Okay Scott, here's some ideals from YEARS ago ......
Make the instructors wear uniforms (shirts anyway), a professional appearance will only help the students look to them as pros, maybe it will trickle down to the students.
Try to find a REAL dock or two for practice, cones have a place in the training but nothing can replace a real world situation.
Surely you'll use older trucks for the students, but don't go TOO cheap ....... I know there are some '99 T2s out there for $28k.
Find some good hills to practice down shifting on a REAL hill, I used to be a trainer for SNI and got a couple students who couldn't downshift under a load.
**** Put some
Heavyweight in the wagon too.
Offer a carrot, such as a school shirt for perfect attendance.
Have the students drop the trailers progressively closer, (ever seen a REAL grocery warehouse
)
Be sure to keep a proper student/instructor ratio.
Have a Reefer on hand, I never did learn a proper PTI on a reefer.
Tarping and flatbed securement needs to be part of the program.
Skid Test would be a HUGE plus.
Teach proper brake adjustment (on hand training)
If possible do some night driving too.
Make students use a phone to call for directions to a shipper, even if it's role play, have an instructor on the other end. Phone mannerisms are an everyday skill.
It would be nice to see Family Relationships covered in the early part of the course, if they can't handle the seperation they might as well bail early.
Have the students check for CLEAN trailers, most customers expect it so why not drill it in early.
Set up a trailer that WILL dump freight when the door is opened and teach the proper method for opening a trailer.
Using king pin locks.
Proper lifting techniques should be covered.
Have them use a truck stop directory during trip planning, when they pencil whip their practice logs they should be using REAL T/S locations.
If possible have a LEO/DOT official visit the class.
Have a pc available for students to use for researching companies. ;D
Work with as many companies as possible, naturally the more the better.
I'll think of more in the next few weeks, I leave Monday for re-training ;D The 13 yr vacation made it necessary to re-qual.
The original school I attended (in '88) was 6 weeks, this one will be 3 weeks but only 6 per class and company sponsored.
Good luck Scott, I wish you the best of luck and let us where the school is located. Maybe some of us can swing by and visit your school someday.
*** Better have a good cup of coffee available