Truck Driving School Advice

I may be putting a plugin on my blog here that will let all of you out there ask me direct questions about how to find a good truck driving school. I plug Sage only because I took a refresher course there myself after being off duty for a few years. The insurance company required me to pass a few tests. I found that students who were new and had attended the Sage truck driving school showed a higher skill level for the job right out of the gate.

I no longer train drivers, I got burned out after 8 plus years of doing that. I can still give general advice I feel to anyone who asks for it. I am solo now ans am enjoying the solace of having the whole truck to myself again. I spent so many years running team miles that my health was taking a hit, and I had survived those years with no accidents and none of my students having any either. I felt I was lucky. Time for a break and don’t press your luck I thought.

Many of  my old students still call, I had a call last month from a former student who checked on me. I think it’s a good feeling to know that I was able to help somebody and actually have them check on me even years later. I have met former students at truck stops around the country. It is nice to hear your comments. Most of them had attended a good truck driving school, but some had not. They needed real help in getting started and their skill levels were really poor. I had to wear two hats, driving instructor and driver trainer, there is a big difference.

I learned early on that I had to be able to shift the truck left handed from the passenger seat, that is a skill that came to me out of  an emergency, I have had to “grab a gear” more than once with the student failing to find one on a grade or just being tired and frustrated. I also learned how to teach shifting with the student using the throttle and I showing him which gear to select by engine sound. I would run the shifter while he ran the engine rpm’s to the correct level. This example helped him realize the engines role in gear selection along with road speed.

The bottom line is this, I use these examples of what I saw from end of the training over the road. I have seen many come to me with little or no skills taught to them by these truck driving schools. It is extremely important to select a school that will give you good baseline skills to get your feet planted firmly on the ground. A good trainer will be able to identify your shortcomings and work on those, but, basic shifting should be already there. We as trainers are usually supposed to polish what skills you have, not teach those from the start.

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There are many things the truck driving schools will not teach. They have set ways and say that is how it is on the job. I will say right here that many things they say is gospel, is not accurate. I have many trainees say “that’s what they told me”. I say let a trainer show the real world way of doing things. Have an open mind when you get in the truck. Be ready to be flexible and learn, don’t just think because a trainer has a different way of doing something that it is wrong. He or she will have learned from experience.

I has set formulas for backing. I also know that any “formula” had better have a plan b and c and so on. There is always room for being flexible, but follow the basic formula and adjust it for the individual setting. In a good truck driving school, they will work you on real world backing situations. Having you back in both sight side and blind side. After 10 years or so, you will have a good idea what you can do when backing. But I must stress this one last point. I will always look at the space I am backing into, I get out of the truck and look for myself. Do not take it for granted. It is your responsibility and nobody else.

Good luck out there and stay safe.

Jim

Trucking is an important part of the US economy, and commercial truck drivers form a large portion of the American workforce. Commercial truck driving is a lucrative and secure career these days, making it a much sought after option. Before you can become a certified commercial truck driver, you must pass a few tests.
There are many truck driving schools you can enroll in to get your commercial drivers license (CDL). As per the law, a commercial driver’s license (CDL) is necessary to drive a truck. Without this, it is impossible to get a job. Therefore, to start your career as a commercial truck driver you must prepare yourself practically and theoretically in this field. There are a number of institutes that provides you with CDL training. The training lasts for 3 to 4 weeks and assures you to get your license and get a job as a commercial truck driver. If you prefer to save the time you would spend during a CDL training course, you can opt for studying from the books by yourself, and then go to a doctor to get your physical done and apply for your license.
To be a commercial truck driver, you need to be in shape as well. Remember you need to load and unload material and, you should be able to get in and out of small spaces. After all these formalities are done and you still find yourself without a job, the best option is to look at a few trucking companies around your vicinity. With a little bit of research, you are bound to find a company that has the position of a commercial trucking driver open.
Though being a truck driver seems exciting and it has numerous prospects, handling the pressure of bad weather, roads and odd hours is still a reality. To be a successful commercial truck driver once you get a job, make sure you hang in there for at least a year and learn the ropes. With the demand for truck drivers increasing and supply less, you definitely increase your chances of quick employment, and increase your demand in the market.
Another method of getting employment is to become a self-employed long-distance/long haul trucker. The down side of this option is they spend most of their days away from home but the great part is they get to choose the time and distance they travel and also get great perks. Many women have also joined this industry and so have some retirees and elderly couples.
If these options do not work the most convenient place to look at is on the Internet. There are specific sites that cater to employers and prospective trucker employees. You also have human resource people specifically looking for experienced commercial truck drivers. Some of these HR people are always scouting and some do so on an ad-hoc basis.
Once you spread the word and circulate your CV to the right places and people, be rest assured that you get a decent position with a great future.
With the business in the USA depending on commercial truck drivers to transport important material from one point to the other and 70% of the economy of the country dependant on the same, job prospects are definitely bright. You just need to do some research on the companies you would like to get into and contact them.

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With an increasing demand in trucking careers in the US, there has been a rise in truck driving schools. Truck driving schools give opportunities to aspirants to complete CDL training and obtain a CDL license. These days you if you go through the website you will find innumerable schools across the country. Although, most driving schools promise many things, it is difficult to find a good one, which is professionally accredited. You have to be a bit careful before you select and enroll in any schools.
There are few things, which you need to consider before you choose your truck driving school.
Firstly, while choosing the truck driving school, you have to consider whether the school is certified, and able to meet requirements and standards needed in the trucking industry. It is also advisable to check whether the particular trucking school is recognized.
Secondly, just check with the equipment and the vehicles available with the truck driving school. The vehicles used for driving on the roads should be similar to those, which the institute uses. Otherwise, you may not acquire the proper skills that required while driving a new model on the road. It is always advisable not to consider a driving school with an older model vehicle, as it will useless to get a job.
Thirdly, you have to take into consideration the student teacher ratio. Suppose a school has 20 students then the one school, which has three students will definitely be in a major crisis. The ideal is one teacher to four students with one truck. This would give each student equal chance to take the practical outlook of the truck. However, it is better not to devote too much time in observing. If any of the schools lay stress on the observing rather that driving, then it could not prove to be the good ones. Any good trucking schools will give a chance to observe the truck once or twice and will start with the basic knowledge.
Since we have discussed a few criteria, which should be check before enrolling into a truck driving school. Now lets discuss what are the different kinds of trucking schools available.
Usually there are three different kinds of schools you can choose from; private, motor carrier and public carrier. Usually private schools are certified, although fee could very high. A motor carrier school will have a training duration of 2 to 3 weeks and needs practice with trainers. Although the choice is yours, which school you should opt fro depending upon the money, location, and time.
It is always better to check with the PTDI (professional truck driving institute) before you go for enrolling. Do not fall prey to the institutes making false promises. Once you pass out from the school and start driving on the road you will understand that experience on road is completely different from what you acquired. The knowledge, which you acquired in the school, will definitely help you to understand various perspectives of the job.
So, start looking for the right CDL training school today and get yourself enrolled today.

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The truck driving profession has seen a sudden rise in the US. An increasing demand for truck drivers has given rise to several truck driving schools. These schools train you can help you get best jobs in trucking industry. Today there thousands of truck driving schools spread across the country. These schools claim to help you obtain a Commercial Drivers License (CDL). However, you cannot blindly rely on them and need to be careful before you enroll in any truck driving school.
There are certain important things that you need to consider when choosing the best truck driving school. One important thing you need to consider is whether the truck driving school is certified, and it meets standards required by the trucking industry. You need to check whether the Professional Truck Driving Institute (PTDI) recognized and certified the trucking school.
You also need to check which models of vehicles the driving institute offers. The vehicles used for training should be similar to those that you would drive on the road. You may lose out on driving skills if the driving school uses older model trucks for training. Do not compromise for a worn out model as it does you no good.
Another point to consider is the student teacher ratio. If there are 20 students and one teacher with only three vehicles you will surely have a tough time. Normally there should be maximum one teacher to four students in one truck, so that each student gets equal chance to drive the truck, while the rest observe. However, you should not get too much time observing. If any of the schools tells you to observe for few days, trust me its not the right place to be. A good tuck driving school will ask you to observe once and then start with the basics. They will give you ample time to practice and master the skills of driving a huge truck.
There are three different types of truck driving schools to choose from, Private, motor carrier and public. Private schools are generally certified, however they may cost you a huge fee. A school by a motor carrier will have you go through the course for 2 to 3 weeks and then still practice with the trainer for few more weeks. This is absolutely a waste of time and you may want to run from there. To acquire a CDL you only need training for 2 to 3 weeks at a stretch and you are liable to get a CDL.
In some cases the driving school may provide false certification, thus you can cross check it with PTDI before enrolling. Many schools may make you enroll with false promises to help you clear the CDL tests. Do not fall prey to them and pay a huge price. After all, if you are not able to drive on the road your license will be banned. Have a strong determination to learn and trust in your skills and you are sure to clear the CDL tests on your merit.

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