Question:
so far i have been in school for six weeks. well let me tell ya what a ride this has been. in my class there are two dykes, a guy, and there have been (i'm not even exxaggerating) five instructors. it seems as though noone wants to take this class on full time, perhaps because its at 5:30am, maybe because i have complained about the numerous dirty jokes told in front of the class that i thought were offensive and inappropriate and the word has gotten around. i don't know. however, ten weeks of classroom eight weeks of range and then otr for six weeks the cost? $7,100.00. wanna know what we do EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR SIX WEEKS???????????? go around the room and everyone reads a page from the book and we watch dumb movies and every friday we take a test. thats it tomorrow's lesson lets read from the book and watch literally like four movies a day and go on breaks every hour. this is seriously the biggest joke i have ever seen in my life. what a way to weasel 7,000 bucks out of stupid people. thats what it is. the instructors? there all like yeah yeah yeah whatever. they have no lesson plan no nothing we just read from the book and "now we're going to watch a movie" every single day. these rednecks are talking about naked women, ***** jokes, nipple jokes constantly, its so gross i want to vomit. and i heard a range instructor got pissed off threw his book on the floor of the cab, grabbed the gearshift away from a students hand and yelled "COME ON!!" i am so unbelievably pissed off that i signed up for this i don't know what to do. i feel like suing for sexual harrassment and misrepresentation.
on a side note i went into the werner terminal here in phoenix about a week ago and wooohee let me tell you there were some scary i mean scary people that looked like they had been to prison in there. the guy at the front window was completely rude, the people were like psychotic and it was horrible. this is supposed to be one of the top carriers in the country. i don't know man i beginning to think that what you read out here is correct. this is the bottom of the barrel. this is where people come when they are desperate and they can't do anything else and in the industry are the people who were once there and they are now finding there lives in trucking and there ugly, desperate, losers. thats why there are so many rude people in trucking thats what it is the bottom rung of society. i sound like i'm being really rude but its true there are no winners or happy people here there are scumbags who think its perfectly fine to talk like they were born in a barn and are happy as punch to live in a sewer. not for me. now i am totally in debt and ya know what? i don't care. i'm so sick of this i don't give a rip anymore. i really think these people should be ashamed of the scam they are running. nuff said. i used to be one of the people saying hey its what you make it now i'm saying ya know what you guys are right.

Answer:
First let me say, there are enough idiots in this profession that are just exactly like you described. But there are many more of us that are much better (hygene, grooming, etc...), than those clowns. I don't think I have to go any further on that subject.
As far as the degrading jokes, inuendos, etc.......you have a voice. Speak up and tell them not to talk like that when you're around. Most likely they'll tell you to take a flying leap, but at least then you've made your point. If that fails, go to your instructor. If you get no results from him, go another step up the ladder to his supervisor.
As far as the school you're attending, I can't say anything about it, good or bad. I never went to truck driving school. I learned the old fashioned way.
I honestly believe that you haven't given this profession a chance. If you can't handle the training, you won't be able to handle the job.
Sorry driving won't work for you.
*******************************
"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..." From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)
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"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)
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Member: Happy Dweller Society
Owner Operator Division

Answer:
wooohee let me tell you there were some scary i mean scary people that looked like they had been to prison in there. the guy at the front window was completely rude, the people were like psychotic and it was horrible.
HAhahahahahahahahahaha
I got news for you:
You stay out for long periods of time and alternate between getting run ragged and sitting around for long periods at some pretty dull places, along with dealing with the morons on the other end of your Qualcomm you aren't going to be much to look at or be around yourself.
You are too sensitive and judgmental for OTR. You should try for a local job; there are companies that hire recent grads for local jobs, you just have to find them yourself. Few will come and recruit directly from a school.
___________________________
Humans are amazing creatures. "With all the things you can train them to do, I've been considering getting one."-Stoney Jay Gould
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This post coming to you live, from Jesus Land !!!

Answer:
Try to turn a blind eye to all the bad stuff in the school and remember why you are there... to get your CDL and to move on... that is what you need to focus on. Obviously it isn't a good situation, but you need to make the best of it.
There are idiots everywhere. I ran across plenty of them during my 25 year IT career... and there they usually packaged themselves in ties & suits not dirty jeans and greasy hair... the package contents were the same... an idiot.
Driving truck may or may not be the career for you, but only you figure that out for yourself.
Now pick yourself up and get back at it, if nothing else at least you'll be able to say you tried it. Better to have tried than be left wondering the rest of your life the "what ifs".

Answer:
Originally posted by Paul56:
Driving truck may or may not be the career for you, but only you figure that out for yourself.
Now pick yourself up and get back at it, if nothing else at least you'll be able to say you tried it. Better to have tried than be left wondering the rest of your life the "what ifs".
Paul's got a good point there. At least you can say, "Hey! At least I tried!" That's a hell of a lot more than most people can say.
*******************************
"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..." From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)
*******************************
"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)
**************************
Member: Happy Dweller Society
Owner Operator Division


Answer:
It doesn't sound like you are having much fun, or finding any challenge or reward out of the experience. I am happy to report the opposite though.
I'm in my third week of school. So far we have been tested on the state CDL manual, and the PTDI "Trucking" textbook. We've had logging and trip planning drilled into us and tested on it. We've been tested on the FMCSR like I have never been tested before. The test was brutal... It looked like this:
1) What does FMCSR 395.8 say?
2) What is the subject of FMCSR 390.13?
It went on and on like that... You pretty much have to memorize it. You might as well memorize the Hazardous Materials Guide too because that test was the same way. I can forsee a pop performance test looming with the Emergency Response Guide too.
185 point pre-trip test wasn't exactly a picnic either. The clock is ticking and they don't make it easy on you. The State CDL pretrip test is looking for knowledge of lights and air brakes. In order to get on the driving range you have to score above 70% on their 185 point test. I rocked it with a 98%... So far no one has ever 100 percented that bad boy, and I joined only two others in scoring a 98, in the past ten years. I was proud, in fact I am damned proud to be carrying a 99% overall grade, as hard as it has been.
I've been behind the wheel a lot too. Mostly on the range though. Drop and hooks till the cows come home. 18 different tractors and countless different trailers... Could be a brand new Century, or you could end up with a 1985 White that is in such bad shape its been relegated to yard duty. I've coupled and uncoupled in the mud, running water, snow, thunderstorms, high winds, you name it. I've definately driven alot more miles in reverse now than I have forward. I've done it with tanks, skates, boxs of various lengths. There are end dumps, dry bulk, you name it and it looms in my near future.
Imagine being six days in and having to build a set of pups, straight line it about a 1/4 mile, then break up the set. Then you turn each trailer around, build the set again, then back across the range to where you started. It could happen to you!
Imagine you have 45 minutes to couple to a trailer and move it to the other side of the yard. Sounds easy enough, but when you get there, the tailights, are missing, the tandems are all the way back, and you can't get the spring brakes to release because an instructor has sabotaged it. Find yourself some lights, trouble shoot the air brake problem, and get those tandems moved and all of a sudden you've got three minutes to get over there, and back it in. Challenging, but then again sometimes they un-adjust your drivers side mirror and make you do a sight side sepentine back using only your blind side mirror. Forget about the convex mirror too, because the range instructor probably hung his hat from it and is now beating on your door and hooting or barking like a dog at you. If you're not either un-nerved or laughing your azz off you're one focused driver.
There are always the jokes flying around. Nothing too majorly crude, but we all have fun and no one seems to get too upset. I get a great deal of joy asking new students to check the brake fluid on a tractor and then watch as a few of them pour over it for quite a while. I have gotten at least two of them the past two weeks.
There are rules and limitations though. You're expected to act and dress as a professional. Being absent is not tolerated... I had the flu and a high fever my first week. I was there every day... I was doing drop and hooks in the snow, while standing in a mud puddle. If you're late you better have a good reason. If you break any rules you could face a deduction from your grade.
Recruiters are there all the time too. They are all very good salesmen, but generally you can tell they are selling some high grade BS. The Werner dude laid it on pretty good... He did give me a real nice pen though. It writes like a laser so it works great on log books. Hmmmmm from the paperless log people too! Who'd a thunk it?
I've kept my grades sky high. Because of that I've had a few opportunities present themselves for local companies. I have two pretty attractive offers that may just keep me at home every night. I still have three more weeks of backing, and road driving though. I have to stay focused on that for now so I can keep that grade up.
So far I have to give my school experience a thumbs up. It's a challenge, and they do run me ragged with long days, and lots of homework and studying, but I am still enjoying it. Right now I am up against about 125 pages of reading and a study guide to complete. It's ten PM and so I will probably get to bed about 12:30 then get back up at 5am.

Answer:
wow gearjammer that sounds awesome. sounds like your getting some really good training and you sound like your doing well and having fun. thats great!! thats what i thought my school was going to be. especially for $7,000. i don't know how much your school costs but i just expected more for that much money. i don't mind paying alot if i feel i'm getting something of value but i don't feel like i am. so, i'm so happy for you. thats awesome. i wanna team with you so you can teach me everything...lol. or hey i know you can become a trainer and train me. i'll send you an email bye

Answer:
Personally, I enjoy shooting the sh*it with rednecks, telling nasty jokes, and using fowl language. Thats the fun of truck driving. Your definatly in the wrong field. Theres basically 2 types of woman in trucking. Bulldikes and lotlizards. So you might want to get use to it.

Answer:
Well hopefully your program will take off soon too. Mine is only 6 weeks... much shorter than yours. Maybe that is why mine has the pace it does. On some days I do wish it was slower, but on most days I enjoy the challenge.
I sure hope you get some good road and range time soon though. Maybe that will make things a little more interesting.

Answer:
Some schools are like some trainers. Their just in it for the money.

Answer:
Not all schools are all they are cracked up to be. We are in out last 3 days before our road test and I am most unsure that I will pass the road test next week. We havent had really all that much time behind the wheel our class has 19 people in it 8 on days and the rest on nights. I am one of 3 women in the class and was the only woman on nights till last weekend. This is an 8 week course.
Honestly in some ways I think I have learned more from this forum than I have in class. But the biggest thing..is to not think too much, about what I am doing and let things happen naturally..which I did tonight and did the best I had in 2 weeks I believe.
As far as the jokes and comments...get used to it. Its something that happens in a male domininated professions(please no offense to the guys who can respect themselves and be gentleman) But hey you wanted in a this profession did you really expect NOT to see and hear what youve heard? I expect and and thus am not surprised by it. I am surprised that the downgrading and cussing at us the instructors do, though at least they are tying to help us.
Your already biased..as you mentioned that your glass has a dyke and i forget what else in it. Is there a reason her sexuallity is an issue with you when your are there to learn and become a truck driver? I wouldnt care if all the guys in my class were tranys or whatever. I am there to learn what I can to past my test. Unfortunately that seems to be all my school is about. I wish you much luck with school and this profession but I am afraid your not going to make it as your not accepting people for who they are instead of what they look like on the outside.

Answer:
Not all schools are all they are cracked up to be. We are in out last 3 days before our road test and I am most unsure that I will pass the road test next week. We havent had really all that much time behind the wheel our class has 19 people in it 8 on days and the rest on nights. I am one of 3 women in the class and was the only woman on nights till last weekend. This is an 8 week course.
Honestly in some ways I think I have learned more from this forum than I have in class. But the biggest thing..is to not think too much, about what I am doing and let things happen naturally..which I did tonight and did the best I had in 2 weeks I believe.
As far as the jokes and comments...get used to it. Its something that happens in a male domininated professions(please no offense to the guys who can respect themselves and be gentleman) But hey you wanted in a this profession did you really expect NOT to see and hear what youve heard? I expect and and thus am not surprised by it. I am surprised that the downgrading and cussing at us the instructors do, though at least they are tying to help us.
Your already biased..as you mentioned that your class has a dyke and i forget what else in it. Is there a reason her sexuallity is an issue with you when your are there to learn and become a truck driver? I wouldnt care if all the guys in my class were tranys or whatever. I am there to learn what I can to past my test. Unfortunately that seems to be all my school is about. I wish you much luck with school and this profession but I am afraid your not going to make it as your not accepting people for who they are instead of what they look like on the outside.

Answer:
I wish you much luck with school and this profession but I am afraid your not going to make it as your not accepting people for who they are instead of what they look like on the outside.
After reading the latest replies, I have to agree. You're trying to enter a profession that has some of the best and some of the worst dregs of human life in it.
To me, people can be just what they wanna be. It doesn't matter to me. You can be Catholic, Lutheran, Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Jewish or whatever race, it doesn't matter to me.........as long as you treat me with the same respect you want me to treat you!
I don't give a hoot what or who you are.....BUT DO NOT push your lifestyle or religion or beliefs on me!
*******************************
"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..." From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)
*******************************
"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)
**************************
Member: Happy Dweller Society
Owner Operator Division

Answer:
and that is why time and time again myself and others have climbed up on our little soap boxes and said "Research your school !!!!!! before you sign on the dotted line and fork out the money. I have seen schools that cost $1000 that were far superior to the $10,000 schools, and I have seen some big dollar schools well worth the money for everything they offer.
School has nothing to do with cost. Cost has nothing to do with quality of instruction. Just because a school has big shiny fancy equipment and costs an arm and a leg does not mean it is going to be good. The school with the 15 year old trucks that look like sh*t and cost you very little may have the quality to give you a good foundation.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
Originally posted by Hoss:
I don't give a hoot what or who you are.....__BUT DO NOT__ push your lifestyle or religion or beliefs on me!
Spoken like a man who really loves his sissy colored truck.