South Louisiana Community College

I'm currently in my second week of class and finally have a little time to write a progress report so far.

The class is 8 hours a day for 7 weeks. We currently have two day classes and one night class going on at this time. I'm taking the night class and I'm scheduled to finish just before Christmas. Student to instructor ratio is 4 to 1. The instructors are very nice and knowledgeable, while stern when they need to be. The equipment is more modern than I originally thought they'd have for students to tear up, err... I mean learn with. The truck we are learning with is a 2008 Peterbilt.

We currently have done 12 chapters in the book (J.J. Keller's Tractor-Trailer Driver Training Manuel, 3rd edition) and have started working on the pre-trip inspection routine. We should be finished with the book and pre-trip inspection by the middle of next week and start driving after the Thanksgiving holiday.

I'll keep updating this post in an attempt to keep all SLCC related school posts in one thread. If you are in the area and have any questions about it, please ask as I'd love to help you.

Update 1.0

I finished with all the class work on Monday night, the rest of the class finished up last night. I know that sounds odd, but this is the first night class and there were a few scheduling snafus (always happens when you do something for the first time) that put the class at different phases of the book. Now that we are all finished with the book, it will be all driving here on out! Last night, myself and another student that finished the book were able to get a few hours on the pad. The instructor took the wheel, then gave us some pointers and demonstrated for us what he wanted us to do. Feeling confident, I took the wheel next. ... And ground the gears trying to get it into first. LONG story short, we're not sure what happened but we eventually got it in gear and started backing. I have a LOT to learn... LOL

Overall, I'm happy with the training so far. They've already addressed the scheduling snafus and will make changes to future night classes. The pad is a little dark at night, even with the lighting, but they have plans to not only increase the lighting, but increase the pad size also. It kind of sucks for this class, but it is what it is. Besides, I look at it as a better introduction to the trucking industry as I will have to deal with snafus and make things work later on.

That's the school I went to. Are you in R.K. (using initials instead of name) class ?

I really hope they have the kinks worked out of that class.

Just remember, it's only school. You'll learn more once you hire in with your company

That's the school I went to. Are you in R.K. (using initials instead of name) class ?

I really hope they have the kinks worked out of that class.

Just remember, it's only school. You'll learn more once you hire in with your company

When did you go to school there? Reason why I ask is they shelved the class for a couple years and are just starting up again. I think I'm in the 3rd, total, class since they restarted. I love it so far. Yes, there are some kinks, but that's to be expected and they are working them out. I should get my first crack at testing the weekend of the 17th.

I was there last year. Just after Thanksgiving to the end of Jan

That's the school I went to. Are you in R.K. (using initials instead of name) class ?

I really hope they have the kinks worked out of that class.

Just remember, it's only school. You'll learn more once you hire in with your company

When did you go to school there? Reason why I ask is they shelved the class for a couple years and are just starting up again. I think I'm in the 3rd, total, class since they restarted. I love it so far. Yes, there are some kinks, but that's to be expected and they are working them out. I should get my first crack at testing the weekend of the 17th.

I was there last year. Just after Thanksgiving to the end of Jan

That's the school I went to. Are you in R.K. (using initials instead of name) class ?

I really hope they have the kinks worked out of that class.

Just remember, it's only school. You'll learn more once you hire in with your company

When did you go to school there? Reason why I ask is they shelved the class for a couple years and are just starting up again. I think I'm in the 3rd, total, class since they restarted. I love it so far. Yes, there are some kinks, but that's to be expected and they are working them out. I should get my first crack at testing the weekend of the 17th.

That's odd, I thought it was shut down at that time. Well, I do know it was shut down for a bit and was told they just reopened. Either way, I don't know an instructor with the initials RK. My instructor's initials are HL.

I noticed you said you were oilfield. What did you do ? I was a diver.

I noticed you said you were oilfield. What did you do ? I was a diver.

I worked on completions.

While I loved being ON the ocean/gulf while in the Navy and oilfield, you couldn't pay me to go IN it!

I noticed you said you were oilfield. What did you do ? I was a diver.

I worked on completions.

While I loved being ON the ocean/gulf while in the Navy and oilfield, you couldn't pay me to go IN it!

That's the school I went to. Are you in R.K. (using initials instead of name) class ?

I really hope they have the kinks worked out of that class.

Just remember, it's only school. You'll learn more once you hire in with your company

I talked to RK today. He's more of an instructor supervisor than an instructor, that's why I didn't know an "instructor" with the initials RK.

It was kinda funny because I was talking to him about recruiter visits and for some reason he decided to show me a plaque he recently received in the mail. It was from TMC and he told me that was from a former student of his that was a DIVER! I laughed about it and told him I knew you from here!

Small world!