Beginning the Long Awaited CDL Process

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Wedge, Oct 14, 2010.

  1. sammycat

    sammycat "Oldest Hijackerette"

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    Good luck tomorrow and the rest of this week Wedge! AT LEAST the weather is suppose to be a little better well here in the northeast anyways! Has snow on Friday and by next Friday it could be 70 degrees go figure!!

    When do you take your DMV test?
     
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  3. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    Thanks Sammycat. The weather has been cold and raw most mornings this week. It rained Tuesday through Thursday on and off and hail and sleet on Friday. Not the ideal conditions for standing out in the range waiting for your turn in the truck. :biggrin_25513:

    At least this week is going to be back to seasonal norms 65-75 degrees during the day which to me seems kinda warm for November but I'll take it. It'll still get pretty cool in the evenings.

    So you got some snow? That means my house (former) in New Milford, CT might have been dusted.

    Testing at the motor vehicle department takes place on Friday morning. That will be one long day for sure. I hope this week goes smooth. I want to get a little more backing practice in, and then concentrate on fine tuning the road skills. I have to make sure I don't get too confident with this longer wagon. I nicked a curb with the trailer on Friday and that didn't make me happy at all. My fault for trying to beat the traffic.

    So tomorrow starts the the final week. :biggrin_255: Yahoo! Say a prayer for me Sammycat!
     
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  4. sammycat

    sammycat "Oldest Hijackerette"

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    Will do Wedge Will do!!
    Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers all the time !!
     
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  5. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    The Monkey on the Back. :biggrin_25511:

    Hello everyone!

    Did I say I was worried about the PTI? Here in GA when you are tested on your pre-trip at the motor vehicle department (the DDS in GA), the inspector will test you on 1 of 3 areas (front of tractor, back of tractor, or trailer) and then in cab. I was tested today for the first time and squeaked by. The squeak by part was due to the fact that I had to do my PTI on an unfamiliar tractor. I think by Friday I can get a handle on it. :biggrin_25525: I'll be glad to get past that.

    Practice in the morning. :biggrin_25511:

    More backing practice this morning. An added treat was the instructor setting up the tractor with a poor alignment to the alley dock. Our mission: fix it. Great exercise in case one should completely blow the set-up for an alley dock.

    After lunch we hit the road. And yes, I finally got the highway miles. I didn't worry too much about scaring the 4 wheelers. Kept it straight and off the zipper! :biggrin_25525:

    For the balance of the afternoon we took turns driving throughout the Atlanta area both on the highway and in the burbs. When we returned back to the school that's when I got hit with the PTI exam while everyone else on my team worked on their alley dock.

    I've got a question for any driver out there. I need a remedy for ensuring I cancel my signal lights. I got snagged twice today by the instructor. Any suggestions?

    Well that's it today. The weather was decent for a change, and I hear more of the same for tomorrow.

    Thanks for reading.

    -Wedge
     
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  6. sammycat

    sammycat "Oldest Hijackerette"

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    Don't sweat the PTI Wedge! You know it's basically memorizing the order and the correct response but I can see how doing it on an unfamiliar tractor could throw you off!

    Good luck today!!
     
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  7. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    Did someone say road trip? :biggrin_25511:

    Hello everyone.

    Sorry I'm a day behind, but sometimes we stay late for additional practice or training so I don't always have time to post.

    After we did our morning PTI, we rolled out and headed to Dalton, Ga. Total miles on this trip were around 280. All of our team took turns at the helm. Our destination was the site of the DDS (Department of Driver Services) testing on Friday. We had an opportunity to walk the DDS range and our instructor told us what we can expect. The test range at our school is laid out very similar to that at the DDS. The DDS range layout and boundary lines are clearly marked and better than those at the school. It was a worthwhile trip and a definite confidence builder. :yes2557: If you can execute your backing maneuvers at the school, you shouldn't have much trouble at the DDS.

    As an added bonus, we drove the course that we will be expected to drive during our road test. It takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. It encompasses back roads, undivided highways, city streets, the interstate, and active school zones, with an emergency stop thrown in for good measure. There are two critical turns that can cause problems so you must stay focused. :biggrin_2558: Other than that, the only curbs you need to watch for are entering and exiting the DDS parking lot. Oh, and one more thing. When you leave the parking lot to begin your road test, it's not a good idea to hit the mail box across street. :biggrin_25512: Apparently, that happens on a regular basis from what I understand. I cleared it with no difficulties, so just remember it's there.

    After taking turns driving the course, we headed back to the school. Driving time one way is a little more than 2 hours. We parked the buggy in the yard at about 6:30 pm, and I headed home. On Friday when we test out, we'll start out from the school at 05:00. That me I have to leave the house at 03:30. It's going to be a long day. :biggrin_2556:

    Here's a picture of my training truck. A 2002 Freightliner Columbia

    More to come....

    -Wedge
     

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  8. sammycat

    sammycat "Oldest Hijackerette"

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    Wedge
    sounds like an interesting day to say the least
    Hopefully tomorrow you get the practice you need for Friday!!
    Fingers crossed!!!!!
     
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  9. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    Sammycat, The unfamiliar tractor definitely didn't help matters. I was re-tested on my training truck yesterday morning before we left and it was like a walk in the park.

    My entire focus is on PTI because I can easily rattle off everything to my team mates, but you put a DDS inspector in front of me, I might end up sounding like Porky Pig on amphetamines. When I worry about something, smooth flowing speech is not my strong suit.

    I better drink decaf on Friday. :biggrin_2558:
     
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  10. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    Let's test 'em! :biggrin_25511:

    Hello again!

    Yep. You read it right. We started today with our normal PTI. We have been taking turns testing each other with the different portions of the pre-trip. We perform a PTI almost anytime time the truck is not moving. The repetition drives home the importance because if you didn't know before, you start to really understand how these machines function.

    If you overlook or avoid inspecting any of these systems because you're in a hurry, or you don't feel like it, whatever your reason, you risk the possibility of a breakdown (you ain't earnin' if the wheels ain't turnin') or injury to yourself or others. :biggrin_2558: So all of you that read this please remember to pre-trip your truck. :biggrin_25525:

    OK. I'm off the soapbox.

    The instructor tested us on all of our backing skills. We had to execute the specific backing skill (offset, parallel, 90 deg. alley dock) just as we will be doing on Friday at the DDS. Each of the manuvers has a certain number of "pull-ups" or "G.O.A.L.s (Get Out And Look) that are allowed with no penalty being assessed. If you exceed the number of allowed "walk-around's or pull-ups, points are then tallied against you.

    After a break for lunch, we hit the road and were assessed on our driving skills. Needless to say everyone was being very, very cautious. This helps the instructor determine what areas of your driving need refinement before you test out at DDS on Friday.

    Our class broke early today so that our instructor could spend some extra time working with one of our teammates who's having some difficulty. I greatly appreciate the time off.

    We've been pushing hard this week preparing for Friday. Like we're getting ready for the big game. Tomorrow is our last chance for practice. I hope the nice weather holds out just a little longer. :biggrin_255:

    Thanks for reading!

    -Wedge
     
  11. Wedge

    Wedge Road Train Member

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    The Last Dance. :biggrin_25511:

    Hello everyone!

    Today was the final opportunity to refine our skills. Tomorrow we test out at DDS. We worked on our road skills and practiced all of our backing maneuvers on the range. There is a sense of brotherhood amongst our team members, each member doing what they can to help someone who is having difficulty.

    We will be meeting at the school at 5am to begin our journey to the Dalton DDS. I was told we will have up to 2 hours to complete our testing. If I have to, I'll use every bit of that time.

    So it's after 7pm and I'm off to bed. I have to leave at 3:30am if I want to be on time. I'll post when I return and let you know how it went. I'll give it 110%. :biggrin_255:

    'His will be done'.

    Thanks for reading.

    -Wedge
     
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