Comments By Blue Hotel

What exactly are you "struggling" with? Are other students having the same problems as you. What is the School doing "poorly"?

Yes, other students are struggling with the same things. Though many of them catch on faster and are out before me. Right now it's parallel parking, but in the previous months it was other things. I'm not the only one who has been in this "4 week class" for well over 4 weeks.

When I first started, we were stuck with instructors who didn't know how to teach. They were excellent drivers, but their communication and teaching skills left a lot to be desired. I learned more from other students than from them. Then some other instructors who knew how to at least break things down and help us understand came along. But their ability to help people understand and learn is limited because they really just don't know how to teach. I don't mean to say they're bad people or bad drivers. Quite the opposite. They're decent people and great drivers. They just don't know how to teach and usually don't put forth the effort to help those who are struggling.

My classmates and I have basically paid a few thousand dollars to stand around in a parking lot for 8 hours with the hope of spending at least 20 minutes of that day in the truck. There have been many, many days where I've only gotten to attempt a backing maneuver once. Just once in 8 hours. How is that acceptable? Last week there were three mornings in a row where I waited the whole morning just to get 0 turns behind the wheel. That is inexcusable. And when people try to approach and instructor about this issue, they become defensive and try to blame it on us.

Until someone complained to the program director, the instructors were taking hour and a half lunch breaks. An hour and a half...for lunch. 90 minutes. That isn't acceptable. Can you do that in high school? No. At the Amazon warehouse? No. Even when I worked for a union we didn't take more than an hour for lunch. I honestly believe many of the instructors just show up, do the bare minimum to get paid, and then leave.

To make matters worse, there are close to 40 students and 4 trucks with mechanical issues that nobody tries to fix until they breakdown on the side of the road.

The thing is, people paid for the class. If they didn't pay, then the government paid. Regardless, money was spent and those who spent it deserve to get their moneys worth. People like me are in there so we can get jobs, be able to finally make a steady living, get out of the financial holes we're in, and make something of our lives. Right now myself and others in my class are struggling financially. We came here because we couldn't find work and figured getting our CDLs would change that. Screwing around and keeping us there for months on end isn't helping. Believe me, if "just get a job" was doable I would've had one a long time ago and wouldn't be here.

There is no excuse for how this program is run. There are K-12 teachers with big classes and harder to problems to tackle, but they manage to do their jobs and help those who want to learn and succeed. The guys at my school just think it's a game or something. I finished high school. I finished a degree at a state university. I've been to many schools and this school is, by far, the worst I've ever been to. You're supposed to help people learn, not ignore them or ***** at them when they struggle to grasp how to do something.

You don't need to put my words (struggling/poorly) in quotation marks like there is something wrong with me or I'm lying to you. You aren't better than me. But I guess I'm the bad guy for not being grateful or some crap....because customers don't deserve to get their moneys worth, or whatever. Believe what you want, but you'll learn the reality eventually.

I've been in CDL school full time since December now, and it looks like I may not be testing out until April. When I first started, I thought for sure I'd be done in February at the latest. But my school is run poorly and I don't get the help I need on things I'm struggling with.

I have some pre-hires, but if for some reason those fall through, do you think other companies would hold my unusually long amount of time in school against me?

You need to Duke's of Hazard that truck over the oversized load, get in front of him, and take off as quick as you can. I have a paper from my school showing me exactly how to get those wheels off the ground.

Well, that is helpful guys.

Unfortunately, my school's trucks aren't new at all. They seem to be late 90s models. And they don't let us use the engine brake. They never even mention it. I only know about it from the DMV book.

So all I have to do is avoid letting the RPMs drop below 1,000 while braking? I was worried because when I first started I was always stalling out because I'd brake too hard. So I started hitting the brake for only three seconds at a time, as the DMV book said I should do when going down a grade. Even though we aren't on hills most of the time.

Driving a bus full of drunk people around sounds more like a job for someone with years and years of experience driving a bus. Like a veteran school bus driver who shuttled all the worst kids from the worst schools around for years. Or someone who worked all of the worst routes and stations Greyhound has to offer. I know you're an experienced, excellent driver, but driving a bus like that might be out of most CDL holders' leagues.

I asked a question like this in another thread. I was told if I failed an agility test, and couldn't pick the tarps up, it wouldn't go on the DAC. I don't think an honest failure would go on your DAC. Now if you failed because you had alcohol, failed a drug test, refused a drug test, or decided to just leave orientation and go home without telling anyone (very inconsiderate) that would go on your DAC.

I keep getting a talking to from my instructors about slowing down for my turns, including exiting the highway. Yet none of them, when asked, really give me good information on how to go about it. I asked on Friday if I was even using the brake right, and how I should brake. I didn't get a good answer.

So how am I supposed to use the brake? How do I slow down enough?

Right now I hold the brake down for about three seconds, or until I hear the hissing sound, then I let off of it. Then I come immediately back down to it for another three seconds. 1, 2, 3 *hiss* off 1, 2, 3 *hiss* off, etc. The reason I do this is because if I hold the brake down too long, the truck stalls out. It'll do that, right? I can't just apply the brake without consequences like in my car. Am I doing it wrong? How do I brake properly without stalling?

They've recently told me I should start skipping gears on the downshift. OK, but it doesn't do any good if I can't get the road speed down fast enough.

The worst part is people act like I do this **** on purpose. I don't. How am I supposed to slow the truck down?

Would it be possible to just get a new medical card and long form? I cannot provide a note from former psychologist because the last time I saw him was 6 years ago and they don't really remember me a the facilities. I don't have insurance, I don't have a primary care physician. I don't see anyone currently. So if they demand proof that I'm not crazy or suicidal, I'm screwed. I don't have another line of work I can just go back into. I came to CDL school so I could be employable and support myself.

Sorry I had to come back to this thread. Joseph B said companies that are interested in hiring/interviewing me aren't going to look at my long-form. Though they generally request those documents for pre-hires. When I get into orientation and the actual company doctor examines me, do they look at my current medical card and long form? Have they been told anything about me by the company other than my name? What has been you all's experience?

How long ago was your ticket? If it's from long enough ago that you've got a +5 on your MVR , you'll be fine with regards to that.

What do you mean by +5 on mvr?

Sorry, I meant +5 on your license.