Headed for Indianapolis for Orientation August 7th...

I loaned my laptop to another "student" who had not completed those computer module lessons.

Today We broke our smallish classes into two groups. I went out in the morning and did a 2 hour PRe trip and coupling/ uncoupling demonstration. What I took from all of that is that SNI provides us with laminated guides to use as we do any pretrip, post trip, tiv, coupling, uncoupling, and probably anything else. I know the parts and common sense, and am glad I do not have to burn the limited memory or time I have studying these forms. We each probably got an hour or hour and a half of driving time today on the road. Learning a few things I was not taught in school, and some things Schneider wants done their way. We also took one swing at the alley docking / 45 parking. I never did that before and still got her in there. Although I did not couple the trailer my self, I did uncouple it, which was a first for me. Overall the morning session was great. I had a few flaws but I have not driven since I got my CDL which was 6 weeks ago. I was glad to finally get back on the road. The rumor is tomorrow we will be getting at least double the driving time since we can skip the long description and explaination of all these processes.

IN the afternoon, we studied what is now the Qualcomm. I am being told I am the last class being taught about it. Starting next week they will go exclusively go to their new GPS/Qualcomm (whatever they call it now) System. WE did 3 or 4 exercises on it, and I did not get one 100% right. I missed something on each one.

Well another day with lots of paperwork / homework. It is wearing on me a bit. We had to finish some of the 6-8 trip plans we were given Sunday. We had a few pages of filling out shifting and gear recovery. We had another Qualcomm homework assignment. We had to read a chapter about shifting and clutching etc. For me that ate up bit more than 2 hours (while being distracted by calls home and television.

I did walk to and from training today. Google maps say it is 1.3 miles. All I know is that I left my room at the same time as another student. I walked, they rode, and I beat them by ten minutes. On the way home, I was in the parking lot of the hotel as the shuttle bus was pulling out. I got 30-40 minutes of exercise and saved ten minutes or more of my life waiting on a ride. Good trade in my opinion.

Anyways, I am off to get some sleep as these long days will catch up to me if I stay up all night playing on these computer.

Raid3r

 

I have hair that is shaved to about a 1/4". The lady asked where I could afford to lose some hair, and gave me a choice of my chest or armpit. I chose the chest and they took a dry razor and scraped about a golf ball size patch off . No problem by me.

Raid3r

 

So I walked and again beat the shuttle fiasco to training this morning.

Went straight out to the yard today at 6:30 AM to do pre trip, couple the trailer, and get on the road. We drove for about 3 hours, including a little stop at the Pilot. I guess my instructor thought he could knock my ego down a peg or two having me park in what has to be the world smallest truck stop in America. Left to my own devices I probably could have taken out 10-12 other tractor trailers. My prize for finally gettin' her in there was I got a Pilot card...Does that make me an official trucker yet? Anyways, we got back to the yard and I was told to do 5 different alley docking stations. They have at least 5 or 6 set up around the OC here. Each has a different set of circumstances. Some are short to the right, some short to the left, some you do not have room to pull up, some have the other stations interfering. The point is you better know or learn how to get it done, over come obstacles, and correct yourself to do this exercise. There is no cookie cutter formula that will do it. It is all observation, reaction, adjustment, etc. On the second and tightest one I just had a total meltdown. I mean I did get it in there, but every time I went to do a correction, I did it wrong. I just could not catch a break. I could not go very far left, and I could not pull forward, and was trying too hard and was over compensating at each move I made, which made it worse. Anyways I eventually got her in there, but was given detention, lol. I went back after class today, and did the same 5 docking exercise, got her in there every time with no problem, and overall did it in about half the time I spent doing it this morning. A side note about docking exercise/ exam. I was told if You do not get out and check (Get Out And Look) , you will auto fail the exam. You can spend all day out there getting her in the hole. You can pull up fourteen times or more, but you MUST Get Out And Look!

In the afternoon we took continued to study the Qualcomm, trip planning, different macros. We even got our hands on a real qualcomm, which again by the way is going to be obsolete next week because I am in the last class that will be taught it. I was told today that SNI has over 9,000 of the (11k-12k trucks) updated with their new equipment and the rest are currently scheduled to have them installed. There was a test on this today, I passed. Nobody else did. That brings up an important note about the testing at orientation. You can only fail any one thing three times, and a total of five overall tests, and you fail out of orientation and end up on a grey hound.

So overall, another productive day. I was thinking today that when I step back and look at the situation I am in ...I could not really be more impressed with the accomodations, the facilities, the training, the instructors, and all of the people I have come in contact with while here (trainers, OC staff, experienced SNI drivers, even hotel staff). For all the negative you hear about the industry and even SNI, they definately have put a very good impression in front of me.

Tonight I beat the Hotel Shuttle for the fourth trip in a row. It was 98 degrees here while I walked to the hotel. After a long day and two driving sessions probably not my best thought out plan. Even though I stayed late, and had homework...I was just burned out. I got cleaned up and left the hotel for a few hours. I did not even go anywhere of consequence, but I have not been anywhere but hotel or the OC since Friday. Even though it is getting late and I have homework and a 6:30 AM roll call, the mini break was a great deviation from the past few day. Hopefully I can pull it all together to get homework done and to bed at a reasonable time.

Until tomorrow, good luck to other students at all OC, all new and potential pumpkin drivers, and hoping all is well with all other drivers.

Raid3r