Question:
Driving School - Day one - Feb. 23rd, 2004
Arrived at the cc high-rise at 6:45 and stood around with about 10 other men. (no females in this class). The senior instructor (will be called SI from now on. met us and took us up to the class room. Signed us all in and proceded to tell us what we would be doing today, and the next few days.
More students arrived during the next two hours bringing the total to 16 as of today. Morning hours were spent watching videos of how to correctly pass, methods of backing, straight back, ninety degree, and blind-side, all emphasizing the GOAL method - get out and look. Using guides, both human and cones, rags, flashlights, pacing a distance, etc.
The SI stated several times that we students WILL learn how to back in this school. He is also very big on teaching everyone to double clutch correctly and to up-shift and down-shift. He has thirteen years OTR experience and the other three instructors have 24, 15, and 5 years in the biz.
Because of our class size, a question was asked about seat time. The SI said the school policy will be enforced which is having only a maximum of Three students per truck. The class will be split so if you are in the yard doing backing and drop and hook in the am, you will out driving in the pm. Our class hours are 7:00 to 5:30 Monday thru Fridays. So hopefully we will have some knowledge of the street when we leave.
After lunch we took a test on Federal regs, about 50 questions. It was an open book because the si wanted us to find the answers correctly and wanted discussion on the questions because a lot of them were written so there could have been more than one answer, but the right answer was in the book. I think this was a test to see if everyone could read and comprehend.
He also passed out some study guides for the cdl test that the school uses in conjunction with the official Texas cdl study guide. We will be hitting the guide hard tomorrow because half the class will be going to test for permit on Wednesday and half on Thursday.
SI let us go at 5:00 today, but told us not to expect anymore early outs.
End of day one - Codger "Stop holding me back. I'm going to clown college." Homer Simpson

Answer:
Hi oldcodger
Thanks for your details...keep us up to date.

Answer:
Driving School - day 2 - Feb. 24, 2004
Arrived at cc high-rise like yesterday and stood around until 6:55 with some ot the other students. We are bs ing around a little and getting to know one another. The morning was basically spent going over the study guides that the school uses along with the Texas cdl hand-book. The si has us take turns reading the questions, and answering as best we can off the guides. If it is wrong he corrects and we have discussions on the anwers.
The guides are written along the lines of actual questions we may have. You really have to read and comprehend the questions because they are not straight-forward yes/no or just one answer. We did not get as far as he would have liked today but we will hit it hard tomorrow morning again.
We are going for permit test tomorrow (whole class) so if any of us DO fail any of the tests we have time to study again and re-take before next week.
The question was raised today about the road test at the end of Training. Since the DPS test site for class C is so small, and because we are the only school (that we know of) in the area, the dps examiners come to our yard.
This takes care of the morning. Three students missing today - don't know why -not my business.
1:00 PM - Swift Recruiter begins his presentation.
I shall call him JM as in Jerry Moyes. LOL (actually is ok guy - Texas Boy)
Only listened and asked questions. Don't believe everything they say, but he did say some VERY interesting things about Swift.
They are 17,000 tractors and 60,000 big now, and I think that may include Central Freight Lines. They have just purchased 4,000 new Volvo Tractors, JM could not remember what model - all clutch and shift - no autos.
The real Jerry Moyes also owns 300 O/O tractors that he leases back to Swift.
As if he needs more money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
According to jm (the recruiter) they have taken a close look at their training, trainers, and training wage, and have fired and demoted a goodly amount and have kicked out several DM's and dispatchers, at the Laredo Terminal.
He stated that within the next 30 to 45 days (about when we graduate) these changes would be started within the system.
Trainers would be required to wear uniforms.
Trainers would be held responsible for their trainee's - 1 cpm to trainer for every mile that their TRAINED driver drove for the first year. Bonus paid end of year. (example - 1 driver times 1cpm times 100,000 miles first year is $1,000.00 to trainer times 6 to 8 student drivers trained = some serious money
Training wage to students will be increased to $350.00 first two weeks - $400.00 second two weeks - and $500.00 last two weeks of the six week deal.
Van will train for six weeks - flatbed will train for seven which includes two sessions of two and a half days for tarp and load securement training and such.
JM also said there was another bonus that will be paid to trainers in the second year but I didn't hear it all.
Van pay will be 25 cpm starting and 26 cpm for flats. Then I think the normal wage increases.
I asked several questions
tolls paid by Swift - yes ( I have heard they didn't)
lumpers paid - yes, to $80.00 comcheck and receipt turned in or else your out.
Lay-over pay - yes
New pay for drivers - after you have bumped the dock and you have notified dispatch you will be paid $16.00 per hour ( in 1/4 quarter hour periods for time spent waiting to unload and receiver's. $4.00 per 15 minute periods.
Swift apparently wants some or all receivers who goof with the loads or drivers to speed it up and will charge back the drivers waiting wage to them.
He did not say who or how many receivers this might be so this deal may be a smoke job.
My final question was " I guess Swift wants to change their ways and retain drivers and try to build a better image" He said that is what is going on.
So maybe some of the high muckety mucks have finally got a clue at Swift.
Disclaimer: What I wrote about Swift is what the recruiter told us. It is not word for word. I took no notes, just jotted down a couple of numbers and some words to help me type todays thread. So don't hold me responsible if all, some or none of that stuff doesn't come to be or it is all smoke and mirrors.
After jm left we went back to the guides and studied among ourselves in small groups until 5:30 PM.
It's still good
End of day two - Codger"Stop holding me back. I'm going to clown college." Homer Simpson

Answer:
This post will cover days 3-4-5 Feb. 25,26,27, 2004
Day 3
School has been going fairly well for most of the students in this class. We started with 16 and are now down to 12. One guy lasted 1/2 day, never saw him again after lunch on Monday. Two more were asked to leave after Tuesday's class. Do not know why. Last guy did not show on Wednesday, (or Thursday or Friday), but it was not a loss. He slept 3/4 of day on Tuesday. The si woke him up about 6 times then just let it go. I think he got bounced on Wednesday after he didn't show for class.
Class room work has centered on studying for the cdl tests. Most of the class can read and write at an average skill level. A couple guys have a few problems with comprehension. One guy I will call Mr. Trucker was running his mouth on Monday and Tuesday about how he had driven this and that and did this and that. Well, that changed on Wednesday when three things happened.
One, he admitted, in class, that he has had a felony only 7 years old. Two, the si had us take turns, the whole class, read the study guide questions and try to answer them, and guess what, - Mr. Trucker can barely read. Which is actually two bad, because he is at least in his late 30's. And three, Mr. Trucker did not know , on the third day of class, what a shipper, receiver, and a carrier was.
The two tables of 4 guys that I sit with actually laughed out loud, and he has been very quiet with his stories and bs since then. I guess every class has one or two that know everything but this guy showed his a&% in class and got caught.
Wednesday after lunch the si sent us to the dps to start to take the written parts of the cdl test which are on computer. I took the class a and b, tankers, hazmat, and pre-trip inspect and passed all. Received permit and will come back Thursday to take air brakes, general knowledge, triples and doubles, and combinations. No passenger because the school doesn't have a bus to take road test in.
Returned to class after the four tests as instructed by si. The si asked all who returned how they did (some guys took tests south and out of town) and some did not fair too well. The si said to those guys to keep studying and he will let them go tomorrow afternoon to try again.
Thursday - day 4
Had map reading and trip planning this am. Most of class got after it pretty easy but some guys struggled. Had some time to study in small groups for the tests in the afternoon. Sent to dps after lunch to finish up or keep after the tests. I took remaining and passed all but was close on combinations. But hey, we are just reading and testing and talking truck. Next week a lot of stuff will become much clearer when we get to the yard and the instructors show and give hands on to what we have been studying and testing for.
Some guys are really having a hard time with the tests. They will not be allowed to drive if they do not have permits, not even in the yard.
Friday - day 5
Today we met the other three instructors who will be doing the yard and street training. They all seem like good guys. Between those three they have about 45 years in trucking (they said) so hope we students can soak up some knowledge.
Instructor who I will call SJ taught the class on the hos and log books and how to fill one out properly. He gave us study guides to practice with and we actually logged in two different trips on practice log book sheets. It is still a little fuzzy, but most understand the basic concept. With practice most of us will be ok on down the line.
When I say most of us, I mean our class has about 5 guys of the remaining 12 that are having a hard go of it. Some have continued to bomb the tests so I don't know what will happen next week.
Let out at noon because class before us is graduating today.
Please, some people let me know if you want me to continue or if this is boring stuff and just shut it down.
Thanks, Codger
Remember Kids
"if your walking on eggs, don't hop - the late Warren Oates in the movie "Blue Thunder""Stop holding me back. I'm going to clown college." Homer Simpson

Answer:
This post will cover days 3-4-5 Feb. 25,26,27, 2004
Day 3
School has been going fairly well for most of the students in this class. We started with 16 and are now down to 12. One guy lasted 1/2 day, never saw him again after lunch on Monday. Two more were asked to leave after Tuesday's class. Do not know why. Last guy did not show on Wednesday, (or Thursday or Friday), but it was not a loss. He slept 3/4 of day on Tuesday. The si woke him up about 6 times then just let it go. I think he got bounced on Wednesday after he didn't show for class.
Class room work has centered on studying for the cdl tests. Most of the class can read and write at an average skill level. A couple guys have a few problems with comprehension. One guy I will call Mr. Trucker was running his mouth on Monday and Tuesday about how he had driven this and that and did this and that. Well, that changed on Wednesday when three things happened.
One, he admitted, in class, that he has had a felony only 7 years old. Two, the si had us take turns, the whole class, read the study guide questions and try to answer them, and guess what, - Mr. Trucker can barely read. Which is actually two bad, because he is at least in his late 30's. And three, Mr. Trucker did not know , on the third day of class, what a shipper, receiver, and a carrier was.
The two tables of 4 guys that I sit with actually laughed out loud, and he has been very quiet with his stories and bs since then. I guess every class has one or two that know everything but this guy showed his a&% in class and got caught.
Wednesday after lunch the si sent us to the dps to start to take the written parts of the cdl test which are on computer. I took the class a and b, tankers, hazmat, and pre-trip inspect and passed all. Received permit and will come back Thursday to take air brakes, general knowledge, triples and doubles, and combinations. No passenger because the school doesn't have a bus to take road test in.
Returned to class after the four tests as instructed by si. The si asked all who returned how they did (some guys took tests south and out of town) and some did not fair too well. The si said to those guys to keep studying and he will let them go tomorrow afternoon to try again.
Thursday - day 4
Had map reading and trip planning this am. Most of class got after it pretty easy but some guys struggled. Had some time to study in small groups for the tests in the afternoon. Sent to dps after lunch to finish up or keep after the tests. I took remaining and passed all but was close on combinations. But hey, we are just reading and testing and talking truck. Next week a lot of stuff will become much clearer when we get to the yard and the instructors show and give hands on to what we have been studying and testing for.
Some guys are really having a hard time with the tests. They will not be allowed to drive if they do not have permits, not even in the yard.
Friday - day 5
Today we met the other three instructors who will be doing the yard and street training. They all seem like good guys. Between those three they have about 45 years in trucking (they said) so hope we students can soak up some knowledge.
Instructor who I will call SJ taught the class on the hos and log books and how to fill one out properly. He gave us study guides to practice with and we actually logged in two different trips on practice log book sheets. It is still a little fuzzy, but most understand the basic concept. With practice most of us will be ok on down the line.
When I say most of us, I mean our class has about 5 guys of the remaining 12 that are having a hard go of it. Some have continued to bomb the tests so I don't know what will happen next week.
Let out at noon because class before us is graduating today.
Please, some people let me know if you want me to continue or if this is boring stuff and just shut it down.
Thanks, Codger
Remember Kids
"if your walking on eggs, don't hop - the late Warren Oates in the movie "Blue Thunder""Stop holding me back. I'm going to clown college." Homer Simpson

Answer:
the puter got stuck or something. I don't know
Sorry again.
codger "Stop holding me back. I'm going to clown college." Homer Simpson

Answer:
I like reading your posts, Good luck.

Answer:
This post will cover days 6 - 7 March 1st , 2nd 2004
Day 6
First day on the yard. We meet at 7:00 AM at the yard and met the three other driver/instructors that the cc has. We have a total of four which is pretty good, considering what I have read about cdl mills.
The first hour the driver/instructors, which shall be called d/i's from now on, went through the rules of the yard and what was going to happen over the next three weeks. These three guys seem to have a lot of knowledge and they are willing to share it. Yard rules are simple - when they say stop, you stop. When they say go, you go. If you use the foot-feed in the yard you will have points taken off your daily grade. If you laugh or make fun of another student, you will lose 30 points for the day. If you do it again, you will be sent home for the day, and lose 30 points. They will not tolerate belittling other students.
They may call you names, like g$% d@#$ it , get it in the right gear but they want nothing from the other students.
We went over the pre-trip that they want done every morning on the truck you were assigned. We are in teams for that, each taking turns doing and writing it on the forms that are in each truck. Then break time 9:00 am to 9:20.
The d/i's showed us the way they want drop and hook to be done, then we all got to do some before lunch.
After noon we all started to practice straight backing. Needless to say, some did better than others. I was awful. Each student got two chances in the seat and three backups with each chance today. So everyone got at least six times to straight back. I was terrible. I have to learn not to saw the wheel so much and to make little corrections and then let the correction work before doing another. At least that is what the d/i told me.
All the d/i's at the end of the day said to us don't get discouraged or down on yourself. This is the first day, just go home and think about what you're doing and we'll be doing backing everyday so you can get it.
They emphasize getting to the yard and ready to go at 7am but we still have folks dragging in at 15 past, 30 past, etc. It affects the start of the day because then the d/i's have to stop and go over the material twice. It really upsets one of the d/i's. He is an old O/O and has said he is set in his ways and will speak his mind if you like it or not.
Day 7
Ran pre-trip and air brake tests today with partners assigned to trucks. finished
at about 8:15 and went out driving with the d/i's. Part of class stayed on yard backing and other part went out to drive. The d/i I went with is real cool and laid back. He drove us around one of the area's we will use for practice. the school uses three different areas for practice besides the city streets and the yard.
Guys on the truck this morning did pretty good. I have double clutched before so the upshifts were ok, but ground some hamburger on a bunch of downshifts. The d/i was way cool, did not yell or scream, just leaned over and helped me through them and said I did well on my turns and centering so it was kinda ok for the first time actually driving an 18 wheeler on a road.
I didn't kill the truck so that made me feel good.
This afternoon we were on the yard and the guys that did not drive this am went to drive. We practiced straight back an parallel park. Got two chances in the seat. first one not at all good. Second one was the best straight back I have done so far. Only two pull ups. But I kill a cone where the dock would have been. Opps
I was last driver in the seat and we stopped early at 4:45 today because of rain.
Have a lot to think about and to practice on. Glad we have two and a half more weeks.
Hope all that read this and / or replies to this are enjoying.
Codger"Stop holding me back. I'm going to clown college." Homer Simpson

Answer:
Driving school - day 8, March 3rd, 2004
Today was about like yesterday. Team that is assigned to truck does the pre-trip and air brake test so everyone always has a chance to get it in their brains.
Three trucks out this morning driving and one at the yard doing backing and parallel park.
I did fair this morning. Still have a little trouble with downshifting using double clutch method but upshifting is coming along. Turns, centering, and stops seem to be coming along well too.
I felt kinda bad for one of the guys on our truck this morning. We have a designated rest area on the training course that we stop at to smoke, pee and switch drivers. When it was his turn this morning he killed the tractor eleven (11) times trying to get it out of the rest area. And two more kills on the road.
But in his defense, it was his first time in the seat on the course so no one said anything, just felt kinda bad for him and for my neck that is hurting from whiplash.
On his second round he did a lot better, no kills.
This afternoon, students that drove in AM like me did backing and parallel park.
The tractor we were using had the wiring start to smoke under steering column so the D/I said just leave it set. then he decided ah what the hay, so we continued on. No signal lights or 4 - ways on this tractor so until fixed it is one of the yard tractors.
Severe rain and hail expected tonight and tomorrow but will drive and do backing because that is what they do in the real world.
Codger
Codger"Stop holding me back. I'm going to clown college." Homer Simpson

Answer:
I thought there would be more looks and replies to this thread.
Guess everyones been to school and doesn't have anything to add or reply to.
The End
Codger"Stop holding me back. I'm going to clown college." Homer Simpson

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No man , keep it up . I start school the 22nd and it helps me to read your journey ........
Answer:
You're doing a fine job of saying what the school's like and how it's helped weed out a few who can't hack any job. Think about that when people talk about the poor quality of many drivers. Your school has been lenient about late folks and 25% are already gone anyway.
Keep it up and let us know how training goes. The comments on Swift were interesting and it's nice to know that you're not a sheep who takes recruiters at their 'word'.
When you get on the road and/or start trying to select a company, the replies will be more frequent. Besides, your post may help someone MONTHS after you post it decide if he/she wants to attend that school.

Answer:
Swift
Lumpers are variable depending on work to be performed. Have seen several paid up to $150. After $150, it gets difficult. Must get estimate and then approval via Qcom. If you do not turn in the lumper receipt, you will be taxed for what the lumper was paid.
Layover is based on 24 hours, no load refusals and is not paid for weekend layovers.
Detention pay does not start until after two hours. Then it is $4.00/quarter hour. It is paid according to when you send in your arrive and depart macro’s on the Qcom.
Swift has also upped the stop pay.
-J

Answer:
When I went through school we had a great bunch. Only 7 students and 3 instructors. Got a lot of work done. The original seven finished the whole class. Last time I check there were only 3 of us still driving. Almost 3 years later.
The first two that dropped of off trucking were the ones that spent their evenings at the local nudie bar.
-J

Answer:
Thanks for the replies. I'm glad there are folks that are interested.
Days 9,10, 11, and 12 - March 4,5,8,9, 2004
Much of the last four days have been very repetitive. We split the class after pre-trip and air brake tests on all 4 trucks. Half the students, or there abouts, stay in the yard and half the students go out with the d/i 's and drive.
Our class is getting smaller every week now. One of the students, of the several who are late every day, was thrown in the county motel for 6 months, one student misses either the mornings or afternoons almost every day, and one student is trying to work a night deal is starting to miss class, and last one of the good students father passed away. So we hope he can make it back and graduate with us.
Thursday, March 4th was a bad driving day for us students because of the foul weather that passed over. Not much done this day except trying to see to practice backing and parallel park in the driving rain.
Friday, March 5th, was a real nice day to drive and to practice backing and parallel park. The two other students that I am with and myself had the yard to ourselves this morning. Only 9 students showed for friday so two trucks went out driving in the AM and we drove after lunch. Had many turns in the truck to practice backing and parallel and it really helped me alot, and the other guys too. It's starting to sink in, slowly.
But, I screwed the pooch driving in the afternoon. First vehicle at an intersection with traffic lights, preparing to make a left turn. Green light with arrow for me came on and I let out the clutch like I had been doing, and killed the truck. The all mighty splitter bit me you know where. Thought I was in second gear, but actually in 6th. Eaton-Fuller 9 speeds in all trucks.
Well, got it started and grabbed the gear, after our d/i , who is really a great guy and a good instructor says real calm, "you got bit, didn't ya" and he just chuckled and commented that your not the first and you won't be the last.
I felt lower than whale do do but managed to get composed and get it around the corner and down the road.
This was 3:00 pm in Friday traffic. The rest of the day went a little better, and I am watching the splitter a little more.
Monday and Tuesday, days 10 and 11, March 8th and 9th
These two days were spent driving and backing and parallel parking. Most of the students who have been to class in the yard every day since day 6 are starting to catch on to double clutch up and down better and to make their turns under control. And of course, backing.
There are only a couple of students that the d/i 's have some concern about. But that's all they will say, because it is not any one's business but the students involved and the instructors.
I would rate this school a good strong B+ or a weak A- so far. The two things that grade them down is letting being on time slide, and letting students who are constantly missing parts of days slide. Maybe they are speaking to some on the private, but people keep showing up late in the mornings, I don't know.
We are being taught the Basics to try to pass our CDL road test. That's all we have time to learn in four week. If any of this class, including me, or any class for that matter anywhere, thinks we are big high muckety muck truck drivers when we graduate, you all better think again.
My atitude for professional drivers, not the jammers or the Billy BigRiggers, has increased ten fold since I have been in this class.
Any one can aim a truck. It takes a professional to drive one.
Codger "Stop holding me back. I'm going to clown college." Homer Simpson