goldenhandcuffs
New Member
I graduated from Integrad a few months ago and thought I would share my experiences to those who might be heading there in the future. First of all, it is very important to learn the 5 seeing habits, 10 point commentary, and pre-trip ahead of time. You literally have very little time to study during the week due to 11-12 hour days. You also must recite the 5 seeing habits word for word. If you add an "s" to a word or anything, you have to reattempt the following day. You get one attempt per day, if you don't get it on Friday you are out. The 10 point commentary is a little more lax. You have to know the bold print word for word, but you can use your own words to describe each of the 10. You get one attempt per day, if you don't pass by Friday, you're out. As for the 29 point pre-trip, you have to pass it at an 85% or higher. You can miss 4 of the 29 but you also have to complete it in 3 minutes and 30 seconds. You can attempt this multiple times each day but if you don't pass it by Friday you are out.
The first day of Integrad is very overwhelming! You start out by taking the shuttle to the facility and you are assigned a partner for the week. Hope you get a good one because you do everything with this person for the rest of the week, as long as he or she doesn't flunk out. You then listen to the facilitators for a couple hours explain things and then you set out with your partner to complete the days modules. The modules are learning stations in which you must complete tasks ranging from working on the diad to unloading irregs from the back of the truck. The modules are lettered A-K and you are allowed between 20-30 minutes for each module.
There are also 2 driving exercises that you must complete each day. There is the driver drill/commentary ride and there is the Integration Station. On Thursday you are tested on each and if you don't score at least an 85%, you are sent home. You actually watch a facilitator perform each on Monday and then you get two practice days to perform each before testing day on Thursday. This will be the most stressful part of your week. You are docked points for everything. I know an 85% may seem like an easy score to achieve but as I said, they will take away points for eveything! My class lost 35% of our people while taking these tests. One guy passed the driver drill in the morning with no problems and was sent home after scoring an 84% at Integration Station. They do not mess around!
As I said before, the first day is very, very, very overwhelming. You will be incredibly tired and stressed out after seeing the driving portions of the course that you must pass on Thursday. Try not to freak out too bad. I think they try to weed people out on that first day. I was talking to an instructor after graduation and he informed me that he's had many people leave after the first day. They're seeing if you can handle the stress of the job, DO NOT QUIT!
Appearence is also of the utmost importance! If you don't know how to iron, LEARN ASAP!! You must come to class everyday pressed and looking sharp. If you do not meet appearence standards by Wednesday, you are out! They line you up in groups of 8 in front of the class everyday and judge you on everything from your boots being shined properly, to the length of your pants, to being properly shaved. I was told the first day that I needed to press harder when I shaved in the morning. I shaved up and down every day after that. Talk about some serious razor burn!!
Finally, if you make it through testing day on Thursday, there are two more written tests on Friday that you must pass with an 85% or above. The first is a DIAD exam in which you must complete stops using an actual DIAD. The second is a 60 question exam testing your knowledge on anything from safety, to customer service, to the services UPS offers.
Integrad is not easy!! But if you commit to it and put in the work, you will graduate. As I said above, learn the 5 seeing habits, 10 point commentary, and pre-trip ahead of time! You do not want to be trying to learn them the week of. If you do, you will not make it! I seen a couple who failed trying to do so. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask. Good Luck!
The first day of Integrad is very overwhelming! You start out by taking the shuttle to the facility and you are assigned a partner for the week. Hope you get a good one because you do everything with this person for the rest of the week, as long as he or she doesn't flunk out. You then listen to the facilitators for a couple hours explain things and then you set out with your partner to complete the days modules. The modules are learning stations in which you must complete tasks ranging from working on the diad to unloading irregs from the back of the truck. The modules are lettered A-K and you are allowed between 20-30 minutes for each module.
There are also 2 driving exercises that you must complete each day. There is the driver drill/commentary ride and there is the Integration Station. On Thursday you are tested on each and if you don't score at least an 85%, you are sent home. You actually watch a facilitator perform each on Monday and then you get two practice days to perform each before testing day on Thursday. This will be the most stressful part of your week. You are docked points for everything. I know an 85% may seem like an easy score to achieve but as I said, they will take away points for eveything! My class lost 35% of our people while taking these tests. One guy passed the driver drill in the morning with no problems and was sent home after scoring an 84% at Integration Station. They do not mess around!
As I said before, the first day is very, very, very overwhelming. You will be incredibly tired and stressed out after seeing the driving portions of the course that you must pass on Thursday. Try not to freak out too bad. I think they try to weed people out on that first day. I was talking to an instructor after graduation and he informed me that he's had many people leave after the first day. They're seeing if you can handle the stress of the job, DO NOT QUIT!
Appearence is also of the utmost importance! If you don't know how to iron, LEARN ASAP!! You must come to class everyday pressed and looking sharp. If you do not meet appearence standards by Wednesday, you are out! They line you up in groups of 8 in front of the class everyday and judge you on everything from your boots being shined properly, to the length of your pants, to being properly shaved. I was told the first day that I needed to press harder when I shaved in the morning. I shaved up and down every day after that. Talk about some serious razor burn!!
Finally, if you make it through testing day on Thursday, there are two more written tests on Friday that you must pass with an 85% or above. The first is a DIAD exam in which you must complete stops using an actual DIAD. The second is a 60 question exam testing your knowledge on anything from safety, to customer service, to the services UPS offers.
Integrad is not easy!! But if you commit to it and put in the work, you will graduate. As I said above, learn the 5 seeing habits, 10 point commentary, and pre-trip ahead of time! You do not want to be trying to learn them the week of. If you do, you will not make it! I seen a couple who failed trying to do so. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask. Good Luck!
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