Going with Roehl

Is roehl one the better companys?

 

YES it is a better company

 

Day two is done and I breathed a big sigh of relief. Our group was broken into two groups. I was in one group with one other guy and the other three were together in a truck. My instructor also had a guy who is in instructor training. So since the guy in my group had experience driving he was paired with the instructor in training in their own truck and I had the other truck all to myself! I had four and a half hours behind the wheel today. I amazed myself by picking up double clutching relatively easy. The instructor said I was doing very well especially for never being behind a wheel of a truck before. We were prefecting our shifting and getting down left hand turns. My instructor told me to pull over to the side and stop and he surprised me by telling me that he was going to get out while I would continue to drive around the yard. He said that I had the basics down and that I would probably do better because I could relax. So I did the course twice and then it started to rain so he talked me through a forward straight pull through between two parked flatbeds. It was awesome. I have more confidence in myself. I really like these instructors here.
Well tomorrow we learn right turns and start backing. Thursday we are going out on rural roads.
Right now I can't think of anything I wish I had taken with me other than what I brought but if something comes to mind I will post it.
Bye for now.

Perdy do you have your own truck yet?

 

wispers

the backing and the parking is the harder stuff but since you are doing good now you may do good on those too.

just rember watch your mirrors when backing and make small corrections do not wait untill it is too late.

ps rember that when backing left = right and right = left

 

Yeah, Roehl is one of the better companies. I should have hired on with them right out of school. Good luck, you can make a lot dumber decisions than Roehl

 

Passed my physical and my recruter at roehl called and told me she will be sending me the hotel arrangements soon.. . I start on the sixteenth and I cant wait kind of sort of. I have a 2 year old daughter that I will miss very much while in training to the point were I may come home the 2nd weekend in training to see her (i live in Chicago)..

I live around a lot of truck yards in Chicago but if its secure is a different concern.. What makes a location a "secure" location? A lot of truckers in my neighborhood park on busy streets for the weekend. I dont think I can do that can I?

 

Hey Perdy I'll keep an eye out for ya. No my husband decided training wasn't for him. So he is solo until I graduate then we are going to team. I really like these instructors. Today we practiced right turns and downshifting. I was a little shakey at first but after I settled down I did ok. Now that's not to say I didn't grind a gear or two but I didn't run over any tires or stop sign. We also tried our hand at straight backing. I weaved a little at the end when the trailer started to drift I would start to correct it but didn't wait long enough and I would have to stop and pull up. But I got the general idea of turning the steering wheel towards the drift. The instructors are talking about taking us out on rural roads tomorrow. I know I have to concentrate on looking out both windows when turning right. I was so worried about hitting the "curb" on my turn that I was fixated looking out only my right side. I finally got the concept of downshifting, clutch, accelerate, clutch. one and two and. Sounds like dancing. Did I ever tell ya I can't dance! But I keep on being told I'm doing great for only being behind the wheel for 2 days now.

 

Oh Whispers! I love your posts. I am so giggling right now - I am the Queen of Grinding Gears - if only I could find a job where I go around in circles and not have to downshift or back. LOL Good luck on the rural roads - that's what I learned on - all we saw were cows and one street Towns. I've never been on the interstate! I can hear my road instructors, "Get it up to road speed! Mash the gas! Mash the gas!" And I CAN dance - trust me - dancing backwards in high heels is a Piece of Cake compared to shifting - LOL! One-two! One-two! Sounds like you're doing fabulous - keep up the posts!
PedyPak - Congrats on getting your own truck! Other than the smoke (yuck) is it okay? Is there much storage space? What have you taken along? cooler, coffepot? etc. Thanks for the post about backing and GOAL - it takes me forever to back up - I'm afraid taking off a month before going to orientation (Ellenwood in August) will mean I've forgotten the basics I learned in school. So glad the instructors don't mind if we take the time and get out and look. I am really nervous about that 1st day test during orientation. Sounds like you got really good trainers. Did you hear anything about how it goes for the newbies with a CDL who come for the orientation?