My school experience at TDDS in Lake Milton, OH - so far.

I enrolled in the 5 week program at TDDS and started on 11/4/13. I finished my third week yesterday. They also have a 10 week program that includes an additional 6 week externship program with your hiring company.
The classroom portion of training in the 5 week program is 2 weeks and then 3 weeks of site and road. I had no problem passing the CDL permit testing on the Saturday between weeks 1 and 2. This was mostly due to taking the practice tests here until I missed almost no questions. I missed 2 questions on gen. knowledge and then started using the skip button and didn't miss any more questions on the next 5 tests.
We spent the first week covering the info necessary for the CDL tests and the second week on logs, etc.
Monday of this week was the first time I "drove" a truck. I use that term loosely. We have been using low and reverse to learn backing in the schools yard. After two days of this we had our first road day on Wednesday. Our instructor drove to a Transport America terminal off site and told us to watch as he shifted. I could not see his feet from the seat I was in. A kid who failed his driving exam three weeks before was with us for a refresher before a second attempt at the test this coming Monday. He drove first. Once again I couldn't see his feet from my seat. After he drove around a preset loop through the area it was my classmates turn.
We had memorized four gear patterns, two 9, a 10 and a 13 speed for a test in the second week. We were driving a 9 speed this day. We had not discussed shifting in any specific way in class. We did get a large 2nd Edition JJ Keller's Tractor-Trailer Driver Training Manual, we cracked it open one day in the second week to cover accident procedures, it has a chapter on shifting that I didn't read until today. With no formal discussion, training, videos or anything else about shifting, he moved to the drivers seat and was instructed to drive out of the terminal and onto the road.
My classmate did amazingly well for someone who had never done this before. After two right turn loops around the public roads course he pulled it back into the terminal. Then it was my turn.
I'm 53 and have done many things in life, lived all over the world, and seen a lot of different things. I've never really driven (shifted) a big truck. Now I'm going to learn on a public road in traffic. I was as scared as I have ever been of anything. What little I thought I new about shifting left my mind as soon as I had to do it. All I can say is, I didn't kill anyone. Yet.
Maybe I'll feel differently if I survive this without killing anyone and actually get my CDL, but at this moment I feel it is not only inadvisable, but morally wrong, to have put me behind the wheel of that truck in those circumstances.
I did better yesterday on my second road day. I was able to find gears and upshift successfully most of the time. Downshifting is kickin my fat old white ###. I am smart enough and coordinated enough that given enough time I can master this. I have five days to get good enough to pass a driving exam.

 

I appreciate the positive and encouraging comments. As I've said I'm sure given enough hours behind the wheel I can get the shifting down. The problem is developing the "muscle memory" in the short amount of hours allotted. I sure wish this school had a simulator or would give students in the 5 week program the opportunity to practice shifting away from traffic. But it is what it is and I'll try to just get through it.
SimoneJester the schools name is TDDS Technical Institute. I don't know what the TDDS stands for. Besides CDL training they have a diesel mechanic's program. Yes I've driven a stick shift many times but that really doesn't help in learning to double clutch. I took it for granted that the school would supply some sort of instruction before expecting me to drive/shift a truck but they did not. It would be worth your time to look at some videos on Youtube. I found this guys videos helpful http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ufe8JkgUDOA .
I would not recommend TDDS to anyone. The equipment is old and poorly maintained. I understand that students are very hard on the trucks and I can deal with the POS trucks for yard maneuvers, but the trucks used for the road are not much better. You might expect that with the mechanic school here they would be in better shape. The yard here is a gravel lot that is very uneven and is in need of a lot more gravel.
I'm staying in student housing and it also leaves a lot to be desired. The wifi is only in the community area and is iffy. The students are treated like children. You can't use any cooking device, to include a coffee maker, in your room. There are two microwaves and two coffee makers in the break room. You have to go out back to do any cooking other than the micros. There is a small gas grill and one power outlet under a tarp/canopy. It was 17 degrees out when I George Foremaned my dinner last night. You aren't allowed to have anyone in your shared room at anytime and no visitors on the grounds after 9:30.
It's hard to believe that with the number of students moving through here at $6000 a pop that they can't afford some newer trucks and a simulator.
Tomorrow will be my third "road" day. I'm told I'll be driving a 10 speed. I was just getting used to the 9 and now this.
Well enough whining and complaining for today. I'll try to post again tomorrow if I survive.

 

I drove a 10 speed today. I think its the best truck in TDDS's fleet. I'm calming down and able to think things through a little better. I was actually able to downshift successfully most of the time. My classmate and I graduated from the driving loop today. We got out on I-76 briefly to experience entering and exiting the highway. We are told that our next "road" day, which will be this Saturday following the Thanksgiving break, we will be driving somewhere. It's a mystery to us where.
I hope I continue to improve each day. My classmate is doing better than me. I'm not used to being slower at learning things than others. It's humbling and exhausting. I'm told I'm progressing at an appropriate pace. I hope so since there are only four more road days on the schedule.

 

I completed school on 12/6. I actually failed pre-trip the first try! I had no worries about it ahead of time as I was successfully completing it in 25 mins in practice. On the actual test, in the afternoon after my last school day, I brain farted and forgot to turn the key on to supply power for the low pressure buzzer/light. By the time I figured out what I was doing wrong and got the air pressure back up I had burned so much time I couldn't get caught up. Felt pretty stupid. Lesson learned and passed on to my classmates since they didn't test until the next day as they were local guys.
So after waiting the required week I went back and passed pre-trip and failed basic skills. I had all my points going into the last maneuver, which for me was alley dock. Blew the 12 points there and failed.
Because I met certain school requirements the school scheduled me for an extra site day this past Thursday the 19th to practice backing maneuvers. I had a great instructor that day. Thanks Rick. He gave me some pointers and I made the alley dock every time I tried, maybe 12 or 13 times. I practiced the other maneuvers several times each and was successful each time. I was as ready as I was going to get.
So yesterday morning at 8AM I passed the basic skills test. Only points were for an encroachment on the right side offset. No problem with the alley dock.
So after two weeks of not driving on the road I had to do my road test. I was nervous, as I really didn't get comfortable driving until the second to last road day in school and wasn't sure my feet and hands could remember what to do. also I was driving a truck I hadn't had on the road before. It was similar to the 10 speed I had learned on but with a few different quirks. I did ok but was not as smooth as I had been on the road test for school graduation. I don't know what I scored but I passed and that's what mattered to me at this point.
My grades for school were 96 in class, 69 on site, a sign of things to come, and 90 on road. = 85GPA
We were given a survey to complete about the school on our last day. I criticized the school for the lack of training on the shifting prior to driving on the road, quitting 20 to 30 minutes early on site days, and the student housing over cleanliness, childish rules, crappy internet and the piss poor manager. I also said I could not recommend the 5 week course for others.
It was a great relief to see TDDS in my rearview mirror.

Now that I have my CDL it is easier to be more forgiving of the schools shortcomings of course. I have nothing to compare TDDS to as far as personal knowledge of other schools so take my criticisms for what they're worth.
Now to find a job.