Comments By Jim M.

Day Three:

We completed Section Two today, as well as Section Three and we also covered Section Five, Air Brakes. We are to review Section Five tonight and review that tomorrow. Then we will do Section Six and Ten tomorrow and review all those sections for our permit test on Friday.

Saw several videos today covering topics on Air Brakes, Cargo Containment, Flatbed Securement and one on Emergencies.

I took a few minutes on my lunch break to go speak with some of the trainees on the yard course from two previous classes. They were informative and one was ready to complete this Friday and get moving in his career. Unfortunately for him it didn't seem like he made a definitive decision what company he was going with, it sounds like possibly Crete/Schafer.

It was a good day all in all.

Day Two:

We continued with the "Driving Safely" section of the manual today and saw a couple of video presentations. I know classroom instruction is necessary and informative, and I do get something out of it, but alas, it isn't much different for me than it was 30+ years ago in high school, I do have a great deal of difficulty with that way of learning. I am much stronger and retain more when it is hands-on.

Our permit test are to be done on Friday, then I suspect we begin outside in the yard next week.

We had a recruiter from J.B. Hunt in to see us this afternoon and give her presentation of the company. It seems like a strong and well diversified outfit with many different types of freight accounts. I company I should look into with more vigor. I had applied to them already but failed to follow up.

Good for you!! And best of everything with your trainer!!

Drive safe and learn tons

The JB Hunt recruiter was at our school this afternoon. That is a seemingly "well-put-together" company.

I sent an application to them but had not followed up with anyone, I should that.

Oops... sorry; I forgot to say, enjoy your much needed and deserved "home-time"!!

Daniel,

You said, "Upon opening the plastic door, I discover that someone who used it doesn't know how to aim. The floor is drenched in ****. Good job, A-hole." You could be referring to a trucker in this case, but consider for a moment that it may not have been...

I was in construction for over 25 years, let me tell you, even if a site has a chain link fence around it does not mean in any way that the only way a "porta-potty" gets defiled or abused is from one of the workers themselves. It certainly could be, but not always. The general public can be equally as gross and disgusting when iota comes to the use and care of these things.

Just saying... in the end we never know who the perpetrator could be.

Old School,

You were in New London...I was in Waterford today for my first day at school, so close!!

Hey I loved the detail and pics in this post, great stuff!!

Hello all,

Today was the first day of my CDL training school. I will attempt to give you as much information and insight into this privately run CDL school, it may or may not be different than they company sponsored schools, but hopefully it can be informative.

Today was an "orientation day". This school is accredited and according to the director, he is required to hold an orientation portion on day one. I don't know if that differs from other schools, but that is his arrangement.

We watched four videos in the morning from 0700 to about 1130, he had us take a break until 1230, which to me is an exceedingly long lunch break.

In they afternoon, we started the CDL manual in Section Two and watched one video about the Pre-trip inspection. All-in-all, not too bad a first day. Our permit tests are scheduled for Friday this week.

That's it for tonight, I'll post again tomorrow.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit and The Chronicles of Narnia are my favorite books as well. Love them.

Not necessarily in the same category, but equally as entertaining are the Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling has a truly gifted imagination.

Congratulations Rob.