My adventures with Western Pacific Truck School Modesto CA

**thePUNISHER** · 03.04.2011

So today started being tested on the pti, in cab inspection, and cola tests. I only got marked down 6 points so I passed. By the time I get to the dmv in a few weeks I should have it down. After that we just spent time practicing the 90 degree alley dock, the straight backing, and the parallel park. The straight back I can do with no pull ups. The parallel with one pull up. And the alley dock with 2, sometimes 3 pull ups lol. Not bad for my first week. Our instructor says we are doing great, better than he thought we would lol. We get to go back out on the open road on Monday. I'm looking forward to it.

**Trilleth** · 03.07.2011

Originally Posted by thePUNISHER

So today started being tested on the pti, in cab inspection, and cola tests. I only got marked down 6 points so I passed. By the time I get to the dmv in a few weeks I should have it down. After that we just spent time practicing the 90 degree alley dock, the straight backing, and the parallel park. The straight back I can do with no pull ups. The parallel with one pull up. And the alley dock with 2, sometimes 3 pull ups lol. Not bad for my first week. Our instructor says we are doing great, better than he thought we would lol. We get to go back out on the open road on Monday. I'm looking forward to it.

Sounds like you're having little to no problems at all.

Until testing, I had never had to pull-up on a straight back. I would suggest deliberately coming in at a wrong or different angle just to make sure that the different location doesn't throw you off, but it could be just me.

Otherwise, I'm in awe and just hope I can do as well as you when I retest later this week. Have a great week in class!

**thePUNISHER** · 03.07.2011

Originally Posted by Trilleth

Sounds like you're having little to no problems at all.

Until testing, I had never had to pull-up on a straight back. I would suggest deliberately coming in at a wrong or different angle just to make sure that the different location doesn't throw you off, but it could be just me.

Otherwise, I'm in awe and just hope I can do as well as you when I retest later this week. Have a great week in class!

Well I'm putting everything I can into school and learning to drive a truck. It's by no means easy, I've had some problems and I'm sure I'll have more but I am definitely not going to give up. This is something I really want to do and I'm going to do whatever it takes to get the job done!

Thats a good idea about coming in at a wrong/different angle. I'll be giving that a try this next week, Thanks!

Good luck at your retest! You can do it! Just get as much practice in as you can between now and then.

**thePUNISHER** · 03.07.2011

So today we went back out on the road. I was up first and after a few miles on country roads we headed downtown for some practice city driving in rush hour traffic. It was kind of hectic but I did really good. After that we took a trip down the freeway. Both were big firsts for me & I handled them really well. About 15-20 minutes into my driving the instructor stopped giving me instructions and just told me where to turn. He said we are going good if he shuts up and just lets us drive lol. My down shifts are getting better too! I'm really starting to get the hang of it and feeling ALOT more comfortable in the truck.

**American-Trucker** · 03.07.2011

Good to hear! Sounds like your doing pretty good. Next thing ya know you'll be on your own!

American Trucker

**thePUNISHER** · 03.07.2011

Originally Posted by American-Trucker

Good to hear! Sounds like your doing pretty good. Next thing ya know you'll be on your own!

American Trucker

Yeah I hope so! Right now I'm more worried about making it through W&S orientation than I am passing the DMV tests lol. I'm scheduled to attend orientation in Missoula on April 18th.

**American-Trucker** · 03.07.2011

Originally Posted by thePUNISHER

Yeah I hope so! Right now I'm more worried about making it through W&S orientation than I am passing the DMV tests lol. I'm scheduled to attend orientation in Missoula on April 18th.

ahh thats nothing to worry about! I'm sure you'll do fine, it sounds ALLOT worse then it is. I didnt do it in MT so I cant comment on how they do things there, but In conover we had allot of fun while getting through everything. Just go in confident and willing to learn whatever they want to teach you!

And for the mountian take all the info from the book about never takeing a truck out of gear on a grade, and erase it from your brain! all thats going to do it scare you, there is nothing to worry about you'll be going slow and trust me the brakes on the truck are more then enough to stop you should you freak and not be able to get it back in gear lol. Its fun once you get the hang of it. Especally in front of the old timers that sware you'll die if you even think about taking it out of gear

Old people are just SO cute!

American Trucker

**Trilleth** · 03.07.2011

Originally Posted by American-Trucker

Especally in front of the old timers that sware you'll die if you even think about taking it out of gear

Old people are just SO cute!

American Trucker

Hmph. I /am/ cute, but I don't like being called old people. *snickerandrun*

**Flying Dutchman** · 03.07.2011

Sounds good man! Keep up the good work! Nice to have a trainer with you for downtown mo-town....my first time was my 3rd day solo. Those lanes get pretty small! lol.

Good luck and keep on truckin!

**SmartDriver** · 03.08.2011

Originally Posted by thePUNISHER

This is the truck I have been training in. I now know why they call them freightSHAKERS

Man you guys got to start out with the small trailers? We went straight to the 48 footer. Now we are running the DMV test route on our drive day and then running the DMV skills tests and pretrip on our skills day. We are using the small trailer for the DMV test route tho, so that is all we are taking out now. The fun part was the first time we went to the truck stop and backed in to park with the 48ft trailer. The funny thing is, is it was easier for me to park that 48ft trailer than it is the short one. I over shoot things now in the little one when I am backing.

I am glad things are going well for you. Since I scheduled my flight to Missoula so close to my graduation date, I have been pestering the manager to make sure that our testing was going to be prior to the graduation day. The last two classes have had to test after they graduated school. But she swears that I am scheduled prior to graduation. She even said that they "might" have to have me test early. But for some reason she wont let me know when my appointment is scheduled for.

So hey did you get the email that I sent you on Sunday? Let me know if they allow you to try that, and how it works for you. I will talk to you later and am glad to hear things are going well for you.

Talk to you later

James