C1 DRIVERS SOLUTIONS

Does anyone have any experience with C1. I know that they are partnered with PAM and USA truck. I am tryimg to get fin aid so i will have a chance to choose the company of my choice.

Mike, I went through C1's program in Little Rock, AR. last year. Overall, the school itself was a positive experience. You will need to go into the industry with an "adapt and overcome" attitude. Not only during the learning process, but from now on if you want to become a successful professional driver. Also, try to find a company that has trucks that don't need to sit and idle during your 10 hour break. I drove for PAM, and this single issue cost me a lot of money my first year because my tractor stayed in the shop with emission issues on a regular basis . These trucks are not designed to sit and idle for extended periods, they are designed to pull heavy loads. To keep your tractor out of the shop, you will need to work for a company that has alternative heating and cooling sources. I hear that PAM's new tractors have these, but you will be hard pressed to get them to guarantee you one of these new trucks. They like to let the teams drive the newer model trucks, because they run them so hard. Good luck and make safety your number 1 priority!

Mike I'm currently attending C1 in Ft. Worth, TX and can give you a little bit of info about how the school operates. The first week will be spent going over the material needed to pass your permit tests. I arrived with all of my written tests passed so I just reviewed the information and started memorizing things like pre-trip items and the Airbrake test. It was a long week of not doing much and I wished I could've gotten to the practice range early but they had too many students there already. The next week we started with straight line backing then moved to 45° backing. That's what I did mon-thur over and over again. I finally got assigned a road trainer and drove for the first time on Friday. Next week I'll get more road practice as well as parallel parking and going over the DPS testing route on Monday and Tuesday then take my road test wed. I'm told we have to take another 45° backing test at the practice range to graduate which is very easy. That is the 3 week schedule for the drivers solutions students (Pam & USA). If you are a C1 student (not committed to any company) then you will have another week of instruction. It is a lot of waiting and repetition until you get on the road then it's very quick paced and lots of new info. If you have any specific questions that I didn't answer, just let me know.