I Messed Up (truck Driving School Related).

During the summer I could've gone to a local community college sponsored truck driving program in St. Louis for free. I went through a few of the steps to enroll in it, but then stopped because I'm an idiot and didn't like the fact that I had to take some reading and math tests to get into it (stupid, I know). I kept missing the deadlines for registration for the classes and dragging my feet just being a stupid idiot.

I still wanted to become a truck driver and get my CDL. I was desperate for a trucking job, because I had been out of work since August. So, last month I looked on Craigslist for truck driving jobs and found that Hogan was hiring and that they would train. They told me to call a truck driving school called MTC here in St. Louis and tell them that Hogan referred me to them.

So, I went to orientation and pretty much signed my life away. They had us sign some papers that put us on the hook for $8,453.15 whether we complete the program or not. They gave us 3 business days to leave the program if we decided it wasn't for us. I don't think that's enough time to decide though.

I'm in the 3rd and so called final week of the program and since I'm a slow learner I still don't know any of my maneuvers (I still can't straight back) nor can I drive a manual stick shift (I get nervous behind the wheel and everything I learned goes out the window).

I feel like they're gonna drop me from MTC real soon if I don't shape up and learn this stuff since I'm so far behind. I talked to the director and it seemed like they were leaning towards that. Now, I'm gonna be on the hook for $8453.15 of which I don't have. I only went to this school because I was desperate to get a job since I had been out of work since August.

Anybody have any advice on what I should do? Should I try to go back to the community college, ride out the program until I get my CDL or get dropped, or should I go somewhere else and try to get my CDL.

I know I messed up real bad and will hopefully never do something like this again.

Thanks for reading.

Ibn, first let me welcome you to Trucking Truth. We don't mess around here, and we don't talk trash just to dis people.

Then again, sometimes the truth isn't pretty. What I'm saying is, if you are going great, we're happy for you. If you messed up, we don't call you "stupid" or anything, but we do talk directly and frankly about bad decisions.

You do blame yourself a bit: "dragging your feet", and not taking required tests just because you didn't like to. Your life is filled with situations like this. You need to get used to this fast! If you want to drive a truck, your company will not put up with a driver who doesn't like a particular dispatch, or "can't" drive when he needs to. Start with the resolution to do what it takes, the first time out of the gate.

Your late desperation to go to school got you on a legal hook for your tuition. In your third week, it's too late to jump ship and escape this obligation.

The rest, where you say you can't do a straight back, or get nervous driving in traffic, I believe is part of your "I'd rather not ..." attitude. The school offers you 160 hours of training. We all know that doesn't make you ready to hit the road as a trucker. All you are looking for in the beginning is to simply pass the CDL skills test. No more, no less. Don't be too nervous about driving in traffic. That will pass as you get your confidence. You have a week, maybe a bit longer, to get your skills and knowledge ready for the skills test. Unless you just like being nervous, and want to blame that for your problems, you need to focus much more on setting the final result and how to get there.

Play the brain game - visualize your success, learn from your screw ups (don't see them as failures, but they are mistakes so learn from them!)

Once you are successful in this, and have the CDL license, you should have your pick of companies that will hire you.

... What Errol said...

-mountain girl

Ibn, first let me welcome you to Trucking Truth. We don't mess around here, and we don't talk trash just to dis people.

Then again, sometimes the truth isn't pretty. What I'm saying is, if you are going great, we're happy for you. If you messed up, we don't call you "stupid" or anything, but we do talk directly and frankly about bad decisions.

You do blame yourself a bit: "dragging your feet", and not taking required tests just because you didn't like to. Your life is filled with situations like this. You need to get used to this fast! If you want to drive a truck, your company will not put up with a driver who doesn't like a particular dispatch, or "can't" drive when he needs to. Start with the resolution to do what it takes, the first time out of the gate.

Your late desperation to go to school got you on a legal hook for your tuition. In your third week, it's too late to jump ship and escape this obligation.

The rest, where you say you can't do a straight back, or get nervous driving in traffic, I believe is part of your "I'd rather not ..." attitude. The school offers you 160 hours of training. We all know that doesn't make you ready to hit the road as a trucker. All you are looking for in the beginning is to simply pass the CDL skills test. No more, no less. Don't be too nervous about driving in traffic. That will pass as you get your confidence. You have a week, maybe a bit longer, to get your skills and knowledge ready for the skills test. Unless you just like being nervous, and want to blame that for your problems, you need to focus much more on setting the final result and how to get there.

Play the brain game - visualize your success, learn from your screw ups (don't see them as failures, but they are mistakes so learn from them!)

Once you are successful in this, and have the CDL license, you should have your pick of companies that will hire you.

I don't think me not getting this stuff is on account of my so called "I'd rather not" attitude. It's just the fact that in life it's always taken me awhile to get things compared to other people. I'm not going to give up on this at all. I just wish I was getting this stuff and that I wasn't struggling.

I'm not going to give up on this at all. I just wish I was getting this stuff and that I wasn't struggling.

That's my point. Yes you have struggles. But I pointed out:

You need to focus much more on setting the final result and how to get there.

Play the brain game - visualize your success, learn from your screw ups (don't see them as failures, but they are mistakes so learn from them!)

If you have to cross a river, sure you're going to get wet. But if you keep your eyes on the other shore, you'll make it across to the other side.

I say just relax, don't force it. If you try to force it, you'll end up frustrated and then it will become even harder to attain, because your mind is focused on the frustration.

Clear your mind and focus intently. Study and study hard but when you feel anguish welling up, take a step back and refocus. Maybe a small break to get your mind rejuvenated.

Like erol said, all you are doing at this point is learning how to pass a couple of tests, you are not learning to drive a truck. That will come later.

Be positive and focus on the prize. You got this.

Also, see if you can get some 1 on 1 with your instructors on the side, talk to other students as well.

For backing, it can be tricky at first, it's not a natural feeling backing up a truck.

Some tips for you are, when backing the truck, turn the wheel the opposite way you want the trailer to go. If you want the trailer to go right, turn the wheel left. An easy way to think of this is, turn the bottom of the wheel in the direction you want the trailer to move. So, if you are backing and want the tail of your trailer to move to your right, you push the bottom of your steering wheel to the right, which in actuality is turning the wheel left, but the bottom of the wheel makes a motion to the right.

Now, if you are backing the trailer and the trailer starts to drift off course, you turn the wheel toward the direction of the drift. So, if you are backing, and the trailer starts to drift off course to the right, turn the top of the wheel towards the drift and it will correct.

Eventually,it will become second nature and you'll just do it.

Also remember to go slow, there is no extra points for doing it faster, so take your time and if the trailer goes the wrong way, just correct and since you are going slow, you should be able to correct before it gets too far out of line.

As the story goes... When Edison invented the light bulb, he had over 2000 attempts before he got it right. When questioned how it felt to have failed over 2000 times, Edison reportedly reply, "I didn't fail over 2000 times...I successfully invented over 2000 different ways how NOT to make a light bulb!" Remember, it's our perception, our attitude...the only time we fail is when we give up.

Hello Ibn T.

Please know that I say these things to try and be helpful. I am not trying to be critical.

First, we've all made bad decisions. I'm dealing with the consequences a very bad decision now. You can't dwell on what you "should" have done. You need to focus on the situation at hand. I know it can be hard to do this at times, but it really helps.

Second, you've said a couple of times that

It's just the fact that in life it's always taken me awhile to get things compared to other people.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. Is it because you have problems when reading, or some other type of issue? If so, you could have a learning disability of some kind. I say this as I often mentor kids who have to deal with these types of situations.

Please note that having a learning disability does not mean that you are stupid. Many people deal with these types of issues and are very successful in life.

There are tests you could take to figure out if you do have a learning disability and what type of learning diability that it is. The local JC you mentioned would be a great place to do it. Again, if this true, there are things you can do to compensate for this once you know what the specific issue is.

If it isn't a learning disability, or you don't want to go that route, have a heart-to-heart talk with your instructors about whatever it is that you mean by "always taken me a while." There are many things they can do to help you - such as giving you more help learning your backing, help with reading, etc.

Good luck and please don't despair. Keep us posted. Colin K.

$8,400 for a 3 week "get your CDL" school. Especially in Missouri - which has perhaps the largest concentration of companies that do "in house" training.

I'm wondering how these guys even get away with that?

Rick