Comments By Saxon W.

TRAINING:

This is the one section that will truly define bitter-sweet. First, SEC Training Centers advertises a 200 hour course over five weeks. Even when you call the number on their website and talk to the admissions officer, Mr. F (real names will be withheld), he will tell you that the course is “5 Weeks, 200 hours, and you will have a CDL.” For your information, he is willfully lying to you when he says this. It is a very rare occurrence for anyone to graduate with in the 200 hours of instruction. SO BE ADVISED: You will likely spend 7 – 10 weeks at a minimum training before you will be allowed to test for your CDL.

The reasons for this can vary, but the notable ones are below:

One, is that there are only two “yard instructors” who teach the backing manuveurs. Since new classes start every two weeks, the instructor-to-student ratio is ridiculous, some times as high 1:20. Yes, that is right. One instructor for every 20 students. So that means you will get limited attention and time-in-the-trucks practicing manuveurs. (I hear during the warmer months the ratio is far worse) Some days you will literally be there for 9+ hours and only be in a truck for 15 - 30 minutes.

Another reason, and the most important, is that the “yard instructors” are lazy. They are doing the least amount possible to teach you anything. Mr. J is constantly on his phone and is not really concerned, at all, with teaching you something you'll eventually figure out on your own over the next ten weeks. Mr. T will teach you more than Mr. J, but not very well either.

The fact is that both the yard instructors are lazy and not very forthright individuals.

Why they are allowed to get paid for overtly avoiding the work they are paid for? Well, use your imagination, it is Jackson, MS, right?

Week 1

This week of instruction is to prepare for your permit test. Mr. F in admissions will tell you, “If you show up with a permit, you get a 50 hour credit.” This is another lie. They will use this so-called credit the way they see fit. I even spoke with the school president who told me to my face that my credit did not apply to the traing time, but only kept me from going to the permit class the first week. How they can call it a credit for hours is beyond me. Just expect to be longer than they originally tell you.

Day 1: You will be DOT drug tested on the morning you arrive at the school. Do not show up at this school with drugs in your system.

DOT Physical: Later in the week you will go to the MEA clinic in Pearl, MS to have a DOT Physical done and get your medical card.

Ms. K conducts this class. If you want something done, get on her good side. DO NOT make this lady dislike you.

Week 2 - ? (who knows how long):

Straight-line Backing: This is where the poor instruction will begin to manifest. I have literally seen students on Staright-line for a week because Mr. J is too busy on his phone to teach and could careless about truly instructing you on how to accomplish this manuveur.

Any trucker will tell you that straight-line backing is very important and that it requires you to use your mirrors. So why in the world an instructor would be standing in front of the truck pointing the direction you should be turning your wheel, when you should be watching your mirrors, is beyond me as well.

Log book/Trip planning: At some point in week two Ms. K will conduct this class.

Offset Backing: Same instructor as straight-line. Same Approach. Same BS.

Parallel Parking: Same instructor. Same Approach. Both sighside and blindside. This manuveur is where you are really going to get frustrated. Instead being taught how manipulate the trailer within the box or how to correct your mistakes, Mr. J is going to yell at you like a child. Expect to get more help from fellow students on this manuveur than you will receive from the yard instructors.

90 degree/Alley Dock: When I finally made it to this manuvuer, I was left there for 2 1/2 days without instruction. Another student and myself just tried our best to figure this one out. I finally asked for help from the main on-the-road instructor. I am thankful he took the time to explain the approach to this manuvuer. Again, knowing how to correct your approach is paramount on this manuveur.

Road Instruction: Here is where the money is worth it. Mr. E is the main on-the-road instructor. He is the man. You will train on a 10-speed and he is going to put you in some very interesting driving enviroments during the course of this week. You will drive rural, suburban, inner-city, downtown Jackson and on the Interestate. By the time he is done with you, you will possess the skills necessary and be confident in your ability to drive a tractor w/semi-trailer. DO NOT argue with him. He knows what his job is and how to do it.

Final Road Instrcution: Mr. G and/or Mr. D handle this part. It is simply to further develop and refine your road skills to prepare you for the CDL driving exam. Both instructors are fully compotent and worth their salt. There is no reason you should fail on-the-road by the time these guys have completed their instruction. When you make it to this point, you will most likely test that week.

Written exclusively for the Trucking Truth Community

SEC TRAINING CENTERS Flowood, MS (Jackson Metro Area)

This school has been around for a long time. If I remember correctly, I was told it originally opened in 1986. Over the years it has experienced some financial woes. Due to severe mismangement of funds, it has gone under a couple of times and is currently owned by Antonelli College. However, if you are looking for an afforable school to obtain a CDL, some good instruction behind the wheel of a big rig, as well as a litney of companies to choose from once you graduate, you may want to consider this school.

COST:

1>Self-Pay: If you are paying in Cash/Check/Money Order the cost of tution in $2800. This includes the cost of your permit, DOT physical and CDL license upon graduation. This does not include lodging. (I will discuss lodging later).

2>Grant: One-time grant from the State. Cost goes up to $3600. Whether you take the lodging provided by the school or not. They will charge you every dime of the grant money.

3>Loan: The cost starts from $4300 and goes up from there. Lodging is included, but you are going to pay for it.

4>Company Sponsored: While I was there, I knew of only two company sponsored students. One of them was from a local trucking company headquartered in Richland, MS. The other's company was the one out of Salt Lake (hint, hint). The Salt Lake company apparently had shelled out $7500 for this student to be trained. (I will cover more one this later)

LODGING: Fortunately, I had some family friends that allowed me to stay with them during my training. Since school is only Monday thru Thursday, I only needed to stay with them Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night. So, I wasn't too much of a burden and I saved a lot of money on meals this way too. RED ROOF INN (Jackson, MS): If you don't live in or know someone in the immediate area, then lodging is provided and will, essentially, be added onto your tution. Unfortunately, the hotel is in the ghetto. The student cost is only $45 dollars for three nights (Mon-Wed) if you share the room and $90 dollars if you chose not to share a room. However, from what was told to me by my fellow students, the hotel is a roach infested, run down, house-of-filth. One student, whom I was really grateful to get know, from the more southern side of the state, stayed there for the first week of his training and not a single night more. He, fortunately, could afford to stay in a hotel in Flowood. Though he paid over twice as much, he told me the the living conditions at the Red Roof Inn were completely intoloerable and he felt sorry for those that had to endure it. EQUIPMENT & FACILITIES: You will be told by Mr. F that they have top-of-line equpment to train you with. This is not so. Their trucks are junk. This school, even under its collegiate management, doesn't have the money to purchase decent equipment. Now, personally, I didn't mind that because I figured training equipment should be worn out. And why buy new equipment for students to trash anyway? However, don't think you'll be training on state-of-art equipment because you won't be. Some days they will be jumping batteries off all day. It is truly pitiful sometimes. The training yard is dust bowl. It is not paved. On windy days you will literally be covered in, and eating dirt. When it rains, you will be sopping wet and destroying shoes in the mud. They have three canopies on the yard, but this does nothing to prevent the mud from just flat making you upset. Your cars interior will be filthy and full of rocks within the first week of training. Also, because it is a dirt yard, trucks get stuck quite frequently. Mainly, on parallel parking. Also, the bumps in the dirt can throw the trailer any direction at any time. This can be a benefit though because it does make for a greater challenge in trailer manipulation. The classroom and main building are suitable for their purpose.

Well, I now have a CDL Class-A w/XT Endorsements. Glad to have that behind me. I did write a review of my school but it exceeds the character limit. I PM'd Brett to inquire of the publishing options.

Thanks to all of you here at TT for the knowledge and advice.

I personally couldn't be more excited to get going in this industry!

I will check in occasionally. Good luck and be safe!

Sax

Congratulations Saxon! I look forward to reading your school review. Stay safe, and remember - Don't hit anything!

Thanks. I am looking forward to this line of work. I haven't heard back from Brett yet, but I will post the review as soon as I know what my options are.

Well, I now have a CDL Class-A w/XT Endorsements. Glad to have that behind me. I did write a review of my school but it exceeds the character limit. I PM'd Brett to inquire of the publishing options.

Thanks to all of you here at TT for the knowledge and advice.

I personally couldn't be more excited to get going in this industry!

I will check in occasionally. Good luck and be safe!

Sax

Hopefully, I will test out on Thursday. I will post my review of SEC Training Centers in (Jackson Metro area) Flowood, MS on Sunday (if I test out). Also, I am still working on my diary and will submit it to the diary section (via Errol V's advice) once I finish orientation and training.

Check out Watkins & Shepard

Maybe I am misunderstanding the situation, but did you refuse to submit to a BAC test at any point?

Congrats. There may be those that disagree with me, but I would avoid signing any training/school contracts with companies to obtain your CDL. If can afford it, pick a school and attend it on your own dollar (or secure a grant). When choosing a school find one that is at least 160 hours (200 is better), has several instructors, at least 5 training trucks, and has an authorized third party tester on site.

I am currently in one of these schools and having been compiling notes from my experiences to write synopsis for newbies who visit TT in the future. I will publish this when I graduate in a few weeks.

Also, the school I attend gave me 50 hours of credit for showing up with my CDL permit and DOT card in hand. Definitely ask about this when making inquiries to schools.

Thank you for your reply:).. I saw this reply and a few others and obviously there are strong opinions/preferences . I'm quite a big fan of the driving school I'm planning on attending and have checked them out review wise... Hoping for the best and plan on working hard!

Best of luck!

Suppose you need to fly to Chicago. You have a choice on getting your ticket.

You could go to the airport and check with each airline company to see their schedule their price and their features for the seat you sit in.

Or you could stay at home look on the internet check airline schedules and features and such, buy your ticket, then go to the airport, go to the airline counter, and get a seat on the plane. It's all on how you slice the Bologna. Same with learning how to drive a truck.

Questionable analogy concerning the subject matter. But, in the interest of discourse, allow me to share one similar that offers opposing insight.

(True Story) I went to Expedia.com rented a hotel room for a vacation my wife and I took in Nashville last October. While on the site I was presented with a 45% savings offer. Nice hotel and in comparison to other available on the site it seemed like a great deal. After I reserved the room, feeling so proud I had gotten a good deal, I called my wife and told her about the deal I got. She, being excited, wanted to see pictures of the hotel and rooms and used her iphone to check the place out. While visiting the hotel's website she noticed the hotel website itself displayed a lower costs then I had paid. She calls me, and I go view the hotel website myself and reserve a room for about $300 dollars less than Expedia's "best deal." Needless to say, I immediately called Expedia and demanded a refund. We stayed in the hotel and I saved about hundred dollars a night.

So, I got the exact same room, for much cheaper than the flashy advertising and "best deal" offer on the Expedia's website. Some flashy hype is just that, hype.

I don't think either of these analogies apply to the discussion. But I think they both serve to show that the amount of effort one puts in may have an effect on their desired outcome, or maybe not.

Saxon, this, and the future installments ought to be on the diary forum. Maybe Brett could move it.

And Brett made the decision for No Editing after its posted. His reasons are posted somewhere.

Use the Edit button to see how your post will look. The sample shows up below the exit box. That's where you can make changes.

Not a bad idea. But I can tell you that as I have visited this site over the past month or so, I spent the vast majority of my time on the General Discussions section. I usually only stumbled on diary section when searching a particular subject or company.

i will preview before I post from now on. Thanks.