How did you learn to drive?

im enjoying them too

 

Self taught/ remedial help with brother in law. Did all the testing and skills test in a rented truck at the CDL branch. I had a background in farm machinery use, so it wasn't much of a leap to go to a semi. The paper part was a breeze, too.

 

Rented a truck to take my test in. It was an auto truck with a small trailer.

My training was a 10 minute drive with a guy to the grain elevator. He showed me how to float the gears and run a 13 speed and that was about it.

I had drove tandem trucks hauling grain and operated large farm machinery for about 20 years prior to this so an 18 wheeler was not that big of a deal to me.

 

1971-drove tractor on an oil co lot next to our wharf. Got good at that point. In July went to Gloucester and saw two combos and 14 gmc dumps lined up. Saw this driver called "MoonBeam" who headed this mission. I ask is there any bait? No the boats are waiting to unload in R.I. These boats fished for menhaden for meal for Lipman Egg Farms in Miane. So I said when you leaving? The stiff driving this rig is passed out Sherms Bar. "I see you all the time can you drive a truck? O sure. Your hired till we bring 900,000 lbs of fish. Tractor was 1970 white roadBoss 10 RR 958LL. One problem I never pulled a trailer. Never told him so I followd his tracks all the way down to R I. Trailer was dump body as used for gravel. I made it. Now came D-Day. If I remember we carried 55,000 lb and thr dumps I don't recall. When ready to leave "MoonBeam" says have you been driving long? I was white with panic. I Said no. I never pulled a trailer let alone loaded. You foolish D--K. Now What. I told him geve me a chance I can do it. After he tuned me up he told me to stay in his tracks do as I say. This ramp is on a grade. Itg is two lanes, we have to go in the left lane to make turn, don't use clutch or shift till you get some what straight. Come of lo to1st by pushing stick and you will feel it grab out of your hand light pressure. Now I am soaked with sweat. In truck let out clutch the tractor shook almost off the ground. What did I get myself into!! Got to ramp thank god no traffic. Did what he told me. Started to move steering was hard because right front tire was off ground. When got going as he said shifting was not hard first three gears. Got to 95 north I cant believe I made it this far. As I started to relax a little bit started to have more confidence. Always checkings gauges ect. I noticed tractor was starting to pull and just then on the radio "Will you shift that Truck" I said the road is flat. "Look ouy your mirror. Then I noticed a grade. We made it to Gloucester by then I could feel my body. But now I was in with the big boys. I made 3 more runs.

 

bathed regularly There were just as many SLOBS back then as there are today , some trucks were rolling PIG PENS , and you got blocked in at times .

 

Lot seem to forget that its not all that GREAT in the past , they forget cement blocks hanging off overpasses at night during the TEAMSTER strikes , reefers damaged so loads ROTTED , so hot in the trucks in the summer it made you sick and so cold in the winter you got frost bite.

It was not all BJ & THE BEAR . MOVIN ON and Smokey and the Bandit . Just stating REAL FACTS no more no LESS , not DIRECTED at anyone on here !

 

Trucking school taught me everything.

Well, almost everything.

They taught me to be able to parrot the pti and to drive the route that I would need to drive for the official test.

They didn't really teach me much.
---
A short time with company trainer taught me some more.
---
IMO the real learning comes when you get on your own regardless of how good or bad the school and/or company training is.