I Did It!

Well -- today was my first day at school! I drove the truck for a little over an hour -- just on the roads in the industrial park that the school is in though. I was so nervous since I have never driven anything with a clutch before, but everyone survived (including the truck) and nobody got whiplash or any other serious neck or back injury from my nervous clutching and shifting LOL! Instructor said I did really well for never doing it before and that I should just relax and I'll be fine. Tomorrow we are going to learn the manuevers for the skills portion of the test and going to drive on REAL roads! My goal is to not hit anything and to steadily improve so I can be a passable newbie when I get done. Shouldn't have too much trouble getting time in the truck, the class is smaller than usual and there are only 2 students per truck instead of the usual 3-4. I'll keep you all posted on my progress -- got to go, have to finish my homework on logbooks and work on memorizing the pre-trip inspection.

 

Well, I'm 3 days into school and still haven't run over anyone or anything (except the edge of a curb or 2 LOL!). Got to drive on the freeway today -- IT WAS FUN!!!! Still having the occasional glitch with my shifting, but I'm getting better each day and am learning the ins and outs of the clutch. All in all, I'm doing better than I thought I would on the shifting -- even did several shifts today while talking to the trainer without even looking:smt025 . Felt good about that. Everyone said my left leg would hurt from the clutch -- it's tired, but not hurting. My shifting arm on the other hand feels like someone replaced it with Popeye's arm after a can of spinach! Each day I feel a little more confident that I can do this. Now, if only I could get the hang of that 90 degree alley backing manuever we're gonna have to do on the test -- it's giving me fits!

 

No offense taken Burky -- I spent Tuesday circling around the industrial park. Went around so many times I got dizzy LOL! If you really want to relieve boredom, you need to go to the range and watch the students doing the backing manuevers -- now THAT'S entertainment LOL! I got to go on the 2 lane highways then I-196 to M-6 and back (this afternoon -- this morning I was on the secondary roads trying not to pop the clutch when I took off from a stop and stalling the engine -- getting much better). I like the fact that instead of spending a bunch of time sitting in the back of the truck watching someone else drive, they take one student at a time and the others work on their backing maneuvers on the range (basically a parking lot with lots of cones). Gives me much more time behind the wheel which really helps. BTW Burky -- I might be offended if you come by there again before the 12th and don't stop to say hi:smt003 (j/k).


Oh, and about the tires, the instructor said they don't see the point in putting the duals on the back of the tractor and ruining twice as many tires when it doesn't really make a difference in the way it drives. Too bad they can't do something to save money on transmission repairs -- those bills must be astronomical the way those tranny's get abused!