On October 9th, I started attending the Stevens Transport sponsored program at Lone Star College of Transportation and Global Logistics in Spring, TX. The first week, was spend studying and passing the computerized test to acquire the CDL permit, like a learners permit for commercial vehicles. Starting on Monday of the second week, we started learning the Pre-Trip and started learning backing maneuvers. The pretrip, consists mostly of learning all the different parts of a semi tractor and trailer, and memorizing how to check each part. A FMCSA mandated pre/post trip of a semi tractor has 106 items required to be checked every day, and it is important to know how to identify each of these items and what too look for. The backing maneuvers, although more difficult than they appear, were fairly easy as long as the steps given by the instructors were followed. The hard part for most all of us was once we started feeling a little confident about each maneuvers, and stopped being so diligent in following the steps meticulously. By the third week, we had mostly mastered the pretrip and were improving in our backing, so we started practicing driving on the roadway. The roadway showed us just how different driving a large truck and trailer are from driving a car. Stopping and proper following distance, were a struggle from the start. It is deceptively difficult to stop a vehicle of that size and weight, even while empty. By the end of that third week, we were all feeling much more confident, and by the time I tested on Thursday, it was no surprise that I passed first try. The two other classmates of mine that tested on Thursday also passed first try. Overall, I was very happy with my time at LSC, and am glad I got my start there. I would definitely recommend anyone in the Houston area interested in getting their CDL to check out the program. When sponsored by Stevens Transport, the program cost nothing upfront, and comes with a guaranteed job upon graduation. If interested, in the program, Charles Wages is the person to contact at (713) 213-2741.
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Trucking with Papa Smurf
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