Report From Quality Drivers/Celadon School In Laredo, TX

Overweight is not a disqualification at Celadon as long they see an improvement later on. I am 10 pounds over the overweight limit. Quality Drivers is not Celadon. They are a subsidery of Celadon At Celadon Orientation, I will have another physical.

UPDATE Monday 9/15/14:

We went to the DMV to take our written tests.

It was packed full. At least, we finished all paperwork.

Update 9/16/14: I passed all three tests. General Knowledge: 88% Pre-Trip: 90% Air Brakes: 96%

Let's give you a little review about that school. The first week was good. We did plenty practice rest. However, I am happy now that I am some with that part. We were 9 students in class. Out of them 5 passed the tests. Three others needed two attempts. Right now, only 1 student haven,t passed, yet. The school is only three months old. Celadon will build another large terminal in Laredo. The premises where the terminal is right now, will be used by Quality Drivers only. Texans should hurry up and attend the school now.

Update 9/17/14:

Yesterday, I started with straight line backing. It was good at my first try. The instructor said that my taking off was very smooth.

We learned how to back up, but also to use the clutch to take off, to stop, and some shifting.

The instructor was great. He showed everything the first time. We were only five students. We had plenty of practice.

Later, I decided to let others practice more, because they were struggling more.

There are students who look like men, but they complain and nag like little girls.

I like all the instructors, but the students don't have the right attitude.

Usually, there are only few students in a class, but in my class I am surrounded by them.

Update 9/18/14:

I continued with straight line backing. Today, the classroom instructor did the training in the range. I think he belongs in the classroom. He wasn't' that good.

9/19/14 Update: Today, I did some more straight line backing. In the afternoon, I did my first parallel backing. I tried to do it right the first time. However, I still have problems with the timing. I also have the habbit to oversteer. I only had one attempt.

9/20/14:

Today is Saturday. We don't have classes on weekend.

Let me give you a little review of the instructors I had to deal with so far.

There are four instructors:

Jorge, Mathiew, Marco, and Claudia.

Jorge is the classroom instructor. He does a good job. Last Thursday, he did some backing training with us in the range. He did not teach according to the curriculum, but added exercises that was not part of the program.

Because of that, a student who was in the truck his first time jackknifed and hit with the truck against the trailer.

The instructor was supposed to teach him how to stop and take off first.

The student was not blamed and the staff told him that he should not worry. The chief instructor Marco told that these things had happened to himself during his career.

Students who do mistakes are forgiven, but it is not tolerated if students make fun of a student who make mistakes.

Mathiew/Mat is very patient and thorough in his teaching. You can tell that he enjoys teaching.

Marco is the most laid back of the instructors. According to him mistakes is part of the process. He insists that students listen to instructions.

Marco showed us a live walk around vehicle inspection, before we took the written tests. He was clear and thorough. He told each of us to couple the glad hands. He also told each student to enter the cab and do a safe start.

Claudia is the best so far. Although I already did some straight line backing, she was still able to teach me something new.

She only allows one student inside the cab in the beginning. She gave each individual 15 to 30 minutes time to practice with her.