Tag Archives: truck driver training

Dealing With Some Crazy Personalities During Training

I’ve been really happy with my fortune so far but the first day I met my finisher, I got a little concerned. The first thing he told me was “Forget everything you learned at your school.” And it got much crazier from there. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, On The Road In Training, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

One New Driver Sent Home, The Rest Of Us To The Skid Pad

One of the students was let go today because she just wasn’t safe when it came to handling a rig. The rest of us got to go on the skid pad and practice recovering from dangerous situations. Continue reading

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The Completion Of CDL Training (After A Lot Of Stress!)

I completed my truck driver training last week and got my CDL. I also got hired by the two best companies that were recruiting from my school. Overall it went well but there were some really tough teachers to deal with and not everyone made it through. Continue reading

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More Boot Camp Stories From My Time In A Company-Sponsored CDL Training Program

Going through a company-sponsored CDL training program is no bed of roses. Here are some of my experiences and some challenges you can expect to face. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Great Stories, Week 2 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Why Do People Decide To Get Into Truck Driving?

People get into trucking for a variety of reasons – a second career after retirement, a new career after losing a job, or just the opportunity to drive those amazing big rigs. Trucking has a lot to offer if you’re circumstances, personality, and goals make you the right person for the job. Continue reading

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The Boot Camp Known As Company-Sponsored Training

Company-Sponsored CDL training is a lot like boot camp. Be prepared to have your self worth, your dignity, your brains, your ability and your patience tested. Once you sign those papers you are at their mercy. Boy could I have begged for mercy more times than I care to admit. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Career Help, Tips, Advice, Free CDL Training, Week 1 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Remembering My Earliest Days Of Trucking School

For many of us that drove truck, the early days of becoming a truck driver were some of the most exciting times in our lives. Here’s the story of some of my earliest days in 1993 attending truck driving school and heading out on the road for the first time. Continue reading

Posted in Becoming A Truck Driver, First Solo Months On The Road, Passing The CDL Test, Stories of the Road | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

An Intro To Big Trucks And Truck Driving School Part III – The CDL Exam

After exploring the operation of a big rig and taking a drive, it’s time to take the CDL exam and wrap up this series with some thoughts about the process of getting your CDL. Continue reading

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An Intro To Big Trucks And Truck Driving School Part II

In Part I of my intro to big trucks and truck driving school I talked about signing up for truck driving school at North Cross Commercial Driving School and covered a bit about the anatomy of a typical big rig. Now in part 2 I’ll talk a little bit more about the mechanical aspects of big rigs and we’ll take one for a drive! Continue reading

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On The Road In Training With Ringo Part 2

The first couple of weeks on the road driving flatbed were hard, because my body was not conditioned to this pace, this type of work, or these long hours. I lost most of the feeling in the tips of my fingers, and I had aches in places where I would have sworn I didn’t have muscles. Continue reading

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An Intro To Big Trucks And Truck Driving School Part I

If driving a truck has ever crossed your mind, or you just like the looks of that Kenworth, Freightliner, or Peterbilt going by, maybe you would enjoy reading a little more about the trucks and driver training experience, so here goes… Continue reading

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Truck Driving School Part IV – Taking The CDL Exam

Finally, the time to take the road test arrived. We would go, in small groups, to the testing facility in Hartselle, Alabama over the next five days. I would test on the second day, and Alan would test on the fourth. Everyone was nervous, and most of us failed the first attempt. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Great Stories, Passing The CDL Test, Week 3 | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Trucking School Part III – Boot Camp

Almost everyone is abysmal at 45° angle backing to start with, and I was no exception. However, I was not the only one having difficulty. Alan even resorted to mathematical solutions to crack this puzzle, but it didn’t seem to help either of us. But a couple of great instructors stepped in and helped get us going in the right direction. Continue reading

Posted in Advice and Opinions, Becoming A Truck Driver, Great Stories, Week 2 | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Attending Truck Driving School Part I

Priceville, Alabama was where my trucking adventure began. A Super 8 motel room would be my home for the next three weeks while I attended CDL school. I did not know what to expect on the first day, but I met a wide range of personalities in the other students. It was incredible to see the diversity. Continue reading

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Truck Driving Career Seen As Strong For Next Decade

Truck driving has always been a great career for those of us who were cut out for the lifestyle. If you’re not the right person for the job, you’re really not going to like it much and you’re not going to last long. But if you feel like truck driving might be the right career for you, the outlook for the industry looks to be very solid for many years to come. Continue reading

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