Headed for Indianapolis for Orientation August 7th...

Your class schedule is beginning to differ from ours in Charlotte. Sounds like you're getting a lot of Yard time where I've been doing a lot of city driving. We did the Simulator today, which was really cool. Our final classroom test is scheduled for Friday.

 

Sounds like both of you will be driving your very own pumpkin soon! Don't sweat the finals, you're not expected to be perfect, but it is nice if you are. Just settle your selves down, and do what you've been doing. So far, so good, right? Then why wouldn't you be able to do the same testing out?
Good luck guys, wish I was out there with ya!!

 

What I hate the most about you 2 guys is that you're both a week ahead of me. Man, I can not wait til Saturday to get started. I hope I will be as successful as it sounds like both of you are. Keep up the good work and I don't really hate you, just kidding.

 

Heading out to Carlisle, PA on the 27th for the start of orientation the following day. Like you guys I am new to the OTR experience as well. But I have been driving propane bobtails for the last two years. Definately looking forward to keeping up with you guys on here.

Dasco, let me know how things are going or you while there and any possible heads up on instructors to go to and run away from.

I have a post up under questions from newbies about SNI as to what some of their policies or tricks of the company so as to stay in their "good graces" anything that I come across I'll pass onto you all.

PC, Raider, just how tight are they on their BP's during the physical? Do they give you a point or two grace or is there no exceptions to the BP numbers. I'm a larger guy but by no means that god awful out of shape.

Best of luck to you as you finish up orientation... PC, you find having your lapop at school a must have for doing homework back at your room?

 

NewJackfromNY, you didn't say which OC (Operating Center) you were receiving your training at, but if it's like Charlotte there are about 3-4 workstations available for all SNI drivers who want to do CBT (computer based training) lessons or check other SNI stuff. For students, they have a bunch of laptops set up in a conference room, but I don't think it's accessible after class hours, so use the public ones. Several of the students from my class will stay after to work on their CBT's and maybe have dinner at the OC too. The cafeteria is pretty good. When they're done they just call the hotel shuttle to come pick them up.

Now, if you have a laptop and the hotel has WiFi or you have one of those AirCards with a cellular company then I would take it with you. This will allow you to work on CBT's from the comfort of your room. You will be given some time to work on CBT's during class hours, but you won't get many done during those times. It's really easy to knock them out, but there's a couple where the narrator is some British guy that talks so slow it's painful.

As for what to do to stay in the instructor's good graces, it could easily be summed up by saying: don't be late for class, pay attention, and do your homework. If you get paired up with a road instructor that you just don't click with (that was my issue), speak up and get reassigned. I believe RoadRaid3r mentioned that there are some in his class that are on their 3rd road instructor. Good Luck!

 

I was told 140/90 os the max before you need to see a Doc to have meds to control it is this true

 

I registered 140/104 on their home user grade BP machine. I told the tester it was wrong and that I was 130/77 before coming to Orientation. He offered to do it manually for my own "peace of mind", but I told him I knew what my BP was and his machine was wrong. I did great on the agility test and wasn't sent home because of the high BP. The others in my class complained about the high reading too and complained so I have a feeling the Testers checked their own BP and ended up taking it back to Wally World for another one. Those units are for home use and not the frequency and accuracy they're using them for.