How Difficult Is It To Learn?

Again...this chick with all her questions! lol

My first language is French Canadian. I suppose I can say I speak fluently English...but as I like to describe it, I speak "simple" English. Many words, expressions, etc. I do not comprehend, specially when it's about a more "specialized" subject. I am worried that going to CDL training, I will be completely lost and fail, from my lack of understanding. I know NOTHING about mechanic and not that familiar with the English terms associated with it, nor am I that great at math. I was reading somewhere on here that you need to learn things such as "how long will it take you from point A to point B, if it's x amount of miles and how many gallons of fuel will you need....bla bla" and I nearly died. I struggle with math problems. I can learn, but I'm afraid the trainer might think he's there to teach me about trucks, not about maths. :(

Then other issues such as backing up in tight spaces and what not....I'm assuming there is a "formula" on how to do it...? Do you need to be the sharpest tool in the shed to learn all about trucking...? lol

You're worrying yourself way too much. As far as learning the pre trip for instance, feel free to ask about the parts as you're learning and then take pics to help familiarize yourself with them. You don't need to know exactly how they work or hour to replace or repair them, that's what service is for. Your main concern is how to check and make sure that it's in proper operating order. Daniel B on here has an excellent video showing a very thorough pre trip inspection.

As for fuel mileage and such, nor something to worry about either. The only thing you'll really concern yourself with its distance and time. Figure low at say 50 miles per hour average and then break out the calculator. Ex: 400 miles @ 50 mph will take 8 hours. It won't take you that long but it will give you that safety buffer on timing until you get more comfortable in your truck and how you drive.

I think you'll be just fine.

Good ol phone typing and errors, sheesh.

Hi vamp. I have trained a guy from Russia, 1 from India, and 1 from Sudan . all of them lurned English in the last 2 years. There is some language problems but it can all be over come with time. The pretrip is just knowing what to look for. Leaving the work to the mechanic. You do need to know how to add oil, antifreeze, power steering fluid, and check the tire pressure but all of that should be on the pretrip part. The only think I have to add to Roberts post about trip planning is, depending on how heavy you run you might need to know how much fuel you will need on a trip I run reeffers most of the time I am 78k plus. Let's take the trip I am on now clearfield UT to Tracy CA 750 miles at 50 miles per hour it takes 15 hours plus 1 hour for brakes plus 10 hour brake minus 1 hour for the time change. So it looks like 15+1+10-1=25 hours to make the trip. For fuel I take the 750 miles÷7 miles per gallon=107 gallons used this is for my truck not all trucks. This load is heavy on my steer tires so I can only take 60 gallons at at time for fuel. So I know in about 400 miles I need to fuel agen. All this should be taught to you my your trainer. I teach people how to drive, back, trip plan, do laundry, math, I just teach them how to live out here. I hope this helps. And did not confuse you more.

Good ol phone typing and errors, sheesh.

You're a stickler too, uh? lolll

Good ol phone typing and errors, sheesh.

You're a stickler too, uh? lolll

Vamp, if you can use "stickler" properly in a sentence, you can do English, ok? :)

Consider your training to be Total Immersion Language training. In a few days you'll get the trucking format and vocabulary down, then the rest of the time is practice.

Then there's always the non-language speaker's escape hatch: smile, nod your head and say "OK!"

Seriously, I've read your posts, you're all right. (reading/writing is different from talking, I know.)

Good ol phone typing and errors, sheesh.

You're a stickler too, uh? lolll

Vamp, if you can use "stickler" properly in a sentence, you can do English, ok? :)

Consider your training to be Total Immersion Language training. In a few days you'll get the trucking format and vocabulary down, then the rest of the time is practice.

Then there's always the non-language speaker's escape hatch: smile, nod your head and say "OK!"

Seriously, I've read your posts, you're all right. (reading/writing is different from talking, I know.)

Hey, I'm a self-taught English speaking/writing/reading/messingarounding gal...lol I listened to English music, English tv and what not. At first I used to do a lot of invented sign language to make myself understood by the rest of you, then the next day I was frenglishing away. :D

Ok, so I'm not "totally" ignorant about vehicles. I can check tire pressure, add fluids, check oil, etc. I even made a few oil changes and changed a tire or two in my lifetime. I'm not afraid to get dirtayyyy! *giggles*

Rebel, My hat is off to you for learning English which is a rough language to learn.

Ok, so I'm not "totally" ignorant about vehicles. I can check tire pressure, add fluids, check oil, etc. I even made a few oil changes and changed a tire or two in my lifetime. I'm not afraid to get dirtayyyy! *giggles*

So we know you can do the pre trip! Oh, and you cannot use sign language on this forum. Wave at your keyboard all you want, it will not translate.

You know what you need to know, so you can talk with your trainer. For the math, you should have a calculator on your cell phone that will do all the arithmetic you need.

Here is the SECRET magic triangle to solve your speed, distance and time problems. First, spell the word DUST.

There's a D, then Under it is an S and T.

If you have distance and speed, you need to calculate time. Look at the picture. D/S = T. Also, D/T = S. If you drive 50 mph for 2 hours how far do you get? That's S*T = D.

Class dismissed.

If you have distance and speed, you need to calculate time. Look at the picture. D/S = T. Also, D/T = S. If you drive 50 mph for 2 hours how far do you get? That's S*T = D.

Class dismissed.

Errol that makes I lot of sense can I steal that?

Good ol phone typing and errors, sheesh.

You're a stickler too, uh? lolll

Vamp, if you can use "stickler" properly in a sentence, you can do English, ok? :)

Consider your training to be Total Immersion Language training. In a few days you'll get the trucking format and vocabulary down, then the rest of the time is practice.

Then there's always the non-language speaker's escape hatch: smile, nod your head and say "OK!"

Seriously, I've read your posts, you're all right. (reading/writing is different from talking, I know.)

"Then there's always the non-language speaker's escape hatch: smile, nod your head and say "OK!""

So let me get this....I'm not supposed to go at it the same way as when I read a software license agreement? In the end, you dismiss everything, and click "I agree"? lol....