Another Shot!
Topic 22302 | Page 1
Over the past few weeks I’ve worked with the 160 Driving Academy in Champaign, Illinois on getting scheduled to a class.
I attended their school in Moline Illinois (quad cities)and loved the way they had it set up. Obviously I can't speak for the other locations but the first week is spent in front of laptop computers doing an interactive classroom to help you obtain your permit and then trip planning. I had a very pleasant experience with them.
I look forward to following your journey through school and with your first company over In the diary section if you have time.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Thanks Rob! I’m sure I’ll have time at the beginning to do a diary. It sounds like a great program.
Hi All,
About a year ago I began my journey in the professional driving career with Prime. About two weeks in it derailed when my grandma fell ill and I could no longer commit. I left Prime. While I say it was one of the biggest mistakes I’ve ever made, they were amazing in getting me home. Finally a little under a year later I’m back on track, clean slate and ready for the adventure. Unfortunately while speaking to Prime I am unable to come back through their program because of being an Illinois resident. I am not sure if something changed in the past year. While it’s not possible immediately I still look forward to working with them in the next few years.
Over the past few weeks I’ve worked with the 160 Driving Academy in Champaign, Illinois on getting scheduled to a class. I had a few companies to chose from to apply for sponsorship Swift, Pam Transport, Schneider, and HO Wolding. I was approved by Swift as well as HO Wolding. I did decide to go with HO Wolding due to several reasons including their training and what type of runs they have. I still didn’t mind going with Swift as I felt they have so much to offfer. I’m extremely happy with the choice that I made though. I have my DOT scheduled for today and I start class on Monday April 23. I just wanted to update y’all on my journey. Everyone on this forum provides such great advice and that’s why I continue to want this career (among other reasons to 🙂). I may start a diary on the school and training journey, we’ll just have to see.
I’m glad to be back on the saddle and furthering in this adventure.
Brandon
Patrick C., one of our Moderators on here drives for H. O. Wolding and truly loves drivin for them. If you had any questions about the company, I am sure when he finds time to he will see this thread and chime in on here.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Brandon, I'd recommend using the study tools available on this website to get a step ahead. The high road training program covers the CDL manual but in a way much easier to remember . After every page you'll be given some review questions. You'll also be given some that were discussed prior. If you get the same question wrong multiple times you'll see that question more frequently to help you remember the correct answer. Also, id highly suggest using the pre trip study guide Daniel b , one of the moderators here, had created while he trained at prime. It has pictures showing you what the part is called and what it looks like. When I attended 160 in Moline due to being so close to the border they catered to Iowa residents as well. I was sent out there from Des Moines because my company is based out there. Your first week is spent in the classroom doing basically what is a chatroom of students from all 160 locations, I believe there's 8. The instructor will be on a webcam that you are watching from your laptop. The instructor back in July when I went through was Dave, who did P & D in Chicago for 20 years with no accidents. I can't touch on how the next 3 weeks will go as I didn't attend the location you are but listen to what your instructor tells you. If you show you're serious about it they will be alot more willing to help you when you're struggling. Again, I'd use the training materials available here for free to get a heads up High Road CDL Training Program
- Pre-Trip Inspection Study Guide
- Daniel's Pre-Trip Inspection
- Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist
- Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Questions
The biggest difference between what I faced being an Iowa resident compared to my Illinois counterparts was that there pretrip was setup differently. In Illinois your instructor will get inside the truck and just ask random things. For example, tell me about your gauges, or tell me about your seatbelt as opposed to needing to do the entire pretrip. However, ALL states require you to memorize the air brake test and not make any mistakes doing so. That will be an automatic fail. There was a student who nailed everything he was asked on the in cab portion perfectly, but forgot to mention on his air brake test "the first step of my air leakage test is ensuring I am at proper operating range of 120 to 125 P.S.I."
Pre-trip Inspection:
A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.
Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
P & D:
Pickup & Delivery
Local drivers that stay around their area, usually within 100 mile radius of a terminal, picking up and delivering loads.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers for instance will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Brandon, if you have any questions about H.O.W. I will be glad to answer them. I started my driving career at Wolding and still drive for Wolding. I am also a trainer with them as well.
As millionmiller stated, if you have questions, fire away. I will answer them the best I can.
Did I mention our trucks are Blue, lol.
Drive Safe and God Speed.
p.s.: avoid watching that horrible promotional video I did, lol
Thanks for the bump haha! I got lost in the topics. But thanks Patrick, you were one of the reasons I decided to go with HO Wolding.
And now that you’ve mentioned the video....I must watch. Haha!
Brandon, did you watch my bad performance on the video. I sounded like 'Rain Man'.
'Wampner at 4, yeah, Wampner at 4. Definitely, Wampner at 4.'
LoL
I finally checked out the promo video. Well now your the face of the company! First step HO Wolding next step Hollywood!
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Hi All,
About a year ago I began my journey in the professional driving career with Prime. About two weeks in it derailed when my grandma fell ill and I could no longer commit. I left Prime. While I say it was one of the biggest mistakes I’ve ever made, they were amazing in getting me home. Finally a little under a year later I’m back on track, clean slate and ready for the adventure. Unfortunately while speaking to Prime I am unable to come back through their program because of being an Illinois resident. I am not sure if something changed in the past year. While it’s not possible immediately I still look forward to working with them in the next few years.
Over the past few weeks I’ve worked with the 160 Driving Academy in Champaign, Illinois on getting scheduled to a class. I had a few companies to chose from to apply for sponsorship Swift, Pam Transport, Schneider, and HO Wolding. I was approved by Swift as well as HO Wolding. I did decide to go with HO Wolding due to several reasons including their training and what type of runs they have. I still didn’t mind going with Swift as I felt they have so much to offfer. I’m extremely happy with the choice that I made though. I have my DOT scheduled for today and I start class on Monday April 23. I just wanted to update y’all on my journey. Everyone on this forum provides such great advice and that’s why I continue to want this career (among other reasons to 🙂). I may start a diary on the school and training journey, we’ll just have to see.
I’m glad to be back on the saddle and furthering in this adventure.
Brandon
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.