Hi Guys,

Those of you who have your class 1, which route did you take to get it? I know most of you have the whole farm background thing so you been driving big trucks since you could grasp the wheel, but to become legal, how did you go about it?

I was looking into the Van X driver training, going to call tomorrow to ask about their rates. I've heard they're pricey, but they offer 1, 2, and 3 week courses. They also certify you for dangerous goods, teach you about border crossings, and a pile of other stuff. Van-X Professional Driver Centre Ltd. I see another guy around here called U-Drive, but I don't know much about him or his course.

Thoughts? Advice??

thanks

 

It all depends on what you want to learn. If you just want a 1A, there is a glitch in the system (or so I am told). If you study the air brake manual from SGI and write your air ticket, then you can go in with a truck/trailer combo (like your new truck w/gooseneck) and voila --- class 1A! This is hear say, some research may be needed.

If you actually want to learn some stuff, then the courses are better. The one through SIAST will really teach you the air brake system quite thoroughly and give you lots of driving I have heard (I think its a couple weeks??). There may be some retraining funding available (check thru a community college). The VanX course (as well as some of the others around) will give you some real driving experience, but the shorter time line may not give you as much info as the SIAST course...

 

lol...the loophole would be cool if a person just wanted another endorsement for sure. I wouldn't mind doing that, but it would be much more benificial to do an actual course that teaches me something. I haven't driven a Semi or dump truck ever, largest trailer I've hauled was a 20' deck with a bobcat on it. I do fine backing up and all, but there's more to driving heavy truck than that!!

Thanks for your reply, I didn't realize SIAST did some driver training.

 

I wrote it back when I was 19 and borrowes a truck from the guy my Dad was working for at the time. I got the endorsement, but I wouldn't have been prepared for most of the driving jobs out there. Yes, I could drive the truck, etc, but all the other stuff like border crossing and scales and such were/are still greek to me. If you're planning on a career in trucking, go get some training. It's all the extra stuff other than the actual truck handling that you'll get that will make it really worth it.

 

That works, sorta. That doesnt give you a full 1a, that gives you an endorsement so you can be over 10k for weight though. (so you could town a heavy weight behind your pickup but couldnt actually drive a semi, you would be restricted) Least thats how I understand it.

I started driving big rigs (bigger then grain trucks) when I was 17 or 18. Worked for a farmer and that is what we used to haul grain, a tandem semi with a grain trailer. Never did get my legal 1a till years later. I took a course at trans industrial, and at that time the shortest course was a 2 week course.

I breezed through my test, and after the first few times driving, the instructor told me I would have no problem with the sgi test, so I didnt get to drive much since I had previous experience.(which I felt ripped off)

If you have never driven before, its not hard to learn. Come up to the city and I could teach ya in an afternoon, and my truck is one of the more difficult ones to shift even. A course would definately be ok. Practice your circle check and read up on an air system, know how to adjust brakes and how to watch for road signs, how to up and down shift without grinding, and you got a license!

Curious why you want a 1a? Planning on driving a semi or something??

 

That makes more sense to me. I got this story from a friend who took his 1A training in PA a few years ago.
I grew up driving this stuff too - I was so pumped to eventually work up to a truck with power steering, only one gear shift lever(although I wouldnt mind a chance to revisit an old 5and4 or 6and 4!), air conditioning, and jakes!!!
This probably dates me as an old timer...

 

Thanks for the offer, I may take you up on it if I have time.

There's a Construction company back east where we're headed that has a big want ad for a variety of positions. Truck driver is one of them. I'm thinking of doing something different for a while, trying to figure out what. The hotshot trucking idea that I had a while back is still on my mind, but it would take some time to become any sort of substantial income. They also have openings for Carpenters, foremen, heavy equipment operators and such.

I love driving, and I'd like to take a break from the stress of self employment for a bit but its hard to find something that pays well, but doesn't requite post secondary education of some sort. Trucking seems to be close to that. I've created a list of things I'd like to try when I relocate.

 

I took a one week course to get my 1A and I have to say it was worth it. Although I could drive the truck I learned all the other things that go with driving a truck that make you a good driver. Although the price tag was on the high side at least it is all tax deductable.

 

I got my 1A license through a 2 week course SIAST offered. It was a fairly thorough and allowed you to learn a lot. My son got his 1A through Sask Trucking Association course. I believe it was also a 2 week course. The more you can learn before starting a driving job will make things a little easier. There is some pretty good money to be made hauling in the oil patch but the hours are long. I worked there for a while and my son still does.

 

Do you guys remember any numbers at all? I chatted with my FIL this evening as we were working on my house, he's got his 1A, and was fairly certain the JD dealer would let him use the shop semi so he could teach me the basics. I'm going to stop by SGI tomorrow and get all the literature I can to start studying... I don't want to spend a fortune to get the license, but I'm thinking it would be a great asset, and open quite a few opportunities.

 

I got my license quite a few years ago. My son got his in 07 and I think the course cost him close to 4 thousand if I remember right. He is away right now so I cant ask him the exact amount.

 

I think I paid a couple grand to get it through trans industrial. I turned down a bunch of the extra safety courses they offered as well because I simply didnt need them.

I thought it was expensive, but I had ZERO access to a truck to borrow at the time, so my hands were tied.

I think you would enjoy the right trucking job as well Sherwin. Its very nice and peaceful. I love it everytime I fire up my own truck as well. I wouldnt expect to get super rich unless ya get your own truck though, as you really have to have the right job to make the right money, and that is usually oil field work. You can get a "regular" job where you can make decent coin as well, but then you have to out in long days, and to me, long days are useless without a high wage on top!

I really know very little about long haul though, how much it pays or whatever.

To get your learners as well is simple. When you go to sgi today and get the books, just read them over, take the written test and you should pass it pretty easily.

 

My course was $1900 and that was a couple of years ago.

 

U-Drive returned my call today. 2200 for the 1 week course, 3800 for the 2 week course. This includes using the truck for the road test, and retest if required. He stated that he's never had a person need a retest. He also does a pre-course drive with the "student" before taking any money or booking to see if he feels that the "student" is capable of learning to drive the tractor. Seems like a great guy, I'll be stopping after lunch to get all the books I need...

 

Taking the person out for a drive first seems like a good idea, one of the guys that was taking the course with me was a horrible driver, and a lousy listener too. Thankfully he quit after a few days, I have never been that scared in a vehicle before.