breaker breaker one nine.................

hello all. new member here. imy name is Rob, am a W 37 year old, who has made a lateral career change. i just finished my first week of CDL training at the college here, with 5 more remaining. what a vast difference from riding in one several times.

i am here reading and learning who to apply with and who not to apply with. thanks for all the great information here.

 

thanks. i rode around with a friend of mine who drove for MNX Transport out of Joplin in the early 90's. loved the view from the truck to the road LOL and of the scenery.

i drove his bobtail around the lot a few times and learned the shifting. that really helped me out this week with knowing how to do the progressive gear changes. the double clutching is a bit stupid, but you gotta do what you gotta do. they act like no one floats gears, but i guess that is a DOT thing.

the 3rd day of class we took the conventional '05 Freightliner bobtail. from then on, its been with the trailer. they dont do that cushy 4 lane highway driving. we have been downtown in crazy afternoon traffic doing buttonhook and reverse buttonhook turns, having to ride the zipperline on the left side of the right lane to avoid trees, lights and signs.......man that stuff is just not even thought about in a car.

aside from the fact i have a bunch learn, training in one of these monsters will teach you immaculate defensive driving techniques on the open road and when your setting up a right turn with the swing to the left lane to clear the curb and block the right lane with your trailer until the turn is executed.

any ideas on what company i should go with? there are horror stories everywhere, and i dont want to go through training to be stuck in a truck with a trainer for another 90 to 120 days making crap for pay. so far, i am researching PAM transport. havent heard too many things about them either way. yet.