Smith & Solomon

I attended Smith & Solomon in Norristown from January 19, 2016 to February 25, 2016 and passed the CDL A exam on my first attempt on February 26, 2016. I got my CDL A permit the week before starting the school so that I would be ahead of the curve and hopefully get more «behind the wheel» time. This worked somewhat since I was able to get to the actual training yard (340 Crooked Lane, King of Prussia) after two days of classes. I attended the weekday sessions, which are Monday –Thursday from 7:00 AM until 5:00 PM, with the first week being classroom time preparing to get one’s permit and review general safety guidelines. The material and videos where old and the instructor (M.) handed out study materials for straight trucks, instead of tractor trailers. This was pointed out to him, but he insisted he was handing out the correct materials — he was wrong.
Once in the yard, the general procedures were to review pre-​tripping the tractor trailer (making sure it was safe to drive), then practice various basic yard maneuvers such as: straight backing, parallel parking, offset parking and 90 degree docking. After a couple of weeks you would start getting actual driving time when you and three other students would go out with a trainer and each drive 45 to 60 minutes in turn.
The materials handed out for pre-​tripping where changed twice while I was there and were not in a logical order for actually checking a truck — I ended up typing up my own and using it instead (I even had a trainer (W.) comment on the quality). Apparently, PA had dramatically updated the requirements for getting the CDL A license and pre-​tripping properly was a big part of it; unfortunately the school didn’t seem to have it’s act together to be in sync with the state requirements. Also, specific terminology for pre-​tripping is somewhat required, but the material doesn’t give examples of what to say, or how to say it, to meet those requirements.
The material handed out for performing the backing maneuvers had pictures — but no written instructions! If you are lucky an instructor may explain the process to you (offset parking for example), but typically it was the more experienced students teaching the newer students. I’m OK with this up to a point, since I believe teaching helps one to learn as well, but I paid over $ 4,200 of my own money and received very little one on one instruction. Instead an instructor (typically (M.)) would observe from afar and periodically walk over and yell instructions to the driver — hard to hear over the engine, how about you get in the cab and explain — or demonstrate yourself? Also, (M.) appeared more concerned about the old cones used to define lanes getting run over than setting up proper lanes for practicing the maneuvers. I reported this to the regional director (J.B.) since the trainer’s behavior was highly unprofessional and inconsiderate. Another note about the «lanes»: the yard is a mess, it’s small and very poorly laid out without clear visible lines needed for practicing the maneuvers — c’mon S&S spend some money and fix this! I suggest you check it out before deciding to go to this campus.
In terms of actual driving practice — be prepared to get yelled at for driving a vehicle that you have no prior experience in driving (this was not just me either). To me, the first method of teaching driving (double clutching) would be to go to a safe area and simply practice going up and down the gears (1 — 5 at least) so that you can learn the proper sequence for shifting — but no, that makes too much sense! Instead, when it was my first turn to drive we were pulled over on main street in Collegeville and I started driving (not very well either — but as safe as I could be). Does this seem like the best method for having someone drive an 80,000 pound vehicle for the first time? Think about it, you’re in a huge vehicle, using a totally new shifting method (double — clutching) and the instructor is yelling at you to speed up/​slow down/​shift correctly… It’s ludicrous!
Since I was self-​motivated to succeed I did, but little thanks to the instructors, in my opinion. The school would have much better success if the instructors actually cared about their students — like the handout states when you go for an initial consultation. The full time program is supposed to take between 4 to 6 weeks — the material is unclear and I finished in five, since I didn’t miss one minute of training. There were many students though who were still attending after months of training, for one reason or another, and I can’t help but think at least part of if was the poor quality of instruction.
There is much more I could write, but I think the above is enough to make you reconsider the Norristown campus of Smith and Solomon. If you do go there be sure you are self-​motivated and you will succeed as I did.