I completed my first week of on the road training and I didn't fare nearly as well as I had hoped. I struggled quiet a bit with shifting; down-shifting in particular. With time and practice I know I'd get it; but, I'm thinking about it too much. I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around revving my RPMs to float gears while breaking at the same time.

I did slightly better on up-shift. All this was while floating gears. I had about made up my mind to quit trying to float and just go with what came natural, clutch or double-clutch. But I never got the chance to work that out because I didn't get to drive any more. I only got behind the wheel three times, empty. On the road I did ok. After all, keeping it between the lines is the easy part, right?

My trainer, Mark, told me Friday that I was being ID'd for "progressive training." He said he's not entirely sure what that means, if I have to go back to Jay or to another trainer who focuses more on teaching or what. But he told me to call in to Cuba on Monday to speak with Safety to find out what they want me to do.

So I called. The guy I spoke with, Mr. Anthony really didn't know what was going on with me. He said probably the "folks upstairs" hadn't yet reviewed my trainer eval. So we chatted a few minutes. He asked me how I felt about my performance and my schooling etc. I told him at school they went on about how their job is to train us to get a CDL and the company will train us how to drive a truck. He said, "That's not the case. We expect you to have a certain level of proficiency when you hire on. I wish the schools would get that through their head."

He said usually when someone needs "progressive training" one of three things happens, either they are kicked back to week one, they are given to a trainer who focuses more on their week point, or they are terminated. At this point I told him I can save them some effort by giving my resignation.

Out of the last two months I've been home every weekend and one week and already it's been pretty tough on me and my family (3 kids under age 7.) I told him I didn't think it'd be quiet so difficult, but.... And he agreed that even he'd have difficulty with that. He suggested perhaps I could get on with Coca-Cola or someone like that. He said the head of their training program also had troubles when he started out, so he went with Coke and when he was ready to go on the road he made a pretty smooth transition.

In any case, Mr. Anthony was very nice and let me know I had burnt no bridges and perhaps later on I'd be better equipped to join the McElroy team and he wished me luck.

So now, back to the job hunt!