Comments By Thomas (Knot Head)

Welcome aboard....Good company to work for

Thanks. I will be going to the Pleasant Hill, NC location for the first two weeks. I am excited and have heard really good things about this company. I have only heard a few small bad things from a former driver but it could happen anywhere.

So I found out this past Friday I have been accepted to start orientation with McElroy Truck Lines. Since I am not done with school yet and do not have a set graduation date just yet, I am planning on starting August 1st. If I get done with school sooner, then I will start earlier. Scared, happy, nervous and excited all at the same time. If anyone has any tips or suggestions as to what I need to do to prepare for the start of my new career/lifestyle, I would be happy to hear them.

I wanted to express what I have experienced through my CDL training school so far. I am only through week 5. Usually the training time for this school is 6 to 8 weeks, Monday through Thursday. I chose to go with Crosscountry Truck Driving School in Thomasville, NC. I did research on them and the other ones in my area, visited them and 1 other school and decided that this would be my better option. The owners are nice and have been awesome to work with over the last few weeks. They are willing to help you out in anyway possible. There have been some glitches but when you are trying to teach about 20-25 people per week, all with different needs, wants, expectations, learning speeds and other factors, it is hard to have everything go smooth. I have met 4 of the instructors and they are all awesome in their own ways and areas in which they teach.

Week 1: Day 1 for most people had them doing paperwork and then going out for drug tests and physicals. I actually was able to do my stuff the week before so I was allowed to skip the first day. The rest of the week was classroom training. I forget what all we went over exactly the first week but there was lots of reading in out state CDL manuals, lots of videos, lots of reading in the regulations and safety book(green book as we called it) and tests on each topic that we covered.

Week 2: More classroom learning. More reading, more studying, more tests on the topics that we covered.

Week 3: Half the week was spent in the classroom going over logs. The other part of the week we spent looking over a tractor to learn how to the pre-trip inspection. I didn't do too terrible but I forgot to mention about having the key in my pocket both times. When you go through it, make sure you mention you have the keys to the truck in your pocket before you begin.

Week 4: This week we spent 3 out of the 4 days on the yard doing pre-trip inspections, coupling and uncoupling and backing with the tractor. The 4th day we spent in the classroom going over maps and trip planning to get ready for our log complex. Normally the log complex has to be done first before you are allowed to go out to the yard, kinda like a graduation from the classroom type thing, but they had to swap week 4 and week 5 because of the school being inspected by the state and feds. (Nothing wrong, just the normal inspection that they have to go through just like other trucking companies.)

Week 5: This week we worked on our log complex. It is basically our final exam. You have to map out a trip, get the total miles traveled, list all routes that you have taken, list every mile traveled per state, fuel stops, tire checks, unloading, 34hr re-set, 30 minute breaks and then put it all on paper logs perfectly. We had a few other stipulations we had to account for, just to make it more interesting and harder. I was worried about the log complex before I even started school but it went well for me. I forgot to fill out my routes that I took in each state and still made a pretty good grade on it. I realized that I had forgotten to do the routes, and the instructor had already graded the paper but let me finish the routes. I do not know if that changed my grade or if I stayed at what I had first received.

As I left for the weekend, my instructor told me that when we come back on Monday, to start week 6, I will be out in the yard so I need to be hydrated and ready to go. I will try to update at the end of every week.

Sorry I am late getting back with you. It has been busy for me the past month. So you asked for time off for a funeral and they decided they didn't want to keep you on as a driver? If that is the case then that is screwed up. I hate to hear that. I hope you have found something that has worked out better for you since then.

I started CDL school two weeks ago and I found out I am doing great. The highest GPA in my class so that helps me out on that aspect of it. We haven't put our hands on the trucks just yet but I am hoping that starts this coming week or maybe next week.

Please keep us up to date. I thought about going this route last year but I ended up going to Cross Country Truck Driving School in Thomasville. Started two weeks ago.

Hey Mr. M. Old School is right, I'm not driving anymore, but I have been poking around the boards lately. I have nothing but good things to say about them, they just were no longer a good fit for my life. I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have. I don't imagine a whole lot has changed with them since I left.

I would be interested in learning more about TMC. I have been ding research on them and other companies, comparing and contrasting each company and it always seems that TMC comes up as my number 1 pick.

I have heard that they are particular about their trucks, inside and out. I have saw where one driver said that he has to pay for the truck wash out of pocket. Is that true? And I saw another driver say they loose a half a day or whole day of driving/making money just to make sure the truck is clean inside and out. Is that true? When do they inspect them to make sure they are clean? What if I am at home? Do I send them pictures or something?

So today was the end of week two for me. I found out this week that I am doing the best in my class. I asked one of the instructors how I was doing on all of the tests and I was informed that I made a perfect score on 3 of them, that included the air brakes and hazmat tests. I am surprised but proud of myself. This week was the air brake section, coupling and uncoupling, defensive driving and more CDL manual composition questions. I finished mine last week so I didn't have to worry about that.

Today, Thursday, was actually an early day. The instructor for our group didn't feel good so we were allowed to leave when we were done with the tests. He did say for the ones that needed it to go to the DMV today and attempt to get the Class A permit. So I did. And I now have my CDL Class A permit. Woo Hoo! Only missed 5 questions out of the 3 tests. 2 in general knowledge, 2 in air brakes and 1 in combination vehicles.

I do not know for sure but I am going to guess we start log books, pre-trip stuff sometime next week. I am till nervous about the log stuff, but I am still learning as much as I can before we actually start so I will either be on par or maybe even a little ahead. Thank you Brett for making this webiste, it has really helped me out so much. I will be looking over the Log book section again, probably several times. lol.

Yall enjoy your weekend.

Thank you all for your tips and help.

Just ended week 1 for me. We only go to school Monday through Thursday 8-530. So far it has been all book work and classroom stuff, which I kinda figured. First day was videos and some reading then everyone was sent to the Dr to do the physical and drug test. I was able to do mine the week before so I didn't have to go on Monday. We have done the driving safely chapter and test, haz-mat chapter and test, tankers chapter and test, and we are doing defensive driving right now and will be testing Tuesday. I am just guessing that next week we start air brakes, and pre-trip stuff but I am not sure.

Now I can say that this school goes through the log book pretty heavy. They even have a large project/test throughout the training. Something about planning a cross country trip and figuring all miles, fuel stops, load restrictions, rest stops, resets...the while 9 yards. I heard it is a tough one, so I am trying to get myself prepared for it.

I will keep updates, at least weekly but I will try for daily or every few days.

Just wanted to say that after several years of thinking, putting it off, thinking some more and coming up with excuse after excuse, I'm finally starting truck driving school tomorrow. I am nervous and excited at the same time. I know they will teach me what I need to know but I am still nervous about the log book part of the class. I took the log book stuff on here but still do not fully understand it.

But those are probably just jitters. Anyway, I will try to keep an updated account of what is going on for anyone else thinking about school and what it is like. Anyone have any tips for me I would appreciate them.

Y'all have a good night and a great week.

It has been a while since I have been on here. I jut saw your post. Thanks for the info. I was curious as to how things are going so far? I am about to start the driving school and TMC is one of the ones I am interested in.