I PASSED!!!!!!!!

I have my CDL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On my Pre-trip I only had to inspect from the driver's door to the back of the tractor (missed saying that the right turn signal was clean and unbroken), the coupling system, in-cab (missed stating that the ABS light didn't light up...I didn't have ABS on the truck), and braking tests.

Skills test was 1 straight back, 1 switch-lane alley dock to my worst side, and 1 driver's side parallel park. You get 2 free pullups and I only needed 1 on the alley dock and I used 3 for the parallel.

My driving was great, only lost points on not getting my turn signal turned off early enough, keeping my hand on the shifter between shifts, and putting it in neutral at the stoplight (you're supposed to keep it in gear, with the clutch depressed, but my instructor knew I was taking it out to save my knee).

I am now the proud wearer of a cap that says "Crowder College Professional Driver Training" The other students don't get one.....only me...LOL

 

Congrats! Now what is the plan?

 

Congratulations and yeah, what's next?? The rest of us jealous wannabes wannaknow!!

 

Congratulations

 

congratulationsbe safe & drive careful

 

I am currently in conversation with USXpress. They are my first choice because the trucks are automatics, I can have my dog, and I can bring the truck home. My son and I share a car, so this would help in that he wouldn't have to take me back and forth to the terminal. I will do Orientation in Dallas, which is about 6 hours from here.

 

Congratulations.


What's the training schedule at US Express?

Remember to learn the mechanics of the job,speed will come later

 

If my brain is working (I've looked at so many places) Orientation is like 3 days, then you're out with a trainer for about 160 hours and then you get your truck. For the next year, until my son graduates, I want to be relatively close to home and be able to get home quickly if I need to.

Learning the job with the automatic is another big reason for me to go with them. If I decide to go somewhere else next year I can take a refresher course on the standard with my instructor from Crowder. He said I should be able to pick it back up in a day or two.

 

JMO and not lecturing, learning to shift is kinda down on the list of priorities.Once you get the basic principal rust will be quickly removed with practice as your instructor stated.

Maneuvering a 73' vehicle in downtown Chicago is about understanding how and why your vehicle turns and stops the way it does.And adapting to the "rules" of what a truck can and can not do is the purpose of having a trainer.Remember two things


1eople pay you to put the back of that trailer against the dock plate,and the only time they will take notice of how you accomplished that is when you screw up.


2:It is always cheap to look a situation over before doing it,it is often expensive not to.


Good luck, and keep us up to date.