Calling Big Scott. Ring..Ring...

Big Scott:

Reading your diary for the CFI cdl training school, did you start driving on the road in your first week, if I comprehended correctly, you were driving on the range and driving on roads in your first week (days 3 and 4) of training? Is this typical for Truck Dynasty and Crowder? Also, do you have a way I can contact you?

Don

Don, if you have your permit it's perfectly legal for you to drive as long as you have a CDL driver in the passenger seat. It's very typical at any school for you to start driving immediately after you have your permit. That's how we learn this stuff. We learn by doing it.

Thanks Old School. I am aware that most schools get you in the truck during the first week, but from my understanding, most are only doing pre-trip and backing skills the first week (or two).

Don, if you have your permit it's perfectly legal for you to drive as long as you have a CDL driver in the passenger seat. It's very typical at any school for you to start driving immediately after you have your permit. That's how we learn this stuff. We learn by doing it.

Don, you are correct that Big Scott went through more like a training school type of situation with his permit. He did not go OTR with a trainer sitting next to him in the seat until AFTER he tested and got the CDL. He did 7800 miles this way driving solo with the trainer before upgading to solo. There is no teaming there.

Its different at other companies. For example, at Prime after orientation i drove 10,000 miles with my permit Then tested, got my CDL and did 30,000 miles in a teaming situation. However, CFI is dry van. With reefer , tanker and flatbed you need to learn securment, pumping, and reefer ops.

hope this helps.

I should clarify...by OTR i meant delivering loads. I actually think it gave me an advantage to drive as much as i did before my test. Got experience in bad weather, fog downgrades, cities and various times of day, and various trailer weights.

Im pretty sure it was Turtle whose test day was canceled due to extremely hard rains and it wasnt much better when he did test. Poor guy ;( All.i thought when i heard that was "how do these people in local schools do it with minimal driving before the test". i needed the extra training. others dont.

Rainy D:

I noticed Prime's unique method of cdl training. The trainers/mentors must have nerves of steel!

Don, you are correct that Big Scott went through more like a training school type of situation with his permit. He did not go OTR with a trainer sitting next to him in the seat until AFTER he tested and got the CDL. He did 7800 miles this way driving solo with the trainer before upgading to solo. There is no teaming there.

Its different at other companies. For example, at Prime after orientation i drove 10,000 miles with my permit Then tested, got my CDL and did 30,000 miles in a teaming situation. However, CFI is dry van. With reefer , tanker and flatbed you need to learn securment, pumping, and reefer ops.

hope this helps.

Don, typically at a private school like Big Scott attended, they will put you on some back roads first. They may have you maneuvering around at a large industrial park or something like that. Then the following day they will get you on some interstates. Things move quickly.

Yes, at Truck Dynasty it rained on day 3 or 4 so they took us on the road. Chuck is at Crowder now, I think they took them on the road in the first week. My email is in my profile. Hope that helps.

Rainy D:

I noticed Prime's unique method of cdl training. The trainers/mentors must have nerves of steel!

Don, you are correct that Big Scott went through more like a training school type of situation with his permit. He did not go OTR with a trainer sitting next to him in the seat until AFTER he tested and got the CDL. He did 7800 miles this way driving solo with the trainer before upgading to solo. There is no teaming there.

Its different at other companies. For example, at Prime after orientation i drove 10,000 miles with my permit Then tested, got my CDL and did 30,000 miles in a teaming situation. However, CFI is dry van. With reefer , tanker and flatbed you need to learn securment, pumping, and reefer ops.

hope this helps.

It wasn't easy thats for sure.

Don, I am at Crowder for CFI and we have not gone out on the road yet. Should be doing that this coming week, I have only been here for one week so far. Our class is ahead of schedule so we will probably get some things in that other classes have not simply because we are doing well with what we are doing. It is not always like that, it just depends on the instructor and how well the students do in that class. I really like the training I am receiving and the instructors do a good job of making sure we are getting what they are teaching us. It is very hands on and that is something that is necessary in trucking. I have 13 actual class days to go until we Graduate, Good Friday is an off day and the rest will be class and driving range/road time with testing done the last week I believe. I am excited about finishing and moving on to get my trucking career started. Good luck with whatever it is that you decide to do.