Comments By Jasper

Sorry you had such a bad experience at school. Thought you claimed you had a CDL before.

Trucking school is like a boot camp. You are taught just to pass a test.

Good luck on your next endeavor.

Yes, these schools that companies use act like they need to talk down at the students, totally unprofessional. We're all adults, we were all behaving and no one was being disrespectful. These schools feel like they have to demonstrate intimidation by belittling the students.

There was a lot of time wasted here. The warden coming out every day for an hour trying to intimidate the students with threats of sending them home if they didn't do this or that. One instructor spent a half hour explaining that the round thing coming out of the dash is called a steering wheel. Instructors constantly walking away from a group in the middle of instruction leaving other students trying to instruct their fellow students. A different instructor would intervene contradicting what the previous instructor was saying.

I have to get my license because I let it go a few years ago, I've been saying that all along. I have my permit and medical card. I called one school here in Florida and asked if I could just take a refresher course. He said that becoming it's been so long I would have to go through the whole course.

According to the February 7th new rule, if you have gotten your permit before February 7, you do not have to do a complete 160 hour course, but if you are just getting your permit and license after the 7th, then you are required to go through a minimum of a 160 course. I tried explaining that to this school but apparently they are looking for more money like all the other crappy schools.

Your first post in this thread, (screenshot,) said .. "Looking to Get a CDL.." etc...

Why are they saying you need one first now?!?!? Hmmmm...

You could also look into Raider Express and Pride transport; both training companies that may (or may not hire from FL ? Things change too much lately..) . Your location is ... a hindrance, to speak lightly. Sorry!

~ Anne ~

ps: So they booted you over an EMAIL ?!?

I posted the details in another thread, but no, I do not have my CDL, just my CDP. If I had my CDL, I certainly wouldn't be having these issues. The email was sent to CFI who then forwarded that email to the owner. I was called into the office that afternoon to discuss my concerns. I thought things went well by the end of our sit down.

When I got back to the hotel I was locked out of my room. I went to the office and asked why. Apparently the school wanted me out of the hotel within an hour. Because I voiced my concerns in the email with the all the students in mind, the students tried to have my back.

When I was standing outside with my bags packed, the group of students came to me and offered to pay for a room for the night and dinner. The girl in the hotel called the school to inform them that they were talking to me. As you can see from the photo above, all the students standing around for hours without any drive time.

Earlier while at the school, I went between a couple of trucks where no one could see me. I set my cellphone on record and put it on my belt, stood close to the group and recorded what was going on. The reason I did this is because people become skeptical when trying to explain things and think that you're are probably part of the problem or perhaps you provoked a situation.

So yes, I was part of a problem of what happened to me and I provoked things with an email to CFI. I should have kept my mouth shut and let this school continue in the chaotic manner that they were, but it was too painful to watch.

Are you going to leave the Dynasty Driving School and try Freymiiler instead?

I tried to stay with truck dynasty but just could not continue without saying something. The training there was absolutely insane. 10 Students per truck, trainers absent some of the time with the students trying to help other students, the warden coming out once a day for an hour preaching to everyone with threats of getting kicked out, one trainer pointing out the steering wheel as if we never seen a steering wheel before...

just about every student expressed that they were not happy with the lack or attention and training. I sent an email to CFI explaining the lack in quality of training and how the warden talked down at people like they were inmates. CFI transferred the email to the owner of the school and later I had till 5:30 that evening to get out of the hotel, half hour warning. My fellow students thanked me for sticking up for the group and even offered to pay for another hotel room and dinner.

From what I have read, CFI is a good company which is why I chose this route, but what I'm disappointed with along with the other students is that CFI continues to lower their standards to such an unprofessional school. I have no regrets for getting the boot, in fact I feel relieved. I believe that the instructors and especially the warden tries to teach using intimidation. All the students there have no over the road experience and are about 20 years younger then me. They don't know anything about the trucking world and can be intimidated easily. I've been around the block a few times, in the military through scary times and through hell and back more then once.

So no, I'm no longer in that environment as it was eating away at my intellect. So now back at square one. I have the experience and my permit and med card. I would just like to test out and get my CDL back but I know other companies are going to want more. Freymiller wants you to have your CDL first and I'm also looking at Knight.

I was able to get some video footage of all the students standing around for hours waiting for their time behind the wheel. It takes each student anywhere from 20-45 minutes to complete an offset backing maneuver. It took me 5 minutes tops. There's 10 students waiting their turn behind the wheel on only one truck. It took around 5 hours for all the students to complete one try, and they were supposed to get 2 more tries with one instructor.

There were 2 other trucks making maneuvers in the yard and each one of those trucks had 4 students per truck, and at times the instructor would walk away to chat with one of the other trainers. Meanwhile, there were two available trucks sitting on the side of the building not being used.

Even though it was better, there's still problems when you try to take one truck and one trainer and 10 students. Like I said, it's all about quantity and not quality. The warden today said that all the schools are like this. Of you want quality then you need to go to a private school such as a college. So this is a beware to new students. If you want to become a better driver, go to a college and not one of these idiotic CDL Mills.

I wish it was that simple, but these guys treat you like everyone else which is fine, it's just the way they're treating everyone. I can only take so much and I have been biting my tounge all week. I finally contacted my recruiter and they talked to the owner and this warden guy who talks down at people. These instructors are all over the place.

The recruiters walk away from their group leaving students ti fend for themselves, some instructors switch in the middle of lessons without knowing where the other one left off. This afternoon after contacting CFI, things changed for the better. More truck time per person and more attention given to the students.

First let me start out by saying I have a little over 1/2 million miles under my belt and have driven OTR for 5 years. I have driven through blizzards, dust storms, strong winds, NYC, through all the steep mountains and have delivered in places where you can barely fit a straight truck. I am 65 years old and unfortunately let my CDL go and now I'm paying the price.

So this is my 4th day here at Dynasty Truck Driving Academy. I plan on going with CFI but not sure I'll make it through because of they unprofessional way they run this school... this is the one in Springfield, MO. The first few days went smoothly but the hours are not there for each student.

On the first day we spent the morning and into the afternoon standing on the overpass on Highway 44. The truck convoy was coming through so we spent the morning cheering them on, of course no one knew the exact time they were coming through so we were out there for quite awhile.

The second day we had what is called some 35 step questions and answers but because of the lost time from the first day, the instructor went through the slides as we copied down the answers. Today is Thursday so we spent some time on pretrip yesterday, but today and part of yesterday is a joke.

Everyday this guy comes out (I call him the warden) and talks down at all the students. He threatens eveyone everyday to send people home if they do this or don't do that. From what I can see, everyone's os doing the best they can with what they have to work with, and we don't have much to work with here. There are 10 students per truck, there are 3 trucks out on the driving range and 4 of those trucks have 4 students per truck.

There's two trucks sitting empty and no one is training on them and they could be, but apparently there's not enough trainers. One girl who has about 4 years on the road, walks around like she's hot sh@t. The other trainer likes to talk theory more then show and tell. There's one trainer that walks around telling the students one thing by interrupting the guy trying to tell us something different. It's a mess out here to say the least.

So today the warden sits in his truck with the owner of the company and observes everything going on. He gets out of the vehand again threatens to send people home if they're not paying more attention, and you're lucky if you can see over the next guy's shoulder to see or hear anything. He goes back to the truck and after a few minutes scolds the trainers and tells them that they need to be stepping up their training techniques in front of everyone in earshot.

As I said, I'm trying to get on with CFI but chose to go through a company paid program which was a mistake. This is a CDL Mill, try to get as many students in as possible and push them through to make more money. If anyone thinks that CDL Mills don't exist today, you're mistaken. CFI tells you that they will give you 3 meals a day while training, that is not accurate.

You get $15 a day for supper and lunch. During the weekends you're on your own so plan accordingly if you chose to with this racket. This is supposed to be a 3 week training course but plan on spending at least a week standing around outside twiddling your thumbs bored out of your mind. I'm not sure what the exact requirements are as far as the DOT goes, but I'm pretty sure this school (and I use that term very loosely) is not full filling these requirements. The schools head people act like they're running a jail yard while threatening students that he'll be sending students home, and there's no unruly actions going on at all. Everyone is on their best behavior and acting like a adult. My fellow students (even though they share my same feelings about this school) are good people trying to get their career in trucking. It's terrible here.

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CFI advertises that they'll train for free of course going through a school such as Truck Dynasty. CFI says that they'll pay for your travel, hotel and meals. The hotel you have to share with someone which is a no go for me. You can pay a small amount if you wish to have a room to yourself which I did.

As far as the meals go, the hotel has a breakfast in the lobby, it's just ok, it's you standard hotel breakfast, nothing fancy... scrambled eggs, sausage patties and cereal. There's muffins, orange juice, apple juice and coffee. CFI gives you $15 a day for both lunch and dinner, so you will have to chose which one you want, lunch or dinner becomes $15 isn't going to buy you both.

There's this lady instructor named Ruby. She has to be one of the sweetest lady I have ever met, she's like the grandmother that you've always wished for. There's an instructor here, ex marine (I know, once a marine...). He's on the macho side and tries to act like a serveant with a chip on his shoulder, but I just try to stay in the shadows to get through this. He talks, lectures, talks some more, lectures as if you've never seen wheels before.

The school is supposed to be 3 weeks long, 3 week LOOONNGGG! Then on with a finisher for another 3 weeks... if I couuld only turn back time, where's Cher when you need her.

I don't think I'll be doing a diary but I do have a blog that I barely got started. I'm at this Dynasty Truck Driving School and hating every minute of it. Had my CDL 12 years ago and driven for several years. I can basically put the trailer anywhere and can name all the components on the truck.

Today they had everyone do straight backing... I'm so bored out of my mind. There's 10 students per class so in my opinion this school is trying to get as many students through as possible for the money. It is a good school ad they do make sure you're going to pass, but for me I feel like climbing the walls and I have a headache almost every day but I know I gotta get through this to get another job.

There's a student here who talks and acts like she has driven all her life and she did just recently get her CDL so she's just finishing out. Once she gets in the truck she can't drive it worth a crap, but at least she talks a good game.