Starting Over New

I did better today, they didn't have to replace a tranny - I think the gears are still sharp. A learning curve is about even with what I need to learn, so it might be okay. Crucial day tomorrow. I'll be haulin' in traffic zones. Last time I did that I had a tanker full of insecticide and agent orange.
My last post, yesterday, I thought I lost it, so mad at how badly I failed. Having a patient trainer has made a lot of difference. That's the change.
They won't test me until they know I'm ready, and I'm confident by next Friday, I'll have my short-comings under control.
All is well - and my goal to make it better worked.
Thanks Gears for encouraging. Kinda need to know I'm in the right place.
Happy trails and hope to meet up someday.

 

Testing for CDL next Friday Nov. 19. Looking forward to putting this behind me and moving away from new recruit BS. Admittedly had a couple of really bad days, lost gears, crushed cones, I covered in a previous post. This time it's different. Three weeks ago a flu bug set me took me out for a week and I'm behind about about nine days; I lost a lot of practice opportunities.
Of course I'm making up for it this weekend with a little extra help from an instructor coming in to assist. A tutor of sorts. Of course I don't really feel like I'm not progressing, I am. Gears said it best, practice, practice and practice; when done with that start over and practice.
Boy am I ever determined to not just be a graduate, but when I step on the lot of my next employer, they will notice I have skills, I'm safe, and I listen.
One poor guy is into his 8th week (three classes have passed him) and he's still not listening. That's the key to any job, listen and learn, learn and listen. Asking questions is also important! Yeah I figured it out, gotta ask. What a concept huh? Ha... Unless one asks, instructors think you know. If I don't know, I'd rather ask a dumb question than make a dumb mistake because I didn't ask. So what if they are annoyed - TS - I paid them to be annoyed.
When I drove in the 70's I never thought of myself as more than a capable driver; knowing every day is a fingerprint - different, new, something changes, an event, a sunbeam blinds you for 1 millisecond, just enough to find the shoulder. A rock smacks into your windshield, after bouncing over the hood, whack, a spider web sprawls all over line of sight. A chip on the bonnet - pi$$d me off when that happened! Ha, , someone of desperate nature actually stole the Mack Bulldog from my hood during a lunch break! Man's that's desperation for a souvenir - my boss laughed for an hour!
A side story here, a fellow Mack driver lost his "dog" and replaced it with an adult toy, drew flames on it! Looked hot! Then some one sneaked up one night and added a "piercing". WhooYa! (Sorry, it was funny at the time.). Yeah the boss made sure he removed it the moment he saw it. Front office girls really got a laugh. Not sure how other drivers (4 wheelers might have reacted though.)

What I remember is an accident is never a good one. As ex motorcycle rider all collisions hurt. No way to escape it!
Returning to my theme is not to just pass a test mandated by driving laws, but to pass the test of longevity, safe operation and home time isn't shared between a parole officer and my home, or worse. Doing it right, learning skills under any circumstances is the only way.

Again I thank Gears for encouragement and to keep working at it, so I spend 4 hours this Sunday driving instead listening to boring talking heads about NFL. ( I love football, always have, I hate the non-stop yakkers, stupid commercials especially Viagra commercials). Driving is more fun right now and necessary to make payments.

Once again this Vet thanks all seasoned gals/guys/OO's for encouragement, support and help. I'll post as things progress.

Hey should I start my own forum? Make it easier to find my comments? Just curious. Gotta go take care all.
Happy Trails Folks