Bridgerland Applied Technology College (BATC) - Logan, UT

I am currently attending subject school, beginning week 4 tomorrow. The instructors are great fellas, they don't have that "mightier than thou" attitude. They prefer you to ask questions no matter how silly it may seem to you. With the information they provided I passed my CDL Permit tests first time around. Currently working on trip planning and simulator.

Here is course syllabus


Since the course is 10 weeks in duration, I've decided to do a weekly summary unless something extraordinary happens.

Week #1 Even before introductions the head yard-instructor had us go out to the trucks with student that is in the class ahead and perform pre-trip inspection. Though I've read and watched a lot of things on pre-trip, actually seeing, identifying and touching the equipment is what makes it "stick" for me.

After we completed the pre-trip, introductions were done along with given a copy of the course syllabus. There are 5 students, three of us are "ahead" while two have fallen behind. Though the DOT physical and permit fees are part of the tuition, recommend you have these done prior to start of course. The student has 3 weeks to earn his/her UT permit, if you have an out of state permit the department head will verify they are authorized to perform road test, if not you will have to perform the road test in your home state.

During the six-hour day, you spend most of your time studying the class text and/or UT CDL handbook. The school has a simulator, starting in week 2 we will be using the sim to learn proper shifting, braking and clutching techniques.

Here is link to simulator it is really helping me to get clutching, shifting and even backing perspective. The course is more than half the price of others and they are WIA, VA and other programs approved.

Check them out BATC

Course Syllabus
Week 1 - Intro, DOT Physical & Drug Screen, State of UT CDL Learners Permit , Control Systems, Vehicle Systems,Transportation Technology

Week2 - Vehicle Inspections, Basic Control, Shifting, Backing, Coupling & Uncoupling, Sliding Fifth Wheel & Tandems , Preventive Maintenance, Recognizing and Reporting Malfunctions, Communication

Week 3 - Visual Search, Space Management, Speed Management, Night Driving, Extreme Driving Conditions, Skid Control, Railroad Crossings, Emergency Maneuvers, Accident Procedures, Handling Cargo, Special Rigs, Cargo Documentation

Week 4 - Hours of Service, Trip Planning, Transportation Security, Driving International Routes

Week 5 - HAZMAT , Public Relations & Job Search, Drive Health/Safety/Security, Whistle Blower Protection, CSA

Weeks 5-10 - skills, driving, testing, etc

 

Week #4

It is hard to believe it only been a month since started CDL training, seems just last week.

I continue to work on the simulator exercises.

A fellow student and I are about a week ahead of some others, so the instructors put him and I in the "yard" learning and practicing straight back, and both off-set parking skills. The biggest *hint* I can give on performing these is to NOT exaggerate turning the steering wheels. Small turns and counter-steers is the only way from screwing it all up.

Friday, instructor took co-student and I out to Logan airport on the old runway to learn proper shifting techniques. I do well with up shifting (and double-clutching), the down-shifting has me somewhat. Increasing the RPMs so it falls into the correct gear has my brain a little confused. After lunch, worked on it again and became better. Any suggestions on smoothly down-shifting would be great.

^scott

 

Week #5

So after my down-shifting difficulties last week, I hit up on the simulator and practiced downshifting on it. Instructor took myself and a "refresher" out and I did much better on my down-shifting. The good thing about the simulator is that it is more difficult to perform than on real truck. Drove just over 50 miles today, with less than a dozen down-shifting difficulties I vastly improved from last week.

 

Sorry I hadn't kept this thread up to date but was busy and focused on doing well, by the time I got home from school I would have to take a power nap then go outside and finish some projects I was working on.

Welp - I tested-out with DMV on the 23rd , after driving over 1,100+ miles (logbook verified) for the last 6 weeks. All five of us on our class passed. I highly recommend BATC's CDL program for anyone that would like to earn their CDL from some solid and safe instructors. The great thing about learning to drive in this geographic area is that you learn to drive in canyons, mountains, residential, highway, interstate , truck stops.....I feel the instructors really prepared me for this great new chapter.

Curious - how many miles have you driving just in school training?

I successfully passed my Utah Skills and Road Test. I didn't miss anything on my pre-trip, though tester had me start on passenger side (whilst I had a routine starting on drivers side) so I had initially missed some items but when I got around the other side I realized and went back and got 'm.

The road test consisted of several right (and left turns), driving thru a business "park", across railroad tracks a couple times, residential neighborhood, the main street with several lights, differing speed zones and construction. I talked to the tester during the entire trip informing him of what I was looking at (and for). At the end of the test he said that as I travel thru any intersection I need to continually not just scan ahead but also watch trailer thru intersection. I did alot but I failed to verbalize.

^scott

 

I am starting with Watkins Shepard on Monday.