4 Weeks Into Shcool
Topic 505 | Page 1
Hello everyone. So I'm 4 weeks into private CDL school, and I have to say, its really challenging! Especially backing, and we're not even practicing on full length trailers. I do have good days though. But just when I think I'm getting the hang of it, the other day I can't back to save my a##! And I'm talking straight backing! My instructor came down hard on me, saying that I should have this by now (which I agree), and really rattled my confidence. I've driven on the streets a few times now, and that seems to get better each time, I just need to get used to turning with a trailer. But so far I haven't hit anything! :) He wants to make me a test appointmet at the DMV for mid-May, and I feel really unprepared and nervous about it, but it is still a few weeks away... Thanks for letting me vent, TT.
Don't sweat it...some days you are gonna be able to back the baby like its on rails..and on others you aren't going to be able to do it if your life depended on it..just take it day by day..and don't let it rattle you..EVERYONE has days like that..
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
Why are you not using a 53' trailer. That's crazy. I start my 4th week tommorrow and we been drivin and pretrippin a 53 footer since day 1.
Why are you not using a 53' trailer. That's crazy. I start my 4th week tommorrow and we been drivin and pretrippin a 53 footer since day 1.
At my school, they train you with smaller trailers, maybe 30', and after you get your cdl , you can practice with a 53' in the yard. This was the only school in my area that even has 53'. But I do understand that its a cdl school, and its main purpose is to get you your license.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
I don't get that, just hope it don't effect you to much goin from 30' to 53'. Its all about angles. I've gotta improve my offset backing this last week. Good luck!
I don't get that, just hope it don't effect you to much goin from 30' to 53'. Its all about angles. I've gotta improve my offset backing this last week. Good luck!
My school had us at baby trailers the first week then 53' trailers. As a rookie, you oversteer badly. Having a baby trailer will teach you to not oversteer because the shorter trailers are so sensitive when backing. If you oversteer you're going to basically jack knife that small trailer, eventually you'll understand not to steer hard. This was the lesson in my school.
More than anything else, just try to grasp the concept of how to back, how the trailer responds to you.
Most people do not understand what school is for. Its not to teach you to drive. Sure they teach you some of the basics but that's it. The reason and only reason schools exist is to get your CDL. Nothing else. That is what training is for once you get out of school. Training on and yes its legal to use a 30 trailer for the driving test is about one thing...getting you CDL. Nothing more nothing less.
Don't let anyone lie to you. In school you will only learn about 2% of what you will learn over the course of your career. I don't care if you were in school 3 weeks or 3 months. Both learned the same exact thing except you got to practice more in a longer school.
In school you learn two things...paper work and some about the laws....and two...you learn a few basic steps with handling a truck that will help you pass the road test but nothing else.
Training on and taking the test with a 30 foot pup trailer should be super easy.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Guyjax is right on the money. When I went to my little 4 day CDL school, I drove a 5 speed Ford, pulling a 20 foot flatbed. So all they wanted to do is see that I could aim it, do all the stuff required to pass the CDL DOT test. The owner of the school did the testing for my CDL, and yes, I took my final test in that 5 speed set up, even tho I had driven class 8 for years prior.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
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Hello everyone. So I'm 4 weeks into private CDL school, and I have to say, its really challenging! Especially backing, and we're not even practicing on full length trailers. I do have good days though. But just when I think I'm getting the hang of it, the other day I can't back to save my a##! And I'm talking straight backing! My instructor came down hard on me, saying that I should have this by now (which I agree), and really rattled my confidence. I've driven on the streets a few times now, and that seems to get better each time, I just need to get used to turning with a trailer. But so far I haven't hit anything! :) He wants to make me a test appointmet at the DMV for mid-May, and I feel really unprepared and nervous about it, but it is still a few weeks away... Thanks for letting me vent, TT.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.