Advice for new trucking students

[bten1972]

Hello everyone. I am a new trucking student myself so I sure don't know much, but I have seen some common errors that new students make over the last few weeks. I wanted to post them here so new trucking students could try to avoid them. Here they are in no particular order of importance...

1. Ask questions, all of them, any of them. There is no stupid question, and if you don't think you get a decent answer ask someone else.

2. If you are getting your class A license from a school in another state, make sure you understand the process completely. Also, call that state's DMV and see if you need a social security card, birth certificate, etc. before you go. Many people show up and say they were never told to bring one or the other. Doesn't matter, they ride the bus back home at their expense and get to start all over if they want to continue with CDL training after getting these documents. Know what you need to bring from day one.

3. Surprise! They really do do those background checks. If you think no one will find out about that accident because it was in a state you didn't live in, or that legal incident doesn't matter as much, believe me they will check, and it does matter. Be honest from the start. They may show some leniency if they know about it, but usually won't trust you at all if they feel you had to lie or omit information to get a bus ticket.

4. Bring money for stuff... like food. Lots of people show up looking for the college or training center to provide meals for free, and they don't. That includes money for laundry, emergencies, and medications if you take them. Have your blood pressure checked before you come if you have reason to doubt it will be good enough to pass the physical, and carry medicines on you when you travel. Do not check them, they can (and have for two people here in the last three weeks) get lost by the bussing company if you do.

5. Training is not a job guarantee. The training center, hiring company, or school can and will cut you for breaking rules, being difficult, or just plain being a jackass. Keep a postive attitude, maintain good study habits, and stay focused on learning as much as you can in the short time you have and you will do well. Also, don't give up in school because it wasn't what you expected. As students we don't know what real trucking is like, and won't until we have been doing it a while.

6. Have fun. It makes learning easier when you relax and unwind once in a while.

I hope this post helps anyone going to a trucking school. Please feel free to add comments of course, it is a forum, but lets keep on topic about helping new students with general information and leave the company specific horror stories/*****es/rants for new threads, thanks.

[Gonfercoffee]

can you get your money back if you don't like the school?

[RickyRicardo]

I like this kid already gfc.
He warned us to stay on topic.

[pro1driver]

Originally Posted by Gonfercoffee

can you get your money back if you don't like the school?

yes (and) no........

there are "cut-off" times to get back the money.

each passing week determines the amount (if any) gets refunded.

go past ( i believe) the half way point, and its all gone........

this from a former co-worker buddy of mine that teaches.

[wood]

im trying to go to school to get my CDL ,just want to know what is like in school or what should i expect?


could some body let me know please

akrkov@yahoo.com

thanks

[ranger309]

Originally Posted by wood

im trying to go to school to get my CDL ,just want to know what is like in school or what should i expect?


could some body let me know please

akrkov@yahoo.com

thanks

If what I know of Swift trainers is true, it wont be much fun.

In used to work with a jamoke that worked for Swift for seven years. Anyone who works for Swift that long has a screw loose and this puke was all that and more.

He had a fun time mistreating all our customers (we were P&D, a job were its a good thing to be able to treat people with respect.) and generally acting like a complete fool.

Most driver trainers are there to make extra $$$ and have fun watching you mess up so they can get an ego boost.

You will most likely end up team driving with some trainer, hopefully halfway (did they tell you that lots of OTR drivers go bat-**** crazy after the first year, lol) sane for 4 to 6 weeks, then you are on your own.

I don't know any of this first hand, just what I have heard for years. My family and friends were into the trucking biz, so I never went to a truck school, thankfully.

PS: get a good cellphone and a plan with lots of minutes for keeping in touch with your girl and your family, when you are out there. It'll keep you away from the "bat syndrome. ;-)

Good luck!