Comments By Bad Bob

BB - Keep us up to date man.

~scott

Hey LawDog:

Since you demanded an update:

On 2/21/2016, I start fulltime classes with The National Truck Driving School in Green Cove Springs Florida. I checked them out very carefully. They are an extremely professional driving school. I've never even heard of another school that has it's own small highway where they run their students through their shifting maneuvers.

I'm really looking forward to starting.

I already have some idea of who I want to work with. Actually, I have at least 5 companies that fit the bill of what I want and a top three.

The Diary of what happens at "National" will be in a new thread.

This ain't over until I say it's over and that's pretty much when I'm pushing up daisies.

Have a GREAT DAY!

Take Care Have Fun BadBob

Hey Bob, just wanted you to know that I went and took all 5 of the Texas test yesterday and passed all of them. The only studying I did was taking every test I could find online over and over. I took every test on this site several times. All I need to do now is my road test. I do have an interview with a company on Wednesday for a Logistics manager position. If I do not get that position I will be setting up my road test as soon as I can and then find a driving job somewhere. Good luck on your adventures.

That's GREAT News!!! You'll do great things. And news from around here:

Last weekend went to the open house at The National Truck Drivers School in Green Cove Springs Florida.

I was extremely impressed with the school. They have their own track that they teach the shifting on so you don't have to be dodging cars at the same time as getting smooth. Went for a ride with one of their trainers who explained that they let us drive until we are doing the upshifting and downshifting unconsciously. The way I used to do it when I was well practiced and it was so second nature it was like walking down the street. I did tell them the problem I had with screaming and abusive trainers at the last school. They told me that would never be tolerated there and it does look like an entirely different atmosphere and attitude. (A Professional Attitude.)

I signed up and I am going full time starting on the 21st.

I gave my notice at my job this morning and well, my boss hasn't answered.

I kind of expected that.

Anyway, I am really looking forward to going to this school. It looks to be staffed by professionals.

The last school (who will remain unnamed as they did promise to pay back my money) seemed to be manned by people who were terminally disorganized and out of control.

This morning I signed up to go full time to The National Truck Drivers School and am really excited about it.

My goal is to be far better than I ever was before.

With this training I know that is possible.

IF it becomes obvious that the first school is going back on their word of repaying my money then I will post who they are here and take legal action against them.

I am going to keep a diary of what happens at the 2nd school with a difference.

So that I can put my full concentration into the schooling I'm going to keep notes in a notebook and put all here when I am done completely. The next one is going to be labeled "56 and Starting over in Trucking Part II."

Anyway, the adventure begins again very soon.

Take Care

Have Fun

Bad Bob

An interesting weekend last weekend that ended with me withdrawing from the school. Here's how it went down: Saturday: Morning: Drove with a trainer who gave me glowing reviews. He even made a comment under his breath that I might be even able to pass the test right then. Upshifting pretty smooth. Downshifting still kind of rough but I am a perfectionist so it still was probably pretty good.

Afternoon: Talked with the school's director who asked how the day was going. I told him if it keeps going like this I know I will be able to graduate right where am. If I am not being yelled at I can concentrate on what I am doing and get it right. Did some backing maneuvers with instruction from a trainer and while I didn't think I did good at all he said it was as good as was expected the first time attempting to parallel park. He gave some suggestions about how I could improve and that was great.

Saturday was a good day.

Sunday: The morning: drove with an instructor who said right off the bat that since I was an ex-truck driver he was going to be harder on me than the other people. Drove and while I made some mistakes found out how to improve so the morning while not great was not a disaster either.

Afternoon: Got at the alley dock backing location. They teach how to do it an entirely different way than I ever understood how to do it. Anyway, The first time I got it in pretty much on my own. The second time the trainer I had that morning came over. I used the clutch too much so he started yelling really bad insults. Insults so bad that in a bar I would have knocked his teeth out. I ended up getting it in the slot but was shaking so much from suppressed rage that I couldn't even speak and I had to stay away from everyone for awhile. I am a professional so I will not allow myself to react to a situation like that while I am angry. Doing that winds up with me in jail.

I went home and had a roaring headache and talked it over with my wife. I've been losing weight and sleeping almost none because of suppressing all this rage created by being in a situation where I am being treated as a punching bag with no option of fighting back.

The next morning I emailed the schools director and told him I am withdrawing because of the unprofessional abusive behavior of his instructors and want a full refund of my money. He called. He said he would get it for me but it takes 14 to 21 days. We'll wait and see. If we don't I will take legal action. I also have spotted what appears to be a very professional school and am going to be attending a webinar with them tonight.

If I get the full refund as promised by the school's director then I will only give out the name of the school in private messages. If I don't then all deals are off and I will make this as public as possible to seek to damage the school. If I don't get my money back I will get satisfaction of one sort or another.

I did find out something about myself. I cannot just accept abuse and not do something about it without it having a big effect on me. I've gotten to the age where I cannot just accept being treated like dirt. On the bottom of my resume is the phrase, "I treat people the way I want to be treated." It is the way I live and that's not a bad thing.

The adventure continues.

This ain't over until I decide it is over.

I will keep you posted.

Take Care Be Safe

Bad Bob

Hello Tom:

A very BIG CONGRATULATIONS!!! Goes out to you.

I know it wasn't easy.

You deserve all the praise that you get and even the ones you don't get.

Stay Safe!

Bad Bob

Just a quick word here this morning for the upcoming weekend:

I am going to the school this weekend with the attitude that I am getting behind that wheel as much as possible.

I know I need practice, practice, practice, be it going forward or backward.

Whatever I can do I am going to try to get behind that wheel as much as possible.

If the yelling starts I'm going to ignore it as much as possible. In the situation I am in now that's all I can do. I consider it unprofessional but since I don't have control of it I'll just put up with it.

I will get out of this school as much as I can!

One other thing. This is an update:

I talked to Knight Transportation. Their Squire Program and CDL school does look top notch with 'Professional Trainers' I talked to them and explained the situation. I filled out the application and have been approved. If I don't get the CDL A here I could go to their school in Phoenix and going through them get it there. If I get the CDL A here I could go to work for them here. As I explained to them, I just want options.

My attitude is, 'Prepare for the worst while trying to make the best happen.' If the worst happens I do have the option of going with them. If the best happens then I have even more options.

The bottom line: I'm just going to give it my all and see what happens.

All we can do it do our best.

After that it's in God's Hands.

And I'm not even a religious guy.

I didn't think I was going to put this much here but thanks for reading.

The journey continues.

Till Later.

Stay Safe

Bad Bob

Bad Bob, Been following all of your posts. I think we have all experienced a yeller at some time during training or as a driver. I've had to more than once politely and professionally remind the offending party that I am a grown man, put three kids through college and will not respond to or tolerate being yelled at for no reason. Fortunately it hasn't happened more than a few times in the four years since I started this adventure.

I think you are dealing with it as best you can and just remember at some point you will be moving on, while the hollering instructor will stay put, inflicting their venom on the next unsuspecting subject. For you this too will pass.

Keep your eye on the prize...you'll prevail.

Hey G-Town:

Thanks a lot for the good words.

It is appreciated. When I was younger I was kind of crazy. I guess I'm glad that I'm not that crazy now. I'd probably be dead or in jail. Now that I am older and trying as hard as I can to be civilized I find it's not all that easy some days. The last time I was in trucking (for around 8 years) I can remember only one time at a receiver that I ran into someone who was going crazy. It was a guy who was shuttling trailers around and screaming and yelling at everyone.

I just went in and talked to the warehouse supervisor and told him his guy was going nuts.

He went and talked to him and he calmed down.

Anyway, this is temporary.

These unhappy people will still be unhappy when I have gone on to something better.

Thanks again for reminding me this is only temporary.

Be Safe

Bad Bob

Just FYI, Bob: ive posted three complete diaries (school, road training and my first week or so solo). I got a few replies, but I also learned that also many other people read/lurked on my topics. Keep'em coming!

Thanks for saying that Errol. With what's been going on I was wondering if people were a bit afraid to respond because they could be concerned that their companies might be reading this. I guess that's not true. Just gotta keep going. The thing is, I know I can do this because I did it before. Just gotta keep going. In two days I'm going to be back out there doing what I can do to get the skills back and get that CDL A. Thanks again.

Bad Bob

Hey Guys and Gal:

Thanks for the replies.

It is a strange, strained situation.

I am going to do what I can to continue with the quest to get the CDL back (whatever direction that takes me) and just keep going.

There's really nothing else to do.

If I have to go to another school then so be it.

Right now I have practiced the pre-trip so much that while I cannot name every single part I do know every single part that needs to be inspected and what needs to be said about them. I wake up hearing "Properly mounted and secured and not cracked or broken and No abrasions, bubbles or cuts and it does not leak."

I may have been singled out now. I don't know.

The only thing to do is soldier on.

The thing is, I do not allow abusive people in mine and my wife's lives.

Now, the same kind of people who I avoided at the truck stops are being forced upon me as a price for me to regain my CDL.

I will not become the kind of person that I detest and as soon as I am past this step, will not allow that kind of person in our lives again.

This may be a price I will have to pay and if needed I will pay it.

Such is life.

I can't choose how other people conduct themselves but I can choose how I conduct myself.

Anyway, that's where it is now.

Eventually I will get the CDL A back.

Thanks again for your input.

Keep Being Safe! Bad Bob

Just a quick update:

I have talked to Knight and filled out the application to go through their Squire training program and am now waiting to hear back from them when the background check is done. There is nothing bad in my background so that is just a matter of time. I have also talked to several schools and have been assured by all that the kind of teaching the students put up with here is not tolerated at their school. (I hope they are telling the truth.)

Anyway, I am just opening up options if the worst happens and I can't graduate here.

I have not yet asked for my money back. If the situation gets worse then I will be forced to do that and if they don't do it I will take legal action.

I have also been kind of surprised that I've received no comments on this thread since things have gotten kind of bad at the school.

I am sorry if the truth is no all sunshine and smiles all the time, but the truth is the truth.

Anyway ...

Stay Safe Out There.

Bad Bob

Thank you very much for all this info Guys and Gals. This is extremely useful. With what I have been going through lately anything that makes this process easier to get the CDL A back is what I want to drive. An automatic would be a breeze to drive. Thanks again.

Bad Bob