Finally putting it on the road

I understand, I just didn't want anyone calling you out for being inaccurate. I know I had my Chauffer's C2 back in '83/'84, even though like OLDSKOOLERnWV, I'd been driving other vehicles before that with only a chauffer's license, the country wasn't too pretentious then. I remember that because when I was training with a relative for my C2, we drove all forward, shifting, etc, and I wanted to practice backing up...and the relative said don't worry about it, they don't test that.... WRONG..I failed my first time because of that lack of experience with the tractor/trailer backing. I did it, but it took so long they failed me the first time anyway.

It cost me, if I remember right, $75.00 just to take the 3rd party driving test. After that, all I did was practice backing up, and passed the second time. That was pretty much the last time I relied on second hand information. Anyhow, I was just mentioning it, because like the others, at least in Michigan, when they implemented it in I think 1991 or 1992 to grandfather the endorsements, you had to show an employment record of having driven the equipment to skip the actual driving test for each piece that had an endorsement, which I did, and then all I had to do was pass the written tests for each endorsement. I still remember the Secretary of State lady saying don't feel too bad if you don't pass them all here the first time, because I took all the tests at the same time and told her, don't worry, I will pass them all. When she checked them, she said "You weren't kidding". I told her I knew what I was doing, and all this licensing did was allow me to catalog it.

Because prior to that, there was no record of the kind of different equipment you would be allowed to drive because it was between the driver and the company if the driver could handle the equipment and your employment with that kind of company is the only way they would know what equipment you drove which is why we had to supply that information to be grandfathered back then....at least here in Michigan....which is why today's CDL Mills are such a drag because most of them come out thinking they know it all and they don't even know how to wipe their backsides after they get through there. We learned by doing, and proving we could. They get schooled and think they've proven themselves, and all they did was get a basic familiarization class...the learning starts after they get the license now, and they think they're done.

Putting soap box away...sigh, getting emotional again.

 

Times sure have changed, and this dates me, but in 1978, I got my 1st T/T job, about 2 months in, the boss says, "do you have a chauffeurs license?" ( when I was hired, they never asked) I said, no, he said, better get one. Fine. I go to the Wis. license place, the examiner asked me if I had a road test OF ANY KIND in the last 2 years. I said, well, I took my motorcycle test last year,,he said, good enough, $8 bucks,,NEXT! .For the next FORTY years, I never did take any kind of road test in a truck, and aside from written tests, was grandfathered in all those years.

 

Yea you’re slightly telling your age lol…

I can’t zoom it in real good, is that a T or a Federal in your avatar?

 

I’m 31,580 after I took the conestoga off, all except the front section that is.

I had to pass on a good load yesterday because I couldn’t scale it. You should do ok…

 

Almost 47,000. But it was a tarp only load so the conestoga would have to go back on. I’m close to 34,000 with the conestoga, and since my 5th wheel isn’t sliding I’m light on the steer, even grossing 90,000+ I’m under 11K on my steer. This scale ticket was with my lowboy….