Christopher.Collins Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 My EVOC class wasnt technically a weekend. Ok so it was a couple hours of lecture one day and driving the next day. But the driving technically wasnt even a day long. Pretty much you had your obstical course, you wernt timed and given as many times as you needed to pass it. It was an honor system, other students were allowed to ride with the student driving the course but were expected not to help or offer advice. The evaluators were outside watching. Then you just drove on the road with an evaluator untill they felt you were comfortable and operating the vehicle safley. So pretty much while hiring was contingient upon passing, but no one failed... and I think they said that maybe one person did fail in like 10 years or something. From there, driving was on the job training.
crotchitymedic1986 Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 You asked what would i suggest for someone who is new to driving any vehicle (lived near subways). I would say get a couple of your classmates together and go rent a Uhaul box truck (smaller one), and drive it around town and in small streets. That will get you used to driving something of that size in relation to other traffic, low limbs, narrow streets, etc. I would also take it to an abandoned business that has a good size parking lot, and practice backing it into parking spaces, or beside poles. It is not the same as driving an ambulance, but it is much closer than practicing with a pick-up or car. http://www.uhaul.com/guide/index.aspx?equipment=truck-17 This truck is like $30.00 and 1.00 per mile. Split it up, cheaper and more effective than EVOC.
Christopher.Collins Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 Lets face it, the requirements (at least in Connecticut) to get a drivers license can be a joke. I got my CDL last year and it was a peice of cake... the pre-trip inspection was more demanding than driving the damn thing. As far as tanker and hazmat endorsements? Quick backround check take a written test and here you go!!! No need to demonstrate that you can drive a vehicle with an easily displacable load. Hell, I think for the driving test you should be driving with a load. Yea big deal you can drive an empty tractor trailer... its going to handle alot differently than a full one. I took my test in a dump truck, it felt like driving a really big ambulance but if I ever drove one proffesionally, Im not ganna know how it will handle untill Im already on the road. As far as comments that people like my mom or aunt would say, "I always trust truck divers, they are the safest on the road." Ummmm yea ok just because you drive something so much bigger dosnt mean your compitent at it. Let alone safe.
Richard B the EMT Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 NYC EMS (pre-merger) used to devote a full 40 hours EVOC, driving on an old closed airport runway with off service ambulances as a part of the 4 week NEOP (New Employee Orientation Program). Some failed, and were separated from the program, but all passed after taking the next full NEOP. I think we got to know these hundreds of traffic cones by name!
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