Starting School On July 8.

Thanks Traffic Jam. I will definitely power through any perceived barriers. Hey PG, I stubbed my toe several times (halted 4 times) In the beginning. I can't say it will get easier, but it will become more clear as you go. Time to hit it again...

Another reason we made the wording tricky is to force people to really focus. You'll get a lot better retention doing 30 minutes of intense study than you will from 3 hours of study where you're half paying attention while the TV is on and the kids are yelling. So the tricky wording really makes people focus, read carefully, and think things through.

There was really a lot of careful thought put into the way that program is built, from the tricky wording to the review and halt systems, the fact that you can do it in any order or repeat areas if you like, and the ability to look up the answer to review questions right there on the spot - all of that was planned out over several months.

In fact, and this is something I never really talk about because it's just kinda "behind the scenes" stuff - I actually built a simulator and ran hundreds of simulated students through the entire course to test the review and halt algorithms. I wanted to make sure than no matter how well or how poorly the student was doing, the course would adjust properly and give the proper distribution of questions. I didn't want people seeing the same questions over and over if they were getting them right, or not seeing them often enough if they were struggling with em. So I ran randomized simulations for a while and adjusted the system. I graphed out all of the scores and question distribution and get it all tuned in.

So the course is really deceptively simple looking. There are a lot of complexities going on behind the scenes that make it so effective. I'm more than a little excited about it!

So the course is really deceptively simple looking. There are a lot of complexities going on behind the scenes that make it so effective. I'm more than a little excited about it!

Amen to that! Well, zero hour is approaching. Day 1 begins in twelve hours. I hope I get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow will be a looooooong day.

Thank you all for the help to this point. I'm sure I will be bending ears as school rolls on. Hopefully I'm not too pooped to keep a little journal here.

I certainly hope you'll at least check in with updates from time to time. It's incredibly helpful for people to be able to follow along so they know what to expect when their time comes.

Best of luck!

Day 1 is behind me now! Here is how it went:

0330 Wake up after about 5 hrs of sleep. 0430 Leave home to drive to Murfreesboro, TN from my home in Big Rock, Tn. Arrive at about 0630, class begins at 0700.

Expecting physical and urinalysis...but...nope. Postponed until day 2. So, begin to knock out a small mountain of paperwork,(detail info, applications, etc.), pay registration fee, pay hotel fee ($100 for 3 weeks, not bad), and begin class around 0930.

Spend rest of day until 1730 (5:30PM, sorry) going over everything up to air brakes. I believe they are sections 1 thru 3.

Get homework: A practice test of 95 questions on what we covered ( No prob for me, I took the High Road Training Program)! Go to hotel. I am sooooo glad this tool was available. What a difference from the others who came in greener than green.

finally, finish filling out the applications (a one time deal like y'all have here would be great, but, no dice). Finished up about 45 minutes ago, doing this, talking to my kids then going to bed.

If this comes off as loopy, it's because I am right now. I need sleep.

Lots of paperwork in trucking - no doubt about it.

Isn't it awesome when start covering the training materials and realize you already know pretty much everything after taking the High Road Training Program? People are thrilled to death when the schools and company-sponsored programs begin the classroom stuff and they realize they can pretty much take a nap through the whole thing. In the meantime, everyone else in the class has that dreaded look on their face like, "How am I going to learn all that???"

No doubt Brett. It is a great feeling and eases the nerves a LOT. You guys who came up with this whole deal here are awesome.

So, day 2: As I mentioned yesterday, our physicals were moved to today. We basically spent the morning going over Section 3: Transporting Cargo Safely, Section 5: Air Brakes, and Section 6: Combination Vehicles. My grammar is probably jacked up, but you get the point.

After lunch we took computer based practice tests until the doc arrived. (I am no doubt gonna to ace the knowledge test). Played the "Who Can Wee Wee in the Cup" game and had our physicals. I have been found medically fit to drive for two years now. Glad that is behind me. By the way, I have discovered that we have a plague of lying scales around here...220 pounds my a**! Okay, it was probably right, whatever

That was pretty much it for today. No homework except another stack of applications. So, off I go to app land!

That was pretty much it for today. No homework except another stack of applications. So, off I go to app land!

Hey, we also have a great listing of truck driving jobs with a new feature where you can apply for several truck driving jobs with one application. It's super convenient. Just type in your zip code, choose the jobs you'd like to apply for, and fill out the app. Not all of the companies accept students out of school but your app will get sent to the ones that do. It will tell you right away which ones you qualify for.

But any way you want to do it, try to get all of the pre-hires you can. The more choices you have, the better.

I will check it out if I can keep this "high speed" internet here at the hotel going for more than 10 min GRRRR!

Not much for day 3. Prepared for the knowledge test which is tomorrow. Took some weird ASFAB (Military knows what I mean) like problem solving test and that was it.

I have a pre-hire letter from US Xpress, any info I can get on them would be great.

Thanks

Day 4: Took and aced knowledge, air brakes and combination test today. If you are looking to get into trucking, using the High Road Online CDL Training Program here is one of the best first steps you will make. Started with log books. That was about it.

Oh, I took my vehicle registration and voter registration card for proof of residency to the DM... oh, wait, they are not called that in Tennessee any more... To the Department of Homeland Security and Motor Vehicle Safety...Ugh. Anyway, they did not want to take my registration because it was not the long form (Each county in TN chooses whether they will use a short or long form, it has never been a requirement to have one over the other) even though it is the same exact document I used to get my carry permit, um, at the (DMV). Short story long, a call from the school solved the issue. All happies after that.