Adventures at SAGE

[Colts Fan]

9/4/07

Wow, what a hectic day. I arrived at SAGE early this morning to get my paperwork for the DOT physical and drug screen.

I get to the occupational health place at 7:45am and am the first one there. No wait, which is nice. The physical is pretty standard. First thing you do is pee in a cup. They just asked my height and weight, no measurements. Then to a vision test which I pass. After that I am told to strip down to my underwear and put on a gown. The nurse pokes around my belly, check my hearing, etc. Then she checks my blood pressure. It was 130/98! Another nurse comes in to check and it is 132/100! She told me I passed everything else but I can't get my card. They need evidence from my doctor that the condition has resolved or I have done something to correct the problem (medication). They give me a referral to the family doc and send me out.

Needless to say I am steamed!! :twisted:

I go back to SAGE and talk to Diana and told her that I didn't pass my physical b/c of HBP but I will get it worked out.

I zoom home and schedule an appointment with the family doc at 11:15am. I get there and get my blood pressure checked. It miraculously reduced to 124/78!! Whoo hoo!!

The doc printed a letter to the occupational health place that all is well. I take the letter to them and I am approved for 2 years.

By the time I get back to SAGE I have missed most of the first day. They gladly accept me (and my $4200 check) into the program. I walk into the class and am introduced to my 3 classmates and the instructor. The instructor is a retired lady with 25 yrs experience. Her husband sat in on the class as well. They ran as a team. For the next hour we go through the CDL testing booklet and she is basically telling us what will be on the test. After that we watched a video. While we watched the video, the instructor went through by CDL booklet and marked the things thatI missed. We will have a quiz tomorrow.

Anyway, off I go to study. I will periodically update this thread as I go. I hope you enjoy or at least get something out of it!

[rjallen]

Keep em coming and good luck


I start Sage Missoula Mt next Monday. Interesting to see how similar our experiences are


Rick

[Colts Fan]

Keep em coming and good luck


I start Sage Missoula Mt next Monday. Interesting to see how similar our experiences are


Rick

Thanks rj. Good luck at SAGE. If it is anything like it is here in Indy you will like it.

[Colts Fan]

9/5/07

Testing testing testing... seems to be the theme here in the first few days.

First thing we did this morning was a test on general knowlege. Thes test was fifty questions. I got 47 out of 50 right. Most answers are pretty obvious, just gotta use some common sense.

After the test we stated slamming our way through the CDL manual and watched videos after every section. Today we took tests on airbrakes, combination vehicles, and doubles/triples. Glad to say that I aced every one.

Our instructor said that we will be getting our permits on Friday (2 people in the class already have theirs). On Monday the 10th we will go to the range to check out a tractor and practice coupling to the trailer! I am pumped!

[rjallen]

Wife and I have done the DOT and Pee in the cup thing. Paid a deposit to Sage to ensure our place in class on the 10th.

Had to call them today as we never rec'd an admission acceptance letter. Got one by email- their organization skills could be better. We live about 130 miles from school and will have to find a place to stay in a college town full of fall semester students. Working on renting a 26 ft. travel trailer. Guess we will get some early practice towing

Because we have a home, my one problem with Sage so far is I am unable to get a schedule except for the first 5 days or so. I "think" we might go seven or more days in a row. It would be nice if we knew so we could make accommodation arrangements.

Want to get this thing going.

[Colts Fan]

Wife and I have done the DOT and Pee in the cup thing. Paid a deposit to Sage to ensure our place in class on the 10th.

Had to call them today as we never rec'd an admission acceptance letter. Got one by email- their organization skills could be better. We live about 130 miles from school and will have to find a place to stay in a college town full of fall semester students. Working on renting a 26 ft. travel trailer. Guess we will get some early practice towing

Because we have a home, my one problem with Sage so far is I am unable to get a schedule except for the first 5 days or so. I "think" we might go seven or more days in a row. It would be nice if we knew so we could make accommodation arrangements.

Want to get this thing going.

I don't think that there is really a set schedule. Since my class is small and everyone is catching on pretty quickly we are ahead of schedule. You will learn more when you start.

Good luck!!

[Colts Fan]

9/6/07

More of the same today. We finished up tankers and hazmat in the CDL manual and watched the corresponding videos. Lew Grills is the guy in the videos. The video had to me made in the 80's. Pretty funny.

Tomorrow we are filling out 'pre-hire' applications in the morning (wast of time) and then at 9:30 we will be released to get our CDL learning permits. We will take general knowlege, airbrakes, doubles/triples, tankers, and hazmat exams. After that all that is needed to obtain the CDL is the skills test.

Anyway, off to study before the Colts game! GO COLTS!!!

[Colts Fan]

9/7/07

Today we filled out pre-hire applications which took quite a while to do. Of all of the apps I filled out (6 total) I am only really interested in one of them.

I was done by 9:10am and was released to take my CDL permit test. I ran over to the Social Security office to apply for a card since I can't find the one I got 2 years ago. :evil:

I was in and out of there in 5 minutes. The piece of paper they give you verifies your number and is as good as the card itself. So off I went to take my tests.

I told the ladies at the license branch that I was going to take the tests for all of the endorsements. They looked at me like I was crazy and told me good luck.

Well, I took general knowlege, combinations, air brakes, doubles/triples, tanker, and hazmat tests. I passed them all on the first try!

After they gave me the permit I had to go to another branch to do finger prints and background check for the hazmat endorsement. Got that done rather quickly so now all I have to do is learn how to drive a rather large vehicle!

I am happy that SAGE prepared me so well for the testing. Monday we go to the range to do brake test, slide trailer tandems and couple/uncouple.

[rjallen]

9/7/07


I told the ladies at the license branch that I was going to take the tests for all of the endorsements. They looked at me like I was crazy and told me good luck.

Well, I took general knowlege, combinations, air brakes, doubles/triples, tanker, and hazmat tests. I passed them all on the first try!

After they gave me the permit I had to go to another branch to do finger prints and background check for the hazmat endorsement. Got that done rather quickly so now all I have to do is learn how to drive a rather large vehicle!

I am happy that SAGE prepared me so well for the testing. Monday we go to the range to do brake test, slide trailer tandems and couple/uncouple.

Congrats !!!!

Seems like not all Sage Schools stick to the same schedule. We start Monday and take the test Wednesday!

Your lucky....In Montana, there are only two places in the entire state that will process your fingerprints for Hazmat.

Colts Fan, would you PM. I don't have enough posts.

Rick

[Colts Fan]

PM'd you.

[Twilight Flyer]

Moved this to newbie land, per OP request.

[devildice]

Hey Colts Fan,

I just came across your thread and wanted to say good luck. I too attended Sage but in San Antonio, Texas and although I can not compare it to any other school, I can say that I was EXTREMELY pleased with them. If you are familar with my thread (Highseas to Highways in the "what about this company" section), you can read/compare my time at Sage to yours if you want. Anyways, again I wish you the best of luck and look forward to reading how things go for you.

[Colts Fan]

Hey Colts Fan,

I just came across your thread and wanted to say good luck. I too attended Sage but in San Antonio, Texas and although I can not compare it to any other school, I can say that I was EXTREMELY pleased with them. If you are familar with my thread (Highseas to Highways in the "what about this company" section), you can read/compare my time at Sage to yours if you want. Anyways, again I wish you the best of luck and look forward to reading how things go for you.

Hey DD,

I have read your entire thread and always read it as you add posts. Thanks for sharing your experience and keep em coming. Your posts are truly inspirational for newbies entering the industry.

[Colts Fan]

9/10/07

Got to school a little late today due to a vehicle fire that clogged up !-70W heading into town. When I got there we started the first of multiple videos on backing.

This video had to be taken in the early 80's. The cars were old and the tractor doing all of the backing was an old Peterbilt cab-over. I think we watched 2 hours of video on backing which is good. It drove home the point that although backing is 1% of our total driving time, it is the most diffucult thing we will do.

After that we went over a couple chapters in our text book and left for lunch.

After lunch the class met at the range. When we arrived there was a guy from another class getting ready to take a drive. His driving instructor invited us to partake in the wonder that is the pre-trip inspection. This guy was a machine! How are we supposed to remember all that stuff! I guess practice makes perfect.

Our classroom instructor summoned us over to the other tractor/trailer. Ours is a white International with 350K miles. We were taught how to slide the trailer tandems and the fifth wheel. I got behind the wheel for the first time today! All I did was stay on the clutch and move back and forth to get the pin to pop in the tandems. It was still cool though. The fifth wheel was a pain to slide because it was dry as a bone. It was difficult to get the pins to pop back out.

After that she showed us how to uncouple and couple. At the end she loaded us all end and drove us around the range for a bit. Can't wait to get back in there and drive that thing for real!

[fuelman]

Glad you are having fun!! I remember the first time I let 80,000 lbs run up to 85 mph going down a hill in montana, I never new my butt cheeks could actually grab a seat like that!!! One other time that happened was a big gust of wind on the high plains of wyoming which I swear put that rig on 9 wheels instead of 18.

Anyway,, was just wondering why some one would pay $4200 for a driving
school.. you going to be driving a nuclear powered truck or something??
I paid $ 1500 @ Dootson truck school here in the L.A.

Best of luck anyway, hope you have a good experiance!!

ALSO-- something to watch for in training-- hopefully they will take several
people along in the sleeper on training runs-- watch the guys lean way over in the drivers seat when making a right 90 degree turn. Funny sh*T--
i THOUGHT THIS ONE GUY WAS GOING TO IMPALE HIMSELF ON THE GEAR SHIFT NOB!!!!

[Snake_Ize]

Anyway,, was just wondering why some one would pay $4200 for a driving
school.. you going to be driving a nuclear powered truck or something??
I paid $ 1500 @ Dootson truck school here in the L.A.

Best of luck anyway, hope you have a good experiance!!

ALSO-- something to watch for in training-- hopefully they will take several
people along in the sleeper on training runs-- watch the guys lean way over in the drivers seat when making a right 90 degree turn. Funny sh*T--
i THOUGHT THIS ONE GUY WAS GOING TO IMPALE HIMSELF ON THE GEAR SHIFT NOB!!!!

You answered your own question about the pricing difference Fuelman. Sage training is one on one. No one else in the truck during training but one student and the instructor. When they say that you will get 40 hours of "behind the wheel" they don't mean 10 hours driving and 30 hours falling asleep in the rear of the cab. A much better way to learn IMO.

[devildice]

You answered your own question about the pricing difference Fuelman. Sage training is one on one. No one else in the truck during training but one student and the instructor. When they say that you will get 40 hours of "behind the wheel" they don't mean 10 hours driving and 30 hours falling asleep in the rear of the cab. A much better way to learn IMO.

And in my case that 40hrs behind the wheel turned out to be more because our class was so small......in fact towards the end, there was just me, a "one-man" class and I got a ton of personalized training.

[fuelman]

oops, sorry, i didn't clarify.
my training was one on one but for only 10 hours, you could pay more for extra hours if needed by the driver. i had been driving for 27 years before getting into trucking so it only took 10 to pass the driving test.

I could see that it might take some people 40 hours to get to that comfort level,, anyhow,, must be a great school seens how my last name is sage.

the driver leaning thing was on the road test with CRST who i was with for 3 months. (whole nother story there)

was just rambling on at 2 in the mourning after work.
like i said i'm a little dumb not stupid ,, there is a difference you know.

[Colts Fan]

Appreciate the posts. So far, SAGE has been worth its weight in gold. I can't wait until I actually start DRIVING!!!

[Colts Fan]

9/11/07

"Let us never forget this day."

Again more and more and more videos. We watched a bunch of videos on shifting and pre-trip inspections. All of these videos were made by the different engine manufacturers, (CAT, Cummins, Volvo?) Does Volvo make their own engines?

Yeah, the recruiter for CR England came in today. The first thing he told us was, "Don't even think about getting a local job, because there aren't any." And, "Average length of haul in 1600 to 1800 miles." And you will get 3200-3700 miles per week as a company driver." Oh yeah, and they are "revamping" their lease program to "make it better" and "make sure drivers make money with it". I had to bite my tongue the whole time.

In the afternoon the terminal manager for Boyd Bros. came by. I was impressed by him. He seemed pretty honest. Unfortunately, it won't be a good fit for me.

A pretty good day, can't wait for tomorrow!