Never driven a CDL Vehicle before

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by P71Tech, Feb 27, 2020.

  1. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    There are some things you WILL NEVER learn in trucking school or even have it mentioned.

    One fine day we are delivering oranges LTL to a number of stops. One turned out to be a cul de sac with about 20 houses in NY state. Here I am backing a enormous 53 foot with a full tractor towards a house and its driveway at 2 am blindside. There is this bush in the way. Then a mailbox. Then turn the tractor to get the trailer turning towards the home on the right. More mailboxes. Then cars.

    I made it to about 60 feet from that driveway. 30 children came out the oranges were unloaded into that home about 6 pallets worth in no time.

    And you had to do it gently, shakes the very ground setting off car alarms.

    The children made the stress go away. Normally after that little exercise I would want a good bottle of schnapps and some time alone. HA...
     
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  3. P71Tech

    P71Tech Bobtail Member

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    just got a call earlier, I have an interview tomorrow with a company called Fleetpride for a parts position. Anyone know anything about Fleetpride and if they are a good company?
     
  4. BUMBACLADWAR

    BUMBACLADWAR Road Train Member

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    Yes,it is intimidating. I had an old crabby trainer yelling at me constantly "Pull the Splitter",. First time I drove on the interstate with a 53 foot trailer and got up to 50mph,felt like I was doing 90.Later , Iowa Highway Patrol with a "Poncharelly " 357 revolver watching EVERTHING I DID.Somehow "downshifted" from 9th gear to 6th gear accidently. Felt like a 747 slowing down on an airstrip.
     
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  5. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Ponch? As in CHIP's Ponch? Hm.

    Certain instructors understood me in school, particulary when they discovered mountain fears on me.

    To this day I still hear them in the passenger seat in certain situations.
     
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  6. BUMBACLADWAR

    BUMBACLADWAR Road Train Member

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    Ya,one of them 3 pound Smith &Wesson 19-4's.
     
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  7. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    Millions of people with less ability and less smarts than you have learned how to do it. You already know how drive a vehicle, you just can't drive the big truck like you drive now. You only need to learn the differences between the truck and small vehicles, plus backing and shifting. The main change is that when you drive the truck DRIVING is your main job, not a background task after your love affair with your smartphone, etc has been satisfied. EVERY diver of a 4-wheeler thinks they are a good driver, because they NEVER pay attention and nobody died, yet when they drive. There was nothing to remember about their last trip, so they must be doing it pretty darn good.

    You can do it, you just have to learn and practice it.
     
  8. tscottme

    tscottme Road Train Member

    Except the clutch in manual 4-wheelers is NOT USED like the clutch in an 18 wheeler. It's actually better, IMO, if a newbie has never had any manual 4-wheeler practice since they won't have to overcome that experience in order to learn the 18-wheeler clutch use.

    In a manual 4-wheeler what happens if you only press the clutch 1/3 to 1/2 way down when shifting? The clutch is worn out quickly. That's how you are supposed to shift in a manual 18-wheeler. You only press the clutch fully down when you are stopped. For 99% of shifts the clutch is barely pressed down.
     
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  9. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    You are essentially the syncronizer.

    One RPM for downshifting and one RPM for upshifting. No grinding gauranteed.

    Those that grind are only hurting themselves.

    One day in your future you will discover floating.
     
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  10. spindrift

    spindrift Road Train Member

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    Standing behind a parts counter will definitely be different than driving a truck...very different. What do you want to do?
     
  11. frontrange

    frontrange Light Load Member

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    Northern Michigan
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    I have assisted my present company doing road tests as well as training new drivers fresh out of school. I can say in my experience, drivers who have never driven a cmv other than trucking school are much easier to train than drivers with experience. It is easier to teach proper technique and procedure, than trying to unteach bad habits, bad technique, and "I have 3 months solo so I know more than you do in your 20 year experience" types.
     
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