July 14th Burleson Class - Journal

Discussion in 'Millis' started by josepholson, Jun 8, 2014.

  1. stevenneill

    stevenneill Medium Load Member

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    Nov 11, 2013
    Weatherford, Texas 76086
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    Awesome job on the journaling here. I'm glad I got to stop in and visit for a while, my son really enjoyed it, and honestly, I like to sit in on the classes. Out here on the road, we can get into bad habits and overlook things, and getting to watch Harold go over pretrip with you made me realize that there were a couple of things I was overlooking. Nothing major, but you don't want to miss anything. I sit in on classes a lot when I come in on hometime, and I'm glad I got to sit in on yours. Wish I could have had more time to visit with you today but I had to get on the road. I did get to visit with three of the guys and hope I was able to encourage them some. You have my contact info, feel free to use it if you need to.
     
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  3. josepholson

    josepholson Light Load Member

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    Jun 8, 2014
    Tyler, Texas
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    It was great seeing you again Steven. You got to see me bungle a parallel park =-)

    DAY 8

    I was so tired after class I fell asleep as soon as I got back to the room.

    Some days are a case of 'two steps forward, one step back'. Progress mingled with some minor setbacks. Today felt more like 'one step forward, two steps back'. I had a better day yesterday. I'm trying not to get discouraged, but it felt like today I got worse. What's more, is I even know some of what I'm doing wrong and I STILL do it. My execution was terrible. I still have faith I'll get it, but I'm a little frustrated right now. It seems like all students go through peaks and valleys. I had a valley today. Yesterday, I don't think I hit a single barrel ... today I crushed a number of them. When you have a valley, it's natural to worry you won't snap back. But I will. I have to. This is too important to me. Besides just wanting to do this very badly, i would be in a world of hurt financially if this doesn't pan out.

    Tomorrow we are testing out on our backing maneuvers. We have to perform all of them without clipping a barrel. Harold said if we don't pass, we will get one more try. Then they decide whether to scratch us from the program. So the pressure is on.

    Sorry to wear my concern on my sleeve. Time to get some sleep and wake up positive.
     
  4. Vapor8

    Vapor8 Light Load Member

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    Jun 26, 2014
    Dallas
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    Hey Joseph,

    Why are you out in the heat all day... don't they have air conditioning down there?
     
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  5. josepholson

    josepholson Light Load Member

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    Tyler, Texas
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    DAY 9

    Good question Vapor8. It made me realize that I should give a more basic overview of the setup.

    This week we are concentrating mostly on Backing. The yard we are doing our practicing in is about half the size of a football field. Orange barrels are set up in various locations that simulate real world, frequently encounterd obstacles.

    There are barrels that form a 'inlet' shape so we can parallel park alongside a curb, between 'cars' or other trucks.

    There is a set of barrels set up in two parallel lines (think like, a two lane road). This simulates two adjacent docks. We perform Offset backing in these two 'docks'. After setting up the tractor and trailer in one dock, we have to pull up and switch to the next dock over. Thus, offset backing. We go from the left dock to the right one. Then we back in from the right dock to the left one.

    Then there is another station with barrels set up to simulate a Ally Dock. It is backing in from a 90 Degree angle. (This is the manuever that we will see the most out in the real world). This scenario will sometimes be less than 90 degrees. But if we can do 90, then we should be able to do 45 or 30, etc.

    All these obstacles are strategically placed around the yard so a driver can proceed from one backing situation to another in a series, like a backing decathlon. So, by the time you complete every scenario, you have completed the following in this order: Right Side Parallel Park, Right Side Offset Dock, Left Side Offset Dock, Left Side Parallel Park, Ally Dock.

    We do the circuit with two trucks, so two students are practicing at a time, but on different obstacles.

    To answer your question about the heat. No, we don't have air conditioning in Texas. It was made against the law in 1987 and has never been recinded. Just kidding. We have air conditioning.

    Since only two students can practice at a time, the students awaiting their turn, wait until a truck is empty, so they can go. Why dont they ride in the truck? Frankly, you would be surprised by how much you learn while watching other students take their turn. It is much easier to see the 'big picture' of what is happening with the trailer from the OUTSIDE. You get an objective look at the sequence, and can anticipate the students turns and see how the trailer is reacting to them. By watching the tires pivot, it gives a surprisingly good picture of the physics of what is happening with each adjustment.

    Therefore, we all wait out in the blistering sun, until a truck frees up.

    This also serves as a good bonding time for the students. It gives us a chance to compare notes, give each other tips, talk about trucking in general - and if your lucky, grow cool enough with each other to even make fun of each others mistakes and barrel casualties. Everyone makes mistakes, so their shouldn't be any ego. Advice - be the first one to make fun of yourself. And take the other guys jabs with grace. It's all in good fun.

    I'm very glad we got the mix of students we did. We have some really cool dudes. The first week was kinda quiet. But now, we all joke with each other. When students do well, you can see a swagger about them. When students do poorly, we offer support. Don't get too high on yourself if your one of the better students, and don't get too low on yourself if you need work.

    Yesterday, I was abysmal. I admit I got a little down on myself. But I went back to my motel room. I laid in the bed with my eyes closed, and I went through every single backing maneuver in my head. I visualized every turn, every visual reference and thought about which way the steering wheel turns for each pivot ... and how far to turn it. I went through the whole course in my mind. It seemed to work because today I went through the entire course two or three times and didn't hit a single barrel. Yes, I made a few more pull ups then I'd like. But I completed each one succesfully. It was a good day for me. Now, over time I will fine tune and practice.

    Let's face it, if we think it's stressful to back among barrels in a big yard, with fellow students watching - how stressful must it be to back in between two beautiful O/O rigs with very tight room, other drivers watching us, heckling across the CB and pedestrians and trucks waiting for you to get out of their way. So I know my stressful moments haven't even begun yet. I hope I have a trainer that remembers what it was like in their noobie days.

    Everybody tested out before lunch except for one student who needed individual help from the instructor. Four of us uncoupled a trailer and cruised laps around the yard, practicing shifting. The student who needed one-on-one help spent the rest of the afternoon with Harold going through the different backing. Apparently progress was made. By the end of the day, he had passed the backing tests. Bravo to the whole class.

    How cool is it though, that Harold gave such individualized instruction to help out a student. He is a great guy. A lot of impatient instructors would have not taken that time. Here at Millis, the instructors care about each student and do their damnest to help each student succeed.

    To coin a phrase, 'This is not a Training Mill, this is Millis Training.' .....Yes, I made that up. I'm the cat's meow. Send Royalties my way, Millis.

    Tomorrow is Friday. We want to start the weekend early (some of us go home on the weekend), so Harold is letting us come in at 6:30 to knock the day out quicker. We have half of the day in the classroom, and half of the day on the road (with a trailer?).

    Life is good. God is good. Peace and Love.
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2014
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  6. josepholson

    josepholson Light Load Member

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    Jun 8, 2014
    Tyler, Texas
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    DAY 10 - End Of Week 2

    On Friday we spent the first half of the day in the classroom going over road hazards, weather, speed and space management. It was strange to be back in the classroom after being outside all week. Generally, after each lesson we take a quiz.

    Everything we learn in the classroom shouldn't be considered all encompassing. It's just a jumping off point. It doesn't stop when we graduate from MTI. It doesn't stop after our 15,000 with a trainer. It really never stops. There is no room for a know-it-all in trucking. There is massive amounts to know and I would bet even veteran's hone their skills and expand their knowledge regularly. Experience is essential. The same can be said about any high level skill - Martial Arts, Maintnance, Computers, etc. - Whatever skillsets you develop in life, the saying is true, "The more you know, the more you know you don't know!" Stay humble and try to pick up things all the time. And don't be afraid to ask questions. Even someone with less experience might have picked up something you haven't seen yet. In my past life I've been an instructor in both Ju Jitsu and SCUBA, and one thing I noticed is - the newer students that strut around with their chest stuck out and acting tough, have it all wrong. If you look at the true master Sensei's, they don't act like that. In Wal-Mart, if you saw one, you would never guess how bad ### they are. They don't carry themselves with arrogance and bravado. They are very humble and have a quiet confidence. They have nothing to prove. So when it comes to trucking, I'm sure the same thing applies - be an open vessel and realize that graduating from training doesn't make you an expert. Keep learning.

    For the rest of the day, we went on a road trip to pick up an empty trailer in Irving and bring it back to the Burleson Terminal. Actually, we did it twice. Every student had a chance to drive on the Interstate and through traffic. What a blast! Some of the students (not me) got to pull a trailer on the road. It's one thing to tool around in an empty yard practicing, but it's a whole new ballgame when you have cars darting around you and cutting right in front of you. You gotta stay on your toes. You never know what people will do. The lanes on a highway seem MUCH narrower when you have another Semi in the lane next to you. It will make you pucker up a little bit when your going 65mph and another truck seems like inches away from you. It feels like your flying a jet for the Blue Angels.

    Doing this served the lesson that we really do have to perfect our shifting to the point that we don't have to think about what we are doing. When instant reactions are needed, one can't afford to fumble around looking for gears. I grinded a few gears myself. It needs to become second nature. Practice all next week will help.

    We didn't have time for an official lunch, so we stopped and got something to eat in the truck.

    I'm looking forward to next week. We should get plenty of time out on the road and we will take some trips and practice night driving. We will also go over to the DMV, after hours, and practice on the course we will take our CDL test on.
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2014
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  7. josepholson

    josepholson Light Load Member

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    Tyler, Texas
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    DAY 11

    This won't be a very exciting post. Today we went for a drive through the rural hills of Texas. With 5 students, we each got to pull a trailer around for an hour and a half, through the county, small towns, and interstates. I can see why having a smaller class would be better. 1.5 hours flys by. I still miss some gears and need some work down shifting for stoplights, but I don't think any moreso than anyone else.

    After doing an airbrake test and driving 1.5 hours the whole rest of the day was spent hibernating in the back while other students drove.

    Around mid-day, we stopped at a little oasis out in the middle of nowhere and had lunch.

    Right now, it's just about practice, practice, practice. Hopefully, by the end of the week I'll be smoother with my shifting. It gets under my skin when I skip a gear or grind. I think driving a manual car for years can actually be a bad thing. I got so used to the tolerances on my cars shifter that I tend to move the stick like I would in my car. I think I did okay though.

    Tomorrow should be more of the same so I probably won't post about it, unless there are some deaths, biker gangs, or Swedish bikini teams involved.
     
  8. SHOJim

    SHOJim Road Train Member

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    Columbus, Ohio
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    Joseph...If you get a chance my 3 weeks in Ohio stop by and say hello...
     
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  9. josepholson

    josepholson Light Load Member

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    Tyler, Texas
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    Hell yeah buddy.its been a pleasure talking to ya. By then, i should have my own truck and see where the road leads me.
     
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  10. Vapor8

    Vapor8 Light Load Member

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    Jun 26, 2014
    Dallas
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    Starting on the 11th. Any pics/video of the facility? What year are the newest trucks?
     
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  11. josepholson

    josepholson Light Load Member

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    Jun 8, 2014
    Tyler, Texas
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    The two main trucks we use are 1997 and 2012..... i think. I havent taken any pictures.
     
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