NETTS-R.I.

[harleypiper]

I don't see much on this site about Rhode Island. I'm attending NETTS on 9/24. It's a 4 week school at 4995.00 with no parking. Good ole R.I. I paid up front so I own no one. It'a an acreditted school and, they have 1 in RI, 1 in Ct. and 1 in Ma. A couple of my buds started there and they liked it. Small building but lots of trucks and practice time from what I have read. I'll keep you posted when I start. C-YA!

[harleypiper]

Day 1- Arrived at 6:45 as instructed. Met in a construction trailer with metal chairs and cushions that came off rocking chairs. Instructor arrived around 7:15, not a bad wait. 7 guys in the class and 2 just getting their cdl b. Got the welcome package with necessary signature required documents so they don't get in any trouble (lawyer stuff), CDL Testing Manual and the Safety Regs. Pocketbook. Went over a few requirments for the up coming 4 weeks and what to expect. In a round about way, they are going to make sure they will do everything possible to help get our licenses. So far pretty cool.

An issued of required clothing came up, pants, sleeve shirt and no sneakers. Now I really feel smart. People actually couldn't understand what sneakers were, never mind not being able to speak good english. Then a question of if there was anyone who HAS NOT driven a manual transmission of any type. And yes, the same guy who didn't know what sneakers were now had to say what kind of trucks he drove. Guess he didn't hear the HAS NOT. Language barrier I'm sure.

Now came time to go see admissions and get all the paperwork in order. They want my H.S. diploma. Haven't seen it since High School, my college degree is not acceptable. Go Figure, another Rhode Island thing I guess.

Paper work now complete. That was rough waiting for some to follow along. God! How do some people get by in life. Time for a movie on road rage and aggressive driving. Looked to be nothing more then Providence RI drivers at the 95 construction, and a a bunch of Mass. drives cruising the breakdown lane. Must not be easy to be that stupid.

9:15 Roach Coach is here. Thank God! Not only do I need coffee, but a shot of Heroin might take the edge off of listening to some of these guys talk.

9:30 Begin going over General Knowlege of what we "might see again somewhere on a test". Nothing too difficult. Learned a couple of new things from class B stuff. Some confusing stuff on when to brake, shifting, downshifting, retarders, jacknifing and grades. Started to make me wonder if it's what I really want to do now, especially after the agressive driving movie. Then on the way home , I was stopped next to a sweet Peter Built and it was doing the "love jones" as I think cyanide called it, so yup! it's what I want to do.

So nothing to exciting to report yet. Tomorrow is going over more General Knowledge stuff I think so we can go take the DMV test to get the permits.

Just a note, you might want to bring some healthy snaks or lunch if your a healty eater, that Roach Coach is not politically healty correct and not much in the line of luncheons.

C-YA!

[harleypiper]

Day 2- 100 question test from day 1 (General Knowlede) pretty simple, some of the 2 out of 3 answers are rediculas and 1 is obvious. Alot of common sense stuff, but definately need to take the course if your going to pass the test. After taking the test reviewed with the insturctor and during that period, the guy in the class who knows and has done everything is now known, you know the guy, has to tell the instuctor how he did something that we went over and it didn't work that way when he used to drive before Fed. regs came into play. Just can't figure why he's in the class then. And the guy with the sneaker, still wearing sneakers.

Went into air brakes. Got a little confusing at one point, but after going home and reading what we went over, it all came together. Just have to learn to not listen to those guys who can't speak or read english well.

Next came coupling and uncoupling. Now it all makes sense. Still a little confused on emergency braking and when to apply slight pressure and when to use engine braking, but I'm sure it will come once behind the wheel to feel what it's like. Alot to know for the pre inspection test.

Nothing to report for day 3 and 4. Day 3 is review for DMV written test to get permit. Day 4 is take written test and for those who didn't get DOT physical and Drug screen have to go. For me, after test, day off, pee is clean. Can't believe guys were actually talking about ways to get clean pee, how about, "just say NO" oh well. Thats it for now.

[harleypiper]

Week 1 down. Piece of cake, permits in hand. Got right into the inspections and break tests. Got a little mind boggling trying to remember but all came to gether at the end of the day. Did some coupling and uncoupling, but because it isn't on the road test, no need to dwell on it. And the guy who knew everything, had a hard time just pulling ahead. Why do people talk smack like that? God! Shut the F up. Lost 3 guys. One of the boneheads who kept coming in late, by the way he came into our class a day late because he didn't pass his written test from the original class he came in with. Well, he is out, he finished week one with us after already being there 3 weeks, still hasn't gotten his DOT card. How do people get by. Another dude couldn't pass general knowledge, and another who just didn't show up, we can only assume he too didn't pass his test. Sorry for their luck. That makes it much more easier for me to be in the top 1/3 of the class, hahaha out of guys now and 3 are class B. hmmmm. Guess I don't have to do the math here.

Till Monday.,

C-YA!!!!

[harleypiper]

Into week two - Monday it was simple Straight Backing. After the first 2 or 3 attempts it got pretty easy. No need to spend 2 days on it. But all the instructors have been cool. No matter which instructor is teaching another class, or a different manuever, they will always stop and help you. So far all except 1 Class B guy got their permits. The guy with sneakers, yup !showed up in sneakers. Sent him out to get boot or don't come back, he was back within the hr. Tomorrow is new manuevers, finally getting into it.

Already tired of listening to the guy who knows everything, he is going to get a cup of shut the f*!k up soon. Thats all for now folks!!!

[harleypiper]

End of week two- everything getting easier. The only problem is trying to get some seat time to practice manuevers. They mix other classes with you and your supposed to rotate turns. Doesn't quite work like that though. Guys who are having a hard time think they should get more time in the seat to practice cuz they need it. But I got lucky, all the guys in my class are Mass. and they split us up cuz Mass has different road tests with the Super Troopers.. So now I have 3 trucks to myslef to practice for the next two weeks. I guess thats a little justice seeing how I'm the only one who paid for the schooling. Up to this point, If your thinking about NETTTS for training, take the 160 hr. course. You get thru in 4 weeks. The 480 hr. is for student loans. Your at ea. manuever two weeks ea. and it's 6 months long. Tuesday I think we start getting on the road to grind some gears.

[malbojah]

Time for a movie on road rage and aggressive driving. Looked to be nothing more then Providence RI drivers at the 95 construction, and a a bunch of Mass. drives cruising the breakdown lane. Must not be easy to be that stupid.


C-YA!

It's actually quite easy. And I'm not stupid, I'm just ignorant of everyone else! Now get those breakdown lanes cleared of all the debris

[harleypiper]

It's actually quite easy. And I'm not stupid, I'm just ignorant of everyone else! Now get those breakdown lanes cleared of all the debris[/quote]




Yea I guess it just comes natural for some.

[harleypiper]

No school Monday for the holiday. Tuesday was more parallel parking on drivers side. Real easy to do for RI. Had it down the first couple of hrs. Suggestion- practice your bleed down and brake tests. In R.I. if you fail the brake test at the DMV you won't even finish. They will send you home for 2 weeks and cough up another 50 bucks. The circle inspection and manuevers are all points. Your allowed to hit cones and stuff but you will lose points. So master 2 and on blind side parallel do your best but don't sweat it.

Wed. afternoon finally go out on the road to drive. Wasn't expecting to get right on the road in the streets of Pawtucket. Holy Crap. First time ever driving these monsters. First we went into the industrial park so he can see who has what and who grinds the most. I was able to get the double clutch down, just have to practice not putting it to the floor all the time which causes my jerking. The down shift got a little tricky but got it down. The only real hard part I guess was remembering what gear your in and when to go up or down. Well the others went after me, now I never stroke my ego but I didn't do to bad but the others, well the instructor wouldn't let go of his hand brake. After everyone got a chance, thru me back in the seat and drove back to the school, so I guess I'm doing well. The instructor (Dave) is really patient too. Doesn't raise his voice at all and helps where needed. Tries to settle you down so you can focus on driving and not worrying.

[malbojah]

The way your describing some of the other students there, I'm hoping that they fail.

I did go to the campus back in June or July, but they wouldn't even give me the time of the day when I wanted to ask some questions, so I left.

[harleypiper]

The way your describing some of the other students there, I'm hoping that they fail.

I did go to the campus back in June or July, but they wouldn't even give me the time of the day when I wanted to ask some questions, so I left.

I too am hoping a couple fail. We went out in the freight liner over the roads. I felt pretty comfortable the 2nd day driving it. My God, a couple of these guys just can't follow insturctions. I could tell you some horror stories already about some of the guys in other classes. They have no clue and their doing what they can to pump them out. Seems like a puppy farm to me sometimes. But on the good side, they won't let them go for their testing till they are recommened. There is a big difference from guys like me who pay out of their pocket and guys who are going on the States dime (I guess actually I'm paying for them too).

Sorry about the B.S. you went thru. Who did you talk to? The instructors really don't talk to anyone. You have to speak with someone in admissions. I inquired online and they called me back.

[harleypiper]

The way your describing some of the other students there, I'm hoping that they fail.

I did go to the campus back in June or July, but they wouldn't even give me the time of the day when I wanted to ask some questions, so I left.

I too am hoping a couple fail. We went out in the freight liner over the roads. I felt pretty comfortable the 2nd day driving it. My God, a couple of these guys just can't follow insturctions. I could tell you some horror stories already about some of the guys in other classes. They have no clue and their doing what they can to pump them out. Seems like a puppy farm to me sometimes. But on the good side, they won't let them go for their testing till they are recommened. There is a big difference from guys like me who pay out of their pocket and guys who are going on the States dime (I guess actually I'm paying for them too).

Sorry about the B.S. you went thru. Who did you talk to? The instructors really don't talk to anyone. You have to speak with someone in admissions. I inquired online and they called me back.

[harleypiper]

Week 3 is behind us. Everything coming natural. Got a little p.o'd yesterday. Fridays is usually manuever tests for the 480hr class. These guys show up for an hr. goof around, leave then come back and there really isn't any discipline in the yard. Meanwhile 1 guy can't do the alley dock and the instructor worked with him for over an hr. Mind you the guy has been doing it for 2 weeks and screwing off. Now test time is here and he wants to be serious and learn. In the mean time I have been waiting since Wednesday to test for a parallel park and move on. Well 11:30 rolls around and I had to kick up some dirt. They said they weren't going to test me. Now the temper went up and had to do some Bi*&ching. The instructor got the ok, took 2 minutes and done. Went to lunch to calm down. Came back at 12:30, mastered the blind side parallel and went left early. When asked where I was going I told them they wasted 4 hrs. of my time this morning so I think the rest of the day was useless to me unless they were going to test me for blind side, not happening. My final comment to them- " My check cleared and I'm paid in full, point 1 person out who is in the same position"? He couldn't do it. Next week I'm pushing ahead, I don't think I should have to wait for the others to keep up if they are'nt getting it. If not, then it will be a walk to the directors office. I see guys there waiting after they graduated. I'm not going to be one of those guys. Lost a little respect for the school this week. Because they were a little short handed, it fell back on my training.

[Snake_Ize]

I had looked at NETTS when deciding to get my CDL. I went to Pawtucket and talked to the director. I wasn't impressed by the school and ended up going to a SAGE school where they have one instructor for each student so I never had to have back seat time while another student drove and never had to wait on the range for a student while I watched.

I paid for my course but never considered myself better than those who were there through grants or state aid. I was fortunate to be retired with a good pension but many are out of work because of lay offs and out sourcing of their jobs. Their method of paying for school had nothing to do with me and I can assure you that the school doesn't care how they get paid either. The state money is as good or better as your money to them.

Good luck with the rest of the course

[harleypiper]

I hear you snake. I too am lucky to have a decent pension and the guys in my class are on state aid and complain about the same thing. It just seems that the 480 hr class can come and go as they please and come test time, their the first ones up and want all the attention to get them thru. Thats all I was getting at. There were some who were there for other reasons, and from what I got, they had to be there and didn't really care and it is holding up some of us. 4 hrs. sitting on a bench after paying up front while others got special treatment wasn't very pleasing to say the least. Atleast they could have moved me into another manuever to keep me going forward.

[Snake_Ize]

I do understand the problem and can empathize with you. Some students in my class had no intention of driving but the state only gives them so much time to use whatever funding they offer so they took the driving course to use up the aid thinking that they may have to fall back on a driving career.

Pretty soon you'll have your CDL and the school will just be a memory.

[harleypiper]

Well I'll make this the final post. This is our final week. Road time isn't what I thought it would be. Two days taking turns with 3 other guys ea. day. Today was a 1 on 1 for about 1/2 hr. Road trucks could use some help, not the smoothest shifting machines.

Now here's the next issue. The class ahead of us had 3-4 maybe more guys fail their road tests with the state. Now that we have moved on to registry courses, these guys are back and want to practice, taking up the time we need. So now with the next class behind us, the class ahead of us, the yard is conjested and not much time to practice. NO organization what so ever. When insturctors take the day off, no one is replaced and they run short handed so testing, manuevers and roadtime is cancelled. The only good thing is that they will do 1 on 1 manuevers with you for two days straight before you go for your road test. Make sure you know your brake test. In RI if you fail you go home. You don't get to do the road test and then come back another time to take just the brake test. Mass. does that. I don't think I've learned $5000.00 worth of Tractor Trailer driving thats for sure. If your thinking about NETTTS, stop check out SAGE! Good Luck All!

[harleypiper]

Let me just add a important point when testing. When you schedule your road test with CCRI, you will go over to the registry course in the south yard of the school. There you run the whole course. Well, important- they say it's exactly as the course at the road test, well the parallel boxes ARE tighter at the registry course. You may have your points when to turn and jack the tractor and put the trailer in the box, well I thought I had it so good and when I got the trailer lined up, I watched for my point in the convex mirror and turned, I blew out the back wall. Made the blind side no problem and the other manuevers so I got my CDL. Just something to tuck away when you go for the road test, make that turn about 1.5-2 feet before you normally would.

Good Luck

[bigdaddyjollyrob]

Im from Rhode Island,I was thinking of NETTS but I'M going with the teamsters training class. Snake _Ize what SAGE did you goto?
Harleypiper was the road test as hard as they try to make it out to be?

[harleypiper]

Im from Rhode Island,I was thinking of NETTS but I'M going with the teamsters training class. Snake _Ize what SAGE did you goto?
Harleypiper was the road test as hard as they try to make it out to be?

Sorry for the delay, just got back from 3 weeks of training. I don't think the road test was difficult at all. I kept focused though. I didn't go off with all the clicks and screw around. I just kept practicing. Guys would come in at 8 go thru the course once and leave for the day. I was trying to get as much time in as possible. There are 3 guys at the test site who administer the test, if you show you know what your talking about they don't bust your hump.