Range Driving and Road Driving Semi Trucks at CDL School

by Scott.P

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It's been a few days since I posted, and I just wanted to fill you in on how my week is going at Central Refrigerated driving school. After the classroom was done last week we started yard work, which includes straight backups, offset backups, parallel parking and alley docking. We also tested on our pre-trip inspection and of course trailer hookup.

The program is really good. You learn a lot, but with the big class size you do not get a lot of time driving on the road. We go out each day and drive for one hour per student and we have four students in the truck, so you are gone for four hours and drive for about one. The rest of the day is spent in the yard doing practice backups. We had four trucks in the yard, so I usually get three or four turns. Here is the week in a nutshell:

Monday - Yard work (backing, etc) one hour of shifting practice.

Tuesday - Yard work, one hour of practicing turns in the industrial park

Wednesday - Yard work, one hour of city driving

Thursday - Yard work, mountain driving, and practice testing on pre-trip inspection of the truck and trailer.

Friday and Saturday - practice road tests and backing tests, which include straight backups, offset backups, parallel parking, and alley docking

So it is fast paced, but fun!

The way the school works, there is a "three strikes and you're out" policy. If you fail the pre-inspection, strike one; if you fail it again, strike two; then, if you take the backup test and fail the first time, strike three and you go home.

Well, today was good for me - I did pass my pre-inspection, and I did pass my alley dock and coupling. So I just needed to pass my road test and backing tests and I will get my CDL on Monday. Then we have a three day orientation and go on the road for 28 days with a trainer. Then it's back to Central Refrigerated for a hiring interview and hiring tests, and then I will be employed with the company!

Well, time is running short and I must go. Have a great day and I hope this helps!

Take Care

Scott

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