Comments By David John

Wonderful!

It is definitely a significant weight off of the shoulders!!! I know the feeling.

There was never a question I (and I’m sure we) would pass eventually. For me it was just a question of the level of perfection. I could not perform all of the maneuvers and on-road driving as well in the Truck as I can/could in my Car. (Truth be told, in some ways I drive my Car better now. Added benefits of Truck Driver Training) 4-weeks of training limited the amount of improvement.

Having completed that step and moving on to orientation and time with the trainer, into the first year and beyond. Much to learn. Improvements to be made. Experiences to help us develop our creativity and tool set.

Great news. Congratulations on your Success!

Thanks again for the Congratulations you offered me!

Congrats!! I am currently in CDL school and scheduled to test on Monday. I have had all of the same thoughts you have had. Certainly much more to learn, but celebrate this big step as well. Simply knowing that there is a ton more to learn is a huge strength in our development.

So huge congrats to you, and I wish you the best as you continue your journey!

Best of Luck today Jeramy!

PlanB, thank you for that clarification.
— David John

And here is the High Road CDL Training page (p95), within the Log Book section, that details the split sleeper reset. And details, as you describe, the point where I was mistaken.
This posted perhaps more for my future benefit/reference.

Trucking Truth High Road Training: HOS Split Sleeper Details

This includes a number of articles Old School has written that I stepped through after reading the “Commencement Speech For Truck Driving School Graduates”, which he referenced. This post is perhaps primarily for my future reference and review.
Note: Old School has written many interesting articles, all available via his link (Old School).

Commencement Speech For Truck Driving School Graduates

What Should I Expect To Learn From My Trainer?

According To Dispatch, 1 Out Of 5 Drivers Does A Great Job

“Trucking Is A Competition Between Drivers. Can You Hang With The Big Dogs?”

And Brett’s Book as well...

The Competition for Freight. Chapter 13, p68 Brett Aquila - On the Hyper-Competitive Trucking Industry

“As an employee of any company, you should be aware of the fact that what's good for the company is often times good for you, and visa-versa. Not always of course, but if you want to keep your job you should be doing what you can to promote the well being of both yourself and your company.” — Brett Aquila

On competition...

“Let's get more specific. Let's say that today your company has 2100 drivers that will need a new load but only 1950 new loads available. There are a lot of things you can do to make sure you're NOT one of those 150 drivers that aren't going to make any money today. It starts from day one at your first company and will be a never ending process throughout your entire career. Let's take a look at how this works and some of the things you can do.” — Brett Aquila

Old School

Brett Aquila

Thank you Jeramy & Old School!

Old School, I am really enjoying the articles you‘ve posted. For myself and All, who are coming to Trucking Truth, Thank You! Thank you for the articles and Thank you for the frequent posts and guidance. It is a great benefit to us all!

Jeramy, I believe we both stand with one foot firmly planted in the proper perspective ...

“Simply knowing that there is a ton more to learn is a huge strength in our development.” — Jeramy H

A number of the articles Old School has written provide for something similar ...

“Most of us realize that we are just as green as can be and we are looking forward to having an old hand at all this stuff to teach us how to handle that rig in all kinds of situations and road conditions.” — Old School

“Truck Driving School Is Only The Beginning Of Your CDL Training. Driving School does not prepare you to be, or magically transform you into, a truck driver. It is merely a means to getting your CDL license. Yes, truck driving school is definitely part of the learning process, but it's more like taking your first baby steps. I'm sure my experience isn't exactly normal, but it has taught me that it takes a tough skin, a humble attitude, a willingness to learn from someone who may not be the best at teaching, and a tenacious attitude that looks forward to new challenges and learning experiences every day.” — Old School

I share this perspective as well. And I have found a great deal of excitement in the fact that the opportunities to learn will never end.

“I'm really looking forward to jumping into the next learning curve that lies ahead ... “ — Old School

I most certainly am looking forward to jumping in ...

PlanB, thank you for that clarification.

I was wondering about that period after the 8hr / 2hr and how that reset worked. The way I described seemed a bit too generous.

Your explanation clears that up well!

Please understand I am a new rookie also.

I have been studying the rules and reading about this specifically in an attempt to learn. I will explain my understanding here and state that I am hoping Old School or another will confirm and/or correct if I am mistaken.

Perhaps this will be something to compare to your understanding.

If you go on sleeper at 10:00 and remain in the sleeper for 8 hours, that is until 18:00 (6pm) you will have “frozen” your clock from the time you went on sleeper. Now when you come on duty at 18:00 you will resume your clock from the point it was frozen. As you stated, you will have 14hrs - 90minutes and 11 hours - 90 minutes (or - actual drive time prior).

Now I believe, you have the additional benefit, after you begin the clock again, that after a 2 hour off-duty period (8hr+2hr) you will completely reset your 14/11 hour clocks.

So in this case, after your 8hr sleeper you will have 12:30 on-duty and 9:30 drive time. If during that period you take a 2 hour off-duty break you will completely reset your 14 hour, 11 hour clocks.

Thank you all for comments, input, correction and in general for educating us on this aspect of the FMCSR.

At the end of the day, I feel I agree with your position on paid training. The driver benefits, the company is invested in the process. I will have to re-read your links to verify that I have followed your advice, I thought I had.

What I did not realize, if that is what you are suggesting, is that you hold a position in which a new driver should only choose a company that can and will do 100% of the driver training in-house.

In my case the company has some driver training performed by a third party.

I am happy to say I have completed the 160 hour course and have passed the driving tests, Pre-Trip, Range and Driving.

I now have a commercial license.

With this step complete I feel as though I have accomplished something, but I still feel there is so much more to learn.

Pre-Trip

Having put in quite a bit of effort, I found the pre-trip relatively easy. But the process and the actual “performance” generally challenge me. It seems that in doing a thorough pre-trip one must do so much more than what we are asked to explain/demonstrate for the examiner. While explaining we point but do not touch. While doing the actual pre-trip, it seems, we will want to touch and pull and check and truly have a sense for what is “normal” for the truck/trailer so “ab-normal” will be more easily recognized. Much to learn, from real-world experience.

Range

The work backing and parking on the driving range came a bit easier than I expected. I have had the good fortune of driving and backing trailers of various sizes. It seems this experience helped somewhat in the exercise. From the first day I had a sense of what/how to maneuver the Truck. It is a concern, however, the methods used to prepare for and perform the routine that becomes the backing test.

The methods used, turn the wheel hard right, back until you see the landing gear line up with..., turn the wheel hard left, back until you see the landing gear line up with..., turn the wheel hard right, back until you are straight... Within the range I could find points of reference on the ground, in back, in front. I could use these to ‘help’ with the maneuvers.

The first step was to follow the recipe, prescribed sequence of turns/picture steps, but it seemed the next step was much more important. That being gaining a very real understanding of how the tractor and trailer move as the result of various inputs and movements.

It seems to me that life within the real world will be much different.

Sliding 5th wheels, Sliding trailer wheels, adjustments in length, weight. Docks that are angled, raised, lowered... dark. The range environment can be so well learned, and the specific truck understood within this “recipe” but in the real world... when each situation is different.

So much to learn.

Driving

The driving was enjoyable and the test very interesting. Traffic, construction, crossing 3+ railroad tracks, passing under bridges. A UPS double driver making rather interesting maneuvers as a result of construction confusion. “Change lanes left then right”, repeated on quite a few roads.

A bridge clearance sign became visible and awakened/reminded me that they would ask of this. I jumped in and mentioned the height of the bridge and the height of the vehicle. Well it is the point of the instructor to also check a question that confirms you are paying attention to signs in general, not just the bridge in particular. If I had not mentioned the bridge clearance sign myself, perhaps (likely) he would have asked about the clearance. However, wanting to verify I have been watching signs, he simply asks about another... “How far did the sign say we are to 51st Ave?” I was uncertain of this answer, if only I had waited... I guessed...

For me the greatest difficulty was shifting. Double clutch on a 10-speed. I have driven many manual transmission cars. The 10-speed is similar, and not. It was mentioned that experience driving a manual transmission car can pose challenges in the transition. At first the 10-speed shift “picture” was not firmly planted in my head. Then shift placement, missing the hard wall or soft wall, consistent select lever position in the down-shift transition 6-to-lower... correctly placing the lever when shifting into 4th. Initially all missed shifts seem to be one problem, but in truth they were the product of a few.

Once the puzzle pieces were in place, I simply needed time to continue to drive and to become proficient. Time to improve the timing and improve the consistency. Time to become confident in the down-shift. Time to become confident in the ‘process’ of fixing a missed shift. Time in learning the short-cuts. And all of this focused on double clutch shifting when the method used by most professional drivers is float shifting. Unfortunately, for me, the road driving time available during the coarse was not enough for me to feel I have truly become proficient at 10-speed shifting. More practice is needed. Not sure yet if/how the additional practice will come. I believe I will be driving automatic vehicles, so additional training may not come.

I do see value in the way the DMV requires a new student to perform. Double shifting requires a level of coordination that is not easy to master. When working to master this skill, understand the shift pattern and timing and speed and RPM and ... if you can do these things all at once and not drive yourself into a ditch or over a curb or onto another car ... if you can do all of this and still recognize railroads and read signs... then you can likely be a safe driver.

I am happy to say I have completed the first step.

With that I have an incredible appreciation for how much more there is to learn to truly become a proficient and capable driver.

With reference to the comment, “This is a marketing gimmick...”, I am happy to say that for the school I am attending this was not sold to me as a benefit beforehand, nor is this method used by the school itself.

The school I am attending does not charge hiring companies a fee. The full time employee that maintains contact with hiring companies does in fact provide interested students with a multi-page spreadsheet of all hiring companies and the specific recruiter with phone and email contact information. The ‘alumni’ is free to contact the recruiter themselves and/or work with her in contacting. The school receives no financial benefit from placement of the student/alum.

I am happy this is the case. I believe schools that are seeking a finders fee have lost sight of their true mission in their search for greater income. In seeking a finders fee these schools will create a barrier for companies who wish to hire their students. Top Tier drivers will be aware of what other companies would pay, so working with the school to find a position would either cost the hiring company more for the driver or result in lower pay or reduced sign-on bonus, not to the benefit of the drive, this would likely result in the driver going elsewhere.

Schools who are training well will have companies interested in hiring their drivers. Success in placing students will result in an ability to attract new students. In addition, success in teaching and certifying students can result in companies sending their students to the school or approaching the school and asking the school to have their instructors train their students.

The school I am attending has instructors teaching students in trucking companies all around Phoenix, classroom, range and driving in the actual company vehicles.

I was asked to take my training at this school by the national carrier I chose. I followed the advice I have read. I chose a national carrier. I plan to drive with them for one year. I am trusting them and doing as they ask. This carrier does train their drivers in-house, however, they prefer having the student complete the first few hurdles, including the CDL-A license, before in-house training begins.

As I have read, I believe the Top Tier OTR driver with 1+ years of experience will have many OTR opportunities and options. But understanding that many people may wish to drive local or regional, 16 of the 19 people in my class were hoping to find a local position, I believe that training with a company that has contacts within the region may be of benefit. Some companies may have a limited number of positions. A driver who wishes to fill a specific position in a specific company may have an advantage where their school has been used by the company to train its students in the past.