Originally Posted by MGASSEL

Mike that does the testing there got his butt chewed out by Danny for failing so many people.
I know this because Danny told me himself.

I had the misfortune to be based out of the Layton terminal had a bad driver manager named Amy. Had a pos truck that the turbo kept cutting off.
I tested in a 379 pete were I over shot my turn and had to back up but Mike was kind of cool with that.

Mike tried to give me my walking papers after I failed the solo out test twice But My trainer called Danny and he said get a load out to brooks for one last test which I passed.

Mike made me nervouse because he looked like the P.E. teacher I had in junior high.

They have a rule when you pull up to the saftey lane or fuel island to bring in your log book did I ever do it heck no.
I do not want any one to look at my comic book until I am done with it.

Originally Posted by MGASSEL

Two otr jobs in 6 months sounds like a job hopper that could of been part of your problem.

I smell something and stinks on here. WE need the whole story not just little bits and peices.

May will not send you home for those little mistakes you must of done something to tick Mike off he is kind of a laid back guy but if you almost caused a wreck that would make him send you home.

Did you hit the curb pulling out of the yard almost everone in my class did I was the only newibee that managed to miss that curb.

You probaly did shift on the tracks I have more than once that was the main reason I failed my second solo out test. I was concerened about gaining speed and I knew I had done it one second too late once it was out of gear.

I have turned on red lights providing there are no other traffic and signs are not there says no turn on red.

Did you do oppisite mirror checks when you made turns if you are turning right did you check your left mirror too and vise versa?
They are verry strict on oppisite mirror checks they have had people that did drive into the side of the truck tires.

All you had to do is drive the truck like an 8 speed do not worry about splitting gears. Durring the road test.
The rpm range is not different you shift most if not all trucks at 1500 rpm.

I will give you a quick lesson drive through all the lower gears then pull up the range slector
pull it out stick it in the next gear go to 1500 rpm
then split the gear let off the throdle then right back on go to 1500 again which is only going to 250 rpm from were it starts out,
Once you hit 1500 rpm with the gear split mover the blue splitter back go to the next gear and then repeat the steps above for each high range gear.

Down shifitng those are a little different when pulling a small hill all you need to do if you have split the gear is let it lug down untill about 1000 then mover the blue splitter back then let off the troddle and get back on it.
If you want to do full gear do it just like any other truck out there lug it down to 1000 rpm then pull it out of gear raise rpms to 1500 then down shift. I hope I explained it right and you understand it

Originally Posted by chargingbear

is that the same guy that tested me there? he was very hipper and sweating, before he even got in the truck, is he a meth head maybe.. do the testers go through drug testing like the drivers do?

Originally Posted by Trucker Steve

Not to come off like a total #$##$ but who showed you how to shift? Also over here at may trucking they are going to restrict rpm's to 1400 never to exceed that limit! The only proper way to shift is to do it progressively. But have no fear I will teach you that soon!
Good advice on the mirror checks tho! Kudos.


----Trucker Steve----

Originally Posted by AfterShock

Nope!
I'd call them careless.
Maybe even dangerous, if a driver with 5 years "experience" backed a 20' pup over or into ANYthing.
Get
Out
And
Look
Is such a simple concept.
And I'd expect ANYone with ANY Big truck truck drivin' "experience"
to do exactly that --- ESPECIALLY with equipment they're not familiar with.
Backing a pup is different then backing a 53'. it dosen't take much to jack knife a pup.

Other than job-hopping, how do you suggest a Big truck truck driver get
the "experience" driving ALL the different transmissions and equipment there are
to be found?
Or, are they destined to be below your "experienced" standards
for their entire career?
And, according to YOUR standards, never reach the lofty perch of an
"experienced" Big truck truck driver, such as yourself?
Or, do you admit that you're NOT an "experienced" driver?
Point is, Trannies are not that different or that hard to figure out.

It seems, by YOUR standards, MOST Big truck truck drivers are
"inexperienced". Would your definition of "experienced" also include
twin-sticks? And, if so, which truckin' companies run them now-a-daze?
None

How about an old chain drive truck?
Electric trucks?

Following your logic, if a Big truck truck driver hasn't driven an Oskosh with a 6x6,
hauling a 100,000 pound transformer up a narrow, winding, dirt, mountain road, ......
they'd be considered "inexperienced".
Have YOU done that? YES, I've also been up the haul road, The Alcan and severail others that would make you're blood freeze.

Unless you have driven EVERY possible type and combination of vehicle(s)
there are out there, wouldn't YOU, also, be considered "inexperienced" ---
by your OWN standards?

Nope


IMO, there are different levels of "experience". And I sure wouldn't
consider a Big truck truck driver with 5 years behind the wheel
pulling only 48' or 53' box trailers "inexperienced".
Nor would I call that driver "inexperienced" if they had only driven a few different
transmission types.
LIMITED "experience" would seem, to me, to be a better description.

If I were the owner of a truckin' company, and a new employee with
NO "experience" with the equipment I ran claimed it was no problem
for them to just jump in and drive it, and they made even the SLIGHTEST mistake,
they'd still be lookin' for a job.
Overconfidence can be a killer.
So can cockiness.

And not being atleast a little cocky meens you will never be top dog. IMO

And those full of bovine excrement --- need not apply.
Just because a driver SAYS they can, don't make it so.
I've heard newBees, fresh outta drivin' school claim
I can drive ANYthing.

Now, if they admitted they had no "experience" in my type of equipment, I'd
go out of my way to insure they received the proper instruction.
Mainly because if there were ANY mishap with them behind the wheel,
I'd consider it to be, at least partly --- if not entirely, MY fault for
allowing them to be in a position to cause that mishap.

But to paint a Big truck truck driver with years of "experience" with
certain equipment as totally "inexperienced" is, IMO, not accurate.
Perhaps they're "inexperienced" in certain equipment, and capable of
learning how to properly operate said equipment, but I wouldn't label
them totally "inexperienced".
Give credit where credit is due.

Instead of using the words "experienced" and/or "inexperienced",
I prefer the words 'seasoned' and/or 'well seasoned' to describe their
"experience" level.

Ok, I can agree with that. I'm well,well seasoned.

And I'm well aware that some Big truck truck drivers are more naturally
inclined to be quick(er) learners than others.
HaiL! ..............
I've known drivers with only a few years driving a Big truck who are
superior to some who have driven a Big truck for decades. I believe that
has to do with their aptitude, and attitude.
And I've NEVER met a know-it-all who actually did, including those who
re-define words to make themselves sound better than they really are, ---
and/or to give the impression that others are beneath them in ability.

Now you have. And I don't knoe it all. I just do it better,

In conclusion, would you suggest that a Big truck truck driver with,....
oh,....... say, 10 years of steering wheel holding write in "INEXPERIENCED" on an application that asks
Level of "Experience"? ----
Rather than relate that there is equipment that they have
no "experience" with and/or in?

If so, wouldn't claiming to be "experienced" actually be a lie,
and subject that driver to immediate disqualification?

Most companies ask on the app. what types of equipment you have driven. So they know that you have what they want.

And how about "experience" operating the equipment they'd be hauling, --- including, but not limited to
Personal watercraft,
Snowmobiles,
Boats,
and motorcycles --- up and down split ramps into and/or
out of a standard flat-floor freight trailer?

Meens nothing when it comes to getting a truck "DRIVING" job.

How many one million dollar, custom, calendar motorcycles have you,
personally had "experience" with?
One, even LITTLE, scratch on the gold-plated brake rotor, and you'd
"experience" termination.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again,
Give credit where credit is due.

I seriously doubt you, or ANYone else, can just jump into equipment
that you're/they're not familiar with, and operated it as well as someone
with more "experience" with said equipment.

I can, give me 5 minuts and I'll figure out how to start and run anything. Give me 1 day and I'll be able to drive /operate anything. give me a month and I'll be as good as 95% of the operaters. But I see your point. Most people can't.

and that would make you/them "INexperienced" ---
until you/they can.

Originally Posted by Kabar

Originally Posted by MGASSEL

I learned on a 10sp and then learned 13sp so I am confident that I could drive any truck with any tranny now.

Originally Posted by Kabar