Profile For Dan C.

Thanks Brett very well written

For students looking at companies don't worry about Schneiders training being 18 days it is equal to other companies 3 months You don't want to go to a company that trains you doing a team with your trainer which is what the other company did with me I didn't learn a thing other that driving down a interstate

Let me explain what he's referring to here for people who are just learning about how training works in the trucking industry.

When you get started with your first company you're going to go on the road with a trainer for a time. That time will vary from a few weeks to a few months, depending upon the company you choose. There are two different ways a company can dispatch that truck, either as a solo truck or as a team.

If the truck is dispatched as a solo truck then only the student will do the driving unless there's some sort of circumstance that requires the trainer to take over for safety reasons. The company will dispatch the truck as if there is only one driver. The trainer will always be in the passenger seat while the student is driving and when the student is not driving the truck will be stopped.

If the truck is dispatched as a team truck then both the student and the trainer will be driving and the truck will be dispatched on team runs. That means when one driver is driving, the other is sleeping. Now there will be times that the trainer will be up front with the student. But much of the time he will be getting his rest for his next driving shift.

Solo dispatch is like full time one-on-one instruction. With team driving you'll get some instruction but not nearly at the level you will with solo dispatching.

So when you're considering your first company to work for, ask them how the training truck will be dispatched. Most companies offer a hybrid approach where they'll dispatch you as a solo truck for a certain length of time and then you'll be dispatched as a team truck once the trainer is more comfortable with your driving.

Today looks like bad weather.I actually think this is a good thing because my trainer will teach me how to drive safely I will continue to pick his brain on everything I can think of

Ok Here is my update on 2 days on the road with training engineer Wow is all I can say !!!!! Alley Docking just had me stumped I could not do it I tried I tried I tried So our load today got put off till tomorrow am so we parked at a truck stop not far away and we worked on it My trainer broke it down into segments that finally got thru to my thick skull lol Also during my driving time he taught me the Schneider way for changing lanes turning and snubbing the brakes going down steep inclines Pretrip enroute and post trip inspections Basically I do all the work and the trainer shows me how I ask hundreds of questions and want to learn I will also say if you are not ready to be out on the road they won't send you

You have daily evaluations on your progress They know you are going to make mistakes but want improvements everyday For students looking at companies don't worry about Schneiders training being 18 days it is equal to other companies 3 months You don't want to go to a company that trains you doing a team with your trainer which is what the other company did with me I didn't learn a thing other that driving down a interstate That's not what rookies need they need to learn how to run your trucking business I give Schneider a 99.9 out of 100 score Trust me go there

Dan, this is actually a very good informative post concerning Schneider's training. We oftentimes have people in here telling us how they are shying away from Schneider because they are frightened by the fact that they will only be on the road for one week with a trainer. We always try to convince them that Schneider has a system down that is both effective and efficient, but that time frame always causes them concern.

Thanks, it's nice to hear someone in their program tell us how well it worked for you. It's a great company with a long history of beating the odds.

Count me on this list. Nothing against Schneider, they are actually still on my short list of companies I want to work for, but I did get scared away a little by the relatively short training time. I second Old School on this, I'm glad you are posting about how good their training is.

That's very good to know. Thanks for the update! (I'm glad I found this thread.)

I will give a report on Friday this week to keep you updated

Ok Here is my update on 2 days on the road with training engineer Wow is all I can say !!!!! Alley Docking just had me stumped I could not do it I tried I tried I tried So our load today got put off till tomorrow am so we parked at a truck stop not far away and we worked on it My trainer broke it down into segments that finally got thru to my thick skull lol Also during my driving time he taught me the Schneider way for changing lanes turning and snubbing the brakes going down steep inclines Pretrip enroute and post trip inspections Basically I do all the work and the trainer shows me how I ask hundreds of questions and want to learn I will also say if you are not ready to be out on the road they won't send you

You have daily evaluations on your progress They know you are going to make mistakes but want improvements everyday For students looking at companies don't worry about Schneiders training being 18 days it is equal to other companies 3 months You don't want to go to a company that trains you doing a team with your trainer which is what the other company did with me I didn't learn a thing other that driving down a interstate That's not what rookies need they need to learn how to run your trucking business I give Schneider a 99.9 out of 100 score Trust me go there

Dan, this is actually a very good informative post concerning Schneider's training. We oftentimes have people in here telling us how they are shying away from Schneider because they are frightened by the fact that they will only be on the road for one week with a trainer. We always try to convince them that Schneider has a system down that is both effective and efficient, but that time frame always causes them concern.

Thanks, it's nice to hear someone in their program tell us how well it worked for you. It's a great company with a long history of beating the odds.

Count me on this list. Nothing against Schneider, they are actually still on my short list of companies I want to work for, but I did get scared away a little by the relatively short training time. I second Old School on this, I'm glad you are posting about how good their training is.

Ok Here is my update on 2 days on the road with training engineer Wow is all I can say !!!!! Alley Docking just had me stumped I could not do it I tried I tried I tried So our load today got put off till tomorrow am so we parked at a truck stop not far away and we worked on it My trainer broke it down into segments that finally got thru to my thick skull lol Also during my driving time he taught me the Schneider way for changing lanes turning and snubbing the brakes going down steep inclines Pretrip enroute and post trip inspections Basically I do all the work and the trainer shows me how I ask hundreds of questions and want to learn I will also say if you are not ready to be out on the road they won't send you

You have daily evaluations on your progress They know you are going to make mistakes but want improvements everyday For students looking at companies don't worry about Schneiders training being 18 days it is equal to other companies 3 months You don't want to go to a company that trains you doing a team with your trainer which is what the other company did with me I didn't learn a thing other that driving down a interstate That's not what rookies need they need to learn how to run your trucking business I give Schneider a 99.9 out of 100 score Trust me go there

Dan, this is actually a very good informative post concerning Schneider's training. We oftentimes have people in here telling us how they are shying away from Schneider because they are frightened by the fact that they will only be on the road for one week with a trainer. We always try to convince them that Schneider has a system down that is both effective and efficient, but that time frame always causes them concern.

Thanks, it's nice to hear someone in their program tell us how well it worked for you. It's a great company with a long history of beating the odds.

Count me on this list. Nothing against Schneider, they are actually still on my short list of companies I want to work for, but I did get scared away a little by the relatively short training time. I second Old School on this, I'm glad you are posting about how good their training is.

I will leave a report next week on my progress

Old School I come from a engineering background I am doing trucking as a second career my mother wouldn't let me become a trucker when I was younger but it's my time now The best way to put it is Schneider has some eighty years of getting this right and they have Now that being said about 25 percent of the class couldn't handle it and either quit it got sent home I am a slow learner when it comes to trucking but once I get it it really get it So they will really try there best to help you succeed as long as you give it your best Couldn't be happier leave tomorrow with my training engineer going to Massachusetts

Dan, this is actually a very good informative post concerning Schneider's training. We oftentimes have people in here telling us how they are shying away from Schneider because they are frightened by the fact that they will only be on the road for one week with a trainer. We always try to convince them that Schneider has a system down that is both effective and efficient, but that time frame always causes them concern.

Thanks, it's nice to hear someone in their program tell us how well it worked for you. It's a great company with a long history of beating the odds.

Old School I come from a engineering background I am doing trucking as a second career my mother wouldn't let me become a trucker when I was younger but it's my time now The best way to put it is Schneider has some eighty years of getting this right and they have Now that being said about 25 percent of the class couldn't handle it and either quit it got sent home I am a slow learner when it comes to trucking but once I get it it really get it So they will really try there best to help you succeed as long as you give it your best Couldn't be happier leave tomorrow with my training engineer going to Massachusetts

Dan, this is actually a very good informative post concerning Schneider's training. We oftentimes have people in here telling us how they are shying away from Schneider because they are frightened by the fact that they will only be on the road for one week with a trainer. We always try to convince them that Schneider has a system down that is both effective and efficient, but that time frame always causes them concern.

Thanks, it's nice to hear someone in their program tell us how well it worked for you. It's a great company with a long history of beating the odds.

I just completed my first week of training in Indianapolis. The first week is classroom and city driving backing and Logs The instructors are very professional and teach you a lot of the important things that you don't learn in CDL school.The CDL schools teach you how to get a CDL Schneider teaches you how to be a truck driver and they do a great job The 2nd week you are on the road with s training engineer who will be your mentor and teach you about the life style how to make money but Most Important of all how to be SAFE 3rd week you are back to do Qualcomm training and more skills Then you finish the week testing out Believe me when I tell you that all trucking companies training are not created equal I spend a 2 week session with another trucking company who I will keep private and all I learned was how to drive down the highway, nothing about backing ,logs ,and all the paperwork you need to know So moral of the story if you want to start off on the right foot do your research and go with a company that is going to really train you because as rookies you need all the help you can get

Hi Sue I am considering Westside Transport was wondering how you like it ? I was thinking about doing otr for say 6 months then doing a flex position They seem like a great company How many miles you getting ? How is hometime will they work with you Thanks for any info I would be out of glen wood Dan

Okay, today was the day I've been working towards. I got to the hotel lobby to catch the shuttle to orientation. The shuttle dtiver arrived and we head for the van. She slipped on some black ice, falling and hitting her head quite hard on the bumper of the transport van. We help her off the ground and 2 guys assist her back to the lobby where her head, knee and hand were iced and she was taken to the hospital to be checked out. Luckily we found out later shes okay. Limping badly, but ok.

Shuttle driver #2 shows up and we arrive late. It's no big deal since the hotel called ahead and explained our lateness.

First off was a trip to a doctor for company physical and drug screening. We have been told that DOT physical must have the name of your employer, because that is a law. New job, new physical. FMCSA rule?

We stopped by our largest customer to learn where their drop yards are and rules which must be followed when on their property. The rules are non-negotiable and if you aren't allowed at this customers facility because you break the rules, you will be fired. Only because they are fully 50% of our business and if a driver can't go there, it would be very difficult for load planners to keep you running.

LESSON LEARNED: A new driver was obviously lost at this customers location and the guy driving our shuttle refused to help the new driver when we suggested it. His reason? The driver should be able to figure this out without having his hand held.

Classes on how to handle things the right way, using qualcom and the varous macros, tons of paperwork which needs to be filled out. . Tonight. Lol. We were given some very sage advice about remaining calm NO MATTER WHAT. Why? Because if you get excited, you will tend to make mistakes, which can cause more panick and bad decisions, which often lead to making even worse ones and can end your career before it even gets started.

We covered logs and hours of service too. Snow storm tomorrow and WST will most likely shut down. Safety and compliance above all else here. We also heard how important communication is. Probably do our road testing Wednesday. Pay and bonuses were explained too.

Now off to finish my mountains of paperwork.

This is a message for Brett Thank you for your words of wisdom I took them to heart and finally passed the CDL test It was a longer journey than I planned but feel thru my failures I am not only a way better person but a safer better driver too Your website was a good learning tool I used it all the time

Thanks Again

Brett Yes I am correct It almost would be the same if someone goes into Roehl or Knights training programs You get a CLP in your home state to go to there school but you would test in Wisconsin or Arizona for CDL where the training goes on

I would check with the Illinois Motor Vehicle Department to see if testing in Indiana is going to be ok. Up until recently Illinois did not accept any test scores from out of state nor did they allow any license transfers into the state. If you had a CDL and wanted to move to Illinois you had to do all of the testing over again. The Feds have already declared those practices to be illegal but a lot of states are still doing it.

And hey, at 56 you're barely above the average age of truckers nationwide which is in the high 40's, almost 50. I was the oddball when I started trucking at 21 years old. I was the age of everyone else's kids. So you're in fine company.

Just keep working hard and stick with it. You'll get your CDL and once you have it you'll move on to the next step. Calming your nerves is a very slow and difficult process but it's certainly something anyone can learn to do. When I started climbing in that tree service I was so nervous my legs would almost shake the spikes right out of the tree. It took a few months of pushing myself to get comfortable with the heights but after a while I was able to fall asleep up there and hang upside down and enjoy the view without an ounce of concern.

Good luck! Keep yourself pumped up and confident. Keep repeating that mantra - "I've got this. I've got this" and don't doubt yourself for a moment. Relax, take deep breaths, think super positive thoughts, and make it happen.

The one other thing I under estimated was how hard can it be to pass a CDL I have a college degree and am doing this as a life long dream I had as young man but my mother wouldn't let me be a driver she said you have to go to college I couldn't have been more wrong and have such a great respect for drivers that drive safe and are ambassadors of the highway now I plan on being a good safe driver and my goal is to drive for a couple of years and become a trainer Anyways thanks again for getting for your excellent advice

Brett Everything you said is so true Actually after each test I feel more confident I have learned to control my nerves a lot since I first tested I have made some silly mistakes in a couple of the tests but on my last test I only got 6 wrong on the Pretrip I actually have learned a lot from my failures and take each test as a learning experience I pass the Pretrip and parking a week ago but I didn't at that time truly understand the parallel parking I believe Jesus must have taken the wheel lol I messed up on the drive after that But learned a lot I am going back to test Friday I am pretty sure that Illinois will accept a passed Indiana CDL because I check that with the school before I started I choose the school even though it was more money than some of the schools in Chicago area because of there good track record I hope you are wrong about the transferring of the CDL Actually too I am moved to Indiana living with my sister to help her take cater of a sick mother I felt a couple of weeks ago that maybe I was dense and at 56 to old to remember Pretrip stuff and the whole trip I have been very determined to pass and work harder than any other student to overcome my slow learning curve The teachers see that and are more than willing to go extra mile to help me prepare Anyways I am running out of money and the 90 mile drive to the school I plan on passing on Friday I respect your opinion and love your website it has really helped me Thanks Dan

Why are you testing in Indiana if you're an Illinois resident? Last I knew Illinois doesn't allow CDL transfers into the state. You would have to do the testing over again unless they've changed their policy recently.

Also, Dan, I want you to consider something here. You're hunting around for the easiest way to get your CDL and you're telling us your nerves are getting the best of you during testing. I'm afraid you're entering a high pressure field where there are no "easy ways" of doing much of anything. Every moment of your life behind that wheel is a never-ending life or death test. What's going to happen when they send you into Downtown Chicago or Atlanta at 8:00 a.m. in rush hour traffic? What's going to happen when you're caught in heavy snow or a car starts spinning in front of you at 70 mph?

You're going to have to learn to focus your mind on the task at hand and get your mind off the consequences. Trust me, I know this isn't easy by any means. But if you're worried about passing the relatively simple CDL test under nearly ideal conditions because of nerves, what do you think will happen to your nerves under severe real world conditions?

You have to find a way to focus your mind on doing your job without worrying about the circumstances you're in. You have to take the bull by the horns and get excited about the challenges you're facing. If you were comparing the stages of your trucking career with the levels of schooling, getting your CDL is about a 1st grade level. Getting out there and doing it for real is like going to a University. It gets real in a big way out there.

Don't fear the challenge, accept the challenge with enthusiasm. Get yourself excited about showing them you can handle it. I would take the testing in Indiana or Illinois or wherever you have to. Get out there and make it happen. Show them what you can do. Pump yourself up with confidence and don't allow any doubts to enter your mind. Keep telling yourself, "I've got this. I've got this" and believe it.

Managing your nerves is something anyone can learn to do. I started a tree service years ago and I was the climber. I was rightly terrified of heights. It took months for me to get used to being a few stories off the ground hanging by a rope the size of my index finger. But I did it. Now I no longer have any real fear of heights and I can do things like rock climbing hundreds of feet up a cliff without an ounce of concern. It certainly didn't come easy, but I did it. You've just gotta find the ability to believe in yourself and take on this challenge with enthusiasm.

Brett Everything you said is so true Actually after each test I feel more confident I have learned to control my nerves a lot since I first tested I have made some silly mistakes in a couple of the tests but on my last test I only got 6 wrong on the Pretrip I actually have learned a lot from my failures and take each test as a learning experience I pass the Pretrip and parking a week ago but I didn't at that time truly understand the parallel parking I believe Jesus must have taken the wheel lol I messed up on the drive after that But learned a lot I am going back to test Friday I am pretty sure that Illinois will accept a passed Indiana CDL because I check that with the school before I started I choose the school even though it was more money than some of the schools in Chicago area because of there good track record I hope you are wrong about the transferring of the CDL Actually too I am moved to Indiana living with my sister to help her take cater of a sick mother I felt a couple of weeks ago that maybe I was dense and at 56 to old to remember Pretrip stuff and the whole trip I have been very determined to pass and work harder than any other student to overcome my slow learning curve The teachers see that and are more than willing to go extra mile to help me prepare Anyways I am running out of money and the 90 mile drive to the school I plan on passing on Friday I respect your opinion and love your website it has really helped me Thanks Dan

Why are you testing in Indiana if you're an Illinois resident? Last I knew Illinois doesn't allow CDL transfers into the state. You would have to do the testing over again unless they've changed their policy recently.

Also, Dan, I want you to consider something here. You're hunting around for the easiest way to get your CDL and you're telling us your nerves are getting the best of you during testing. I'm afraid you're entering a high pressure field where there are no "easy ways" of doing much of anything. Every moment of your life behind that wheel is a never-ending life or death test. What's going to happen when they send you into Downtown Chicago or Atlanta at 8:00 a.m. in rush hour traffic? What's going to happen when you're caught in heavy snow or a car starts spinning in front of you at 70 mph?

You're going to have to learn to focus your mind on the task at hand and get your mind off the consequences. Trust me, I know this isn't easy by any means. But if you're worried about passing the relatively simple CDL test under nearly ideal conditions because of nerves, what do you think will happen to your nerves under severe real world conditions?

You have to find a way to focus your mind on doing your job without worrying about the circumstances you're in. You have to take the bull by the horns and get excited about the challenges you're facing. If you were comparing the stages of your trucking career with the levels of schooling, getting your CDL is about a 1st grade level. Getting out there and doing it for real is like going to a University. It gets real in a big way out there.

Don't fear the challenge, accept the challenge with enthusiasm. Get yourself excited about showing them you can handle it. I would take the testing in Indiana or Illinois or wherever you have to. Get out there and make it happen. Show them what you can do. Pump yourself up with confidence and don't allow any doubts to enter your mind. Keep telling yourself, "I've got this. I've got this" and believe it.

Managing your nerves is something anyone can learn to do. I started a tree service years ago and I was the climber. I was rightly terrified of heights. It took months for me to get used to being a few stories off the ground hanging by a rope the size of my index finger. But I did it. Now I no longer have any real fear of heights and I can do things like rock climbing hundreds of feet up a cliff without an ounce of concern. It certainly didn't come easy, but I did it. You've just gotta find the ability to believe in yourself and take on this challenge with enthusiasm.

PS This is not a reflection of the school either The teachers there are great and always willing to go the extra mile I just have taken longer too understand I won't give up either

I have learned at a slower pace however because of this I feel that my skills have greatly improved and I have a better understanding of passing the CDL tests But I keep messing up on the tests I have one more try left in Indiana free I have passed the Pretrip and the backing exercises and messed up on the road Many tries later because of nerves I keep messing up on the parallel parking thru my failures I understand what to do but can't seem to get over the hump I want to work for Roehl Should I just start over in there program Or should I get tested in Wisconsin I am a Illinois resident Wisconsin will bank passed tests and they don't have parallel parking they have dock parking this will take a lot of stress off but cost a few dollars Can I go there a retake tests Any advice Thanks

I have learned at a slower pace however because of this I feel that my skills have greatly improved and I have a better understanding of passing the CDL tests But I keep messing up on the tests I have one more try left in Indiana free I have passed the Pretrip and the backing exercises and messed up on the road Many tries later because of nerves I keep messing up on the parallel parking thru my failures I understand what to do but can't seem to get over the hump I want to work for Roehl Should I just start over in there program Or should I get tested in Wisconsin I am a Illinois resident Wisconsin will bank passed tests and they don't have parallel parking they have dock parking this will take a lot of stress off but cost a few dollars Can I go there a retake tests Any advice Thanks

I am in the same boat yesterday I could not figure how to back up Today just as bad Also today we went on the road and I couldn't get the double clutching and was grinding the gear I feel like a complete failure

Any good tips on how to pass ? I have been studying a lot but fear I will freeze up on the actual test Thanks for any tips

Dan