but was asked to leave the school. Four of us
were scheduled to test on Tuesday of the third week. Two of us
passed the testing on the first try. Another passed his test the next
day. The last one was a hold over and passed as a forth week student.
Some additional notes: All the students at this school were "pre-hired"
before attending. All will be assigned to company trainers prior to
going OTR as solo drivers. We all had good experiences with the
school and the instructors. The equipment was adaquit to get the
training done. We were there to get a CDL and did not have grand
designs beyond that. We all left with what we went there to get.
My final notes: If you are going to go to a CDL Mill then go prepared.
I studied my states CDL manual, the schools prep materials and
took test after test at the on-line web sites that offer CDL prep tests.
Every single paper test I had to take, at the school or the state license
center I planned to pass on the first try. Don't waste your time or
the schools time by not being prepared.
Since all states require the same basic tests that means you should
also study and be prepared to pass the Pre-Trip Inspection test on
the first try as well. There is nothing being hidden. No one is trying
to surprise you about any of the tests. If you prepare for the easy
stuff then the driving part will be easier because you won't be trying
to remember stuff you already should know if you have your goals
and priorities clearly in mind. All that is to say you will be able to
concentrate on the driving if you're not having to spend time on the
non-driving parts of the course.
I'm now waiting to be assigned a trainer and will be on the road
very shortly.It's not a place, it's a state of mind!

Answer:
What company?

Answer:

Now, now be nice even us newbies need a home too and I smell a setup here.
Snot like we're beating you out of your job, Just trying to scratch out a 1/2 decent living for our selves and our familys. Not out there selling children dope. Most of us know we're green and drive with an eye towards safety. There are a few aXXholes but there is some of them amongst the supertrucker elite too
It'd be nice if we got the benfit of your experience not the sarcasm I so often see here. I know most of you guys are great and have given me some invaluable data and if I'm wrong about what I was smelling I'm sorry in advance. Keep it positve we're trying to
Answer:
At least Oz2 has excellent writing, spelling, grammar skills.
Notice he never mentioned he "done did go to cdl scool" ...LOL

Answer:
What in the world is suprshvl talking about?

Answer:

He said:
.
He hasn't been around long enough, to have a good guage on those that shoot straight.Government Ain't YO' Friend. Nor your Servant.
A Tax Reduces Incentive & Capacity. A Regulation is also a TAX.


Answer:

Relax he has no idea either.

I noticed it myself, Kinda raises the needle on the suspicous meter.
Answer:
Oh.
I'll help him out a little. "What company" is a question inquiring to the name of the company the person is starting with. That is simply for imformational purposes. Nothing else intended.
Although not original in intent, I am curious now as to what company simply to see if a company that requires PTDI schooling will also hire from a "Mill" (his words). It would also be helpful to know if he is starting with one of the regular training companies or has taken a different route and is successful at it. Not that it matters very much to most but the more information the better.
I wouldn't mind knowing the name of the "Mill" also. If it is as stated it would be a good place to avoid or to enter with full knowledge of what to expect and how to be successful.
Since this forums intent is to teach and help newbies and wannabes make the right decisions the more information that is provided the more informed a decision people can make. It can also help save them alot of time, money and frustration.

Answer:
Thanks for the replies and comments.
I did not mention the school or company names on purpose.
Let's just say for now that I'm not going to have the chance to
train with JoeTruckDriver.
In my first post I mentioned I'd been reading the trucking
forums for only about 45 days now and choose to join join
this one because it seemed the best one to get useful
information from. The posts by dak1 about truck stops to
avoid is what a newbie needs to hear about. Thats the
stuff that will help me shorten my learning curve.
I have run CB in my 4 wheelers more years than I can
remember. I also run with my 2 meter ham radio. I know
many of the names and labels given to newbies and the
companies they drive for. I don't care to feed the beast.
I actually think it is nice to be considered a newbie. It is a
step up from being a lowlife. The failure rate, the drop out
rate and the turn over rate for first year truckers is such
that no one even wants to know your name for the first
year is not lost on me.
What I hope to gain here is the opportunity to read and
learn and ask questions as they come up in my
training. So... no, my post is not a setup. It is my
attempt to inform you of my entry through the Mill
process and to give a notice of my signing on to this
forum.It's not a place, it's a state of mind!

Answer:
I'm heading out today at noon on my training. I'm not taking
my computer and don't know when I'll be back on-line. I'll
check in when I can and see how the tread is going.It's not a place, it's a state of mind!

Answer:
Welcome to the TruckNet Drivers Roundtable Oz2. Best of luck to you during your training. Let us know how things are going when you can. By all means ask whatever questions you may have.

That is a primary asset afforded those who read and participate here. Thank you for becoming a member.

Answer:
Well, it is now Oct. 21, 2006 and I am back from
a run that started on the 13th. It is nice to be
home for a few hours. Will be back on the road
on the 22nd at 9PM (got home this AM about
8:30). Since this is posted in the Newbie forum
let me state for the other Newbie's that the
company I am with normally sends solo's out for
a two to three week run before they see home.
The only reason I got home so soon is because
we (the trainer and I) were put on a regional run
for a new customer while the job gets assigned
to regular dedicated drivers (they will probably be
solo drivers) that will be needed to service the
account. And since we are treated as team
drivers during my training we can keep a truck
rolling pretty much 24/7 and can make two legs
in a 24 hour period.
I hate long paragraphs... so, let me add that it
also worked out that one end of the leg is
in my and my trainers home town area and
we were on the home town leg during the trip
when the weekend showed up. The next drop
of racks and pickup of parts doesn't happen
until moonish of this coming Monday.
Now I'll talk about the training so far. Parts
are good and... The guy I'm with is a very
friendly and sharing person. He made sure
that I had room in the truck for my stuff and he
went out of his way to make sure I knew I was
welcome to anything he had on board. He
gave me access to his maps, computer, tv
and even his food. You name it, he said it is
ours to use. He also made it clear that the
driver also controls the choice of radio(s) and
heat in the cab. The guy in the left seat is
"the guy in the left seat." During the past
week he has been 100 percent true to the
welcome and sharing he offered me.
It works out that my trainer is of two minds.
He is totally different when behind the
wheel. He speeds, drives very aggressively
and becomes abusive to those he should
be sharing the road with. He'll ride ten
feet off the bumper of a four wheeler and
loves to follow other big trucks close so
that four wheelers can't "cut in front of us."
It is fortunate we have a governed motor. We
can only go faster than 68 mph on a down
hill stretch. And he will put the vehicle in
neutral to squeeze all possible mph out of
it. He doesn't respect the weather or road.
His trip planning is based on speeding. If we
have 14 hours to make a ten hour run he will
sit at a truck stop until we have less then
ten hours to make the run and plan on
finding a "front door" to follow at the highest
speed possible. Three times during the past
week he has run his total hours out of the 14
hour clock to make up time he threw away
sitting on the long end of the run instead of
leaving when we should have.
As I said, the truck will only go 68 mph in
gear. He will set the cruise control at that
speed and have nothing left over should he
ever need it. He thinks nothing of driving
68 in a 55 zone. His concept of following
distance is to close the gap. He knows
what VI is but doesn't do it.
All that said, let me add that he seems to
have very good spatial awareness and knows
where traffic is around him. He is very aware
that he is speeding. He knows he follows too
close. He knows he doesn't leave out on
runs when he should. He knows the errors
but just makes them anyway.
His driving style is best described in the
story of the race of the tortoise and the hare.
And sadly, he becomes agitated and then
angry as the run continues on down the
road.
His log book is kept by using the legal
speed minus one mph divided by hours
to insure the maximum hours to drive.
I understand the logging concept but I don't
see where in the long run it will work if an
accident or DOT or scale situation should
occur. The idea of saying "oh, I forgot to
note my change of status" in a log book
doesn't seem to me to be a very strong
defense should push come to shove.
Yes, I know that it is possible to shift hours
in the log if all goes well. And it is even
possible to get some hours pushed around
in some creative ways. But, any shifting
being done will be best accomplished by
shifting hours that are run at legal (or at
least nearly) speeds. I'll just leave it at
that and let the seasoned drivers tell you
if I am right or wrong on how to cook the
book.
Now, all of that said, let me add that I can
see where going 60 mph in a 55 zone may
be a good idea for safety. And I can see
where allowing speed to increase on a
downhill is the right thing to do in the right
situation as the uphill is coming up and
that speed gain is prudent.
As I get ready to close this post the
question that needs to be answered is
whether my trainer is safe on the road. I
can only say that I wouldn't drive the way
he does and I wouldn't want him working
for me if I owned the company. Yet, he
drives like many of the other truckers I
see on the road every day. He has zero
preventables on his 14 month record. I
am his fifth trainee. Again, I'll leave it to
the seasoned drivers to tell you if I'm all
wet in my observations. And let me be
very clear that he doesn't ask or expect
me to run over speed limits or play with
my log in any way.
By the way, the guy is a wizard at backing
and I am learning from him. This is my
absolute weakest area and I need all the
help I can get. Wish I knew of a good video
or dvd to get that covers this topic. If you
know of one please let me know the title
and where to get it. It seems the setup
is the key and I can screw up a setup
big time.
Over all, I'm having a great time and I am
learning a lot. I pray for all of us to be
safe and return to our homes and loved
ones with peace in our heart and dollars
in our pocket.It's not a place, it's a state of mind!

Answer:
To this point it appears you have made a few mistakes. First you went to a CDL Mill and now with a less than reputable company.
You should never be run as a team while in training and trainers should not be one of the biggest idiots on the road.
I suggest newbies planning on attending a private school go to a PTDI certified school. This will afford them the ability to choose companies who hold a better reputation and are known to teach trainees using the correct proceedures. The above team driving and aggressive driving style is the worst possible training you can get.
Personally, I would get out of that truck as fast as possible. I value my life and the lives of others.
It's to bad the company and school names are a freaken secret. I figured there was some thing to hide and it appears it's true.

Answer:
He has zero
preventables on his 14 month record. I
am his fifth trainee..
===================================
WOW! What a record!!!....ROTFLMAO!!

Answer:
Im a newbie as well so take this for what its worth.
WOW! I dont even know where to start.
With 14 months experience, It sounds like your trainer has entered what I call the danger zone, thats the period in time where his confidence overruns his ability and judgement. Ive had my CDL for almost two years but have only been putting miles on for about five months. I am in that danger zone myself and its something that I constantly try to stay aware of. Ive got an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other.
I'd like to say that your trainer is an oddity but from what Ive seen, what he does is all too common, maybe not with trainers, but with the general drver population. It really is a sad thing that this "trainer" of yours cant even seem to teach safely much less drive safely. That doesnt reflect well on the company you have chosen.