Beginning the Long Awaited CDL Process

It really was "The Longest Day"

Hello Everyone!

I feel much better after a decent nights sleep. So let me tell you how the testing day went.

We arrived at the Dalton DDS with our tractor at 7:15. A sister team of 4 students arrived with their rig shortly after. When you arrive early, you get one last chance to walk out on to the course and look it over. They won't allow you to practice (that would make it too easy), but at least one more look at the course helps put the range in perspective as you can compare it to the range at school. Does that help reduce the stress? Nope.

There is a covered assembly area at the DDS with picnic tables. Comfortable enough, I suppose. This is where we wait. The only time students go into the building is to register or use the facilities. Besides, you really want to see what's going on in the range.

Each student (in turn) waits by their assigned truck for the inspector (the range is divided into 2 separate courses). They will proceed with the PTI testing which will be 1 of 3 areas: Front, side of cab to the axle, or trailer. Once completed you'll do your "in cab" testing. The critical will be testing your brakes and the brake valve operation. Just as it says in the manual, if you omit any part of the testing that covers checking checking for your brake warning lights and buzzer, and fanning the brakes (pumping the brakes) down so the low pressure causes the brake valves to pop out, they'll stop the testing, you'll get out of the truck and be finishing your morning coffee with everyone else. No one wants to be one of those.

So we all huddle in a big group waiting to see if the truck will move.

The next stopping point can occur when they test your backing skills. It's the inspectors choice. You must execute 3 different types of backing maneuvers (straight back, offset, parallel parking, or alley dock). With the exception of the alley dock, all backing maneuvers can be either sight side or blind side, their call. One student, while performing the alley dock, panicked when he noticed he wasn't centered in the lane and felt he needed to pull up (which you are allowed to do "x" number of times depending on the maneuver). Well, instead of correcting he tried to reset the truck and repeat the maneuver and ended up boxing himself in so badly that he couldn't help but hit the cones. After a couple of minutes of cone bumping and line breaching, the inspector had him park the truck and sent him packing. Not a real confidence builder when you see something like that happen to the very first student.

So what we all looked for was: seeing the tractor move to the range; watch it execute the backing; see it leave the complex for the road test. When the rigs were gone, it was like a scene from any movie about the flight crews waiting for the plane to come back after a bombing mission.

(The road test is about 20 miles long with a mixture of city, country and highway driving. The inspector will ask you to identify a road sign right after you pass it (to see how much you pay attention) and don't forget to slow down for school zones. That constitutes speeding, and they don't like that.)

There is an "early abort" that the inspector can choose if he feels you are too dangerous to let loose on the rest of the population that would bring you back to the DDS pretty quickly. That didn't happen with any of our testing groups.

After about 30 minutes someone spies the the top of one of the tractors on the return route and shouts out "Inbound", and everyone turns to watch. Heads nodding, people whispering " What do you think?" or "Yeah, he got it". You can always tell if a student passed by the walk (or run) and/or the look on their face.

So that's how the day went. 7 out of the 8 students were successful. The one student who failed the backing portion will be rescheduled for a refresher period on the school range, and then retested at the DDS (only what he missed).

As for me, I missed only one item on my pre-trip (turning on the wipers during my "in cab" (go figure). I nailed the backing with no deductions, and the road test was very good but I did blow a down shift (went into the corner a little hot). I'm used to 18 speeds and I've got to remember to scrub off more speed before I begin downshifting with these 10 speeds.

We finished up at around 4 pm and headed back to the school. We stopped at a Quick Trip (I think) in Dalton for a snack before rolling out. Somebody had a Big Mac attack (plenty of Watkins and Shepard rigs, there's a terminal in Dalton).

So where do I go to work? I know the answer but I'll leave you hanging for a bit.

I have to run. I'll respond to posts later today.

Thanks for reading.

-Wedge

 

Thanks Sammycat! I suffered some minor anxiety waiting for my turn, but it was easier than I thought.

I appreciate your support and prayers.

 

Thanks AT! I looked good leaving and looked good coming back.

No one knows what happened in the middle. Just kidding! I gave the inspector a nice ride.

 

Thanks Randy, Susan!

Deciding who to go with is harder than getting the CDL. I'll decide that over the next few days while I get my things in order.

I'm pretty sure I know who I'm going with. I'm just not spilling the beans yet.

 

Thanks Buddy!

Long time, no talk to! Did you celebrate last night? We had a pizza party down here.

Of course when I settle in for the night, what time do think I woke up? 02:30!. I pulled the covers over my head and made it all the way to 05:30.

That's all right. I wanted some coffee anyway.

 

Thanks Jbatmick! Pleased to meet you.

I'm going to associate the fatigue to the stress created by the situation. We didn't want to see any of our teammates fail. That was unfortunately not to be.

I'll have to let you know about life on the road. But right now, I can't wait to get started!

 

Hammsterrock,

I like your signature.

I'm stopping by the school Monday. I'll tell everyone you said hi.