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Finally, otr with my trainer...

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by gravdigr, Jun 23, 2011.

Page 3 of 9
  1. Jun 25, 2011 #21
    Yodler

    Yodler Light Load Member

    106
    31
    May 16, 2011
    Tobyhanna, PA 18466, USA
    0

    Why, I hope you have an upper bunk? :yes2557:
     
    Yodler, Jun 25, 2011
    Yodler, Jun 25, 2011
    #21
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  3. Jun 25, 2011 #22
    BigJohn54

    BigJohn54 Gone, but NEVER forgotten

    1,972
    1,599
    May 13, 2011
    SW Missouri
    0

    Trainers should be in the right seat all the time. This trainer sounds like one of the better/best I have read about. Time will tell.

    Since he has experience, IMHO, his actions say quite a bit about Gravedigr's skills. Remember, some are a natural at this and some even after years are only average. A veteran will have an idea of your skills and attitude in a few hours or days. I'll bet there are students that he seldom, if ever, spent time in the sleeper with.

    Congrats Gravedigr!
     
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2011
    BigJohn54, Jun 25, 2011
    BigJohn54, Jun 25, 2011
    #22
    nckid and shriner75 Thank this.
  4. Jun 25, 2011 #23
    shriner75

    shriner75 Heavy Load Member

    849
    575
    Dec 7, 2008
    Minnesota, dontcha know...
    0
    Have fun in Cali. Let us know what you think of the state while driving there. Have fun and happy driving....
     
    shriner75, Jun 25, 2011
    shriner75, Jun 25, 2011
    #23
  5. Jun 25, 2011 #24
    BigJohn54

    BigJohn54 Gone, but NEVER forgotten

    1,972
    1,599
    May 13, 2011
    SW Missouri
    0

    10-4 on that one. It could get lonely and dangerous in those days.
     
    BigJohn54, Jun 25, 2011
    BigJohn54, Jun 25, 2011
    #24
  7. Jun 25, 2011 #25
    s140s

    s140s Bobtail Member

    38
    7
    Jan 7, 2011
    Chicago, IL
    0
    I was somewhat my own trainer as well. I had a trainer that was asleep 15min after we got onto the highway. I was told to stay on I80 and drive ahead. My first surprise was when we got to Laramie WY and I found out Jake Brakes are not working. Then I had many more, and told the company I will not be risking my life(and license) driving equipement full of surprises and hack jobs.
     
    s140s, Jun 25, 2011
    s140s, Jun 25, 2011
    #25
  8. Jun 25, 2011 #26
    Roadmedic

    Roadmedic Road Train Member

    18,951
    8,981
    Apr 4, 2007
    0
    Met my trainer on a Tuesday afternoon.

    He let me drive for 6 hours. Stopped and changed drivers and he drove to the receiver. He backed in.

    He drove to the back haul. We drove to a stop and slept for a few hours.

    He had me drive for a few hours.

    He let me back into the receiver when we got there Thursday.

    Thursday evening back to our yard. Got my own truck.
     
    Roadmedic, Jun 25, 2011
    Roadmedic, Jun 25, 2011
    #26
  9. Jun 26, 2011 #27
    gravdigr

    gravdigr Road Train Member

    1,210
    1,121
    May 2, 2011
    Hollidaysburg, PA
    0
    Well I got 550 miles in yesterday. Had a pretty good learning experience.

    I was driving I44, after 250 miles I really needed a pee break so I started looking for a stop. I was getting desperate and saw a sign for a shell station that had diesel pumps. I exited and learned the hard way that just because they have diesel doesn't mean I can take my truck there. I wound up driving on 2 lane blacktop in the middle of BFE. I passed a sign stating weight limit 50 tons so I new it wasn't a restricted road. I followed the road for about 8 miles and came to a gas station with a gravel lot across the road. So I finally got to pee and turn around. After that I was introduced to the pocket truck stop guide....read it, learn it, love it.....lesson definitely learned, luckily it wasn't too painful. I coulda been a lot worse.

    Well we got to Oklahoma city which is where my trainer lives so we swung past his place for a short break and he had been out 2 months so he got to visit a bit. We stayed for supper. Steaks on the grill (he cooked for me!), baked potato, and a salad. Best meal I had in a long time.

    It was godawful hot there. I don't see heat like that very often. I was outside smoking a cig. We dropped the trailer at a lot and bobtailed the 1/2 mile to his house. While smoking my cig I started walking around the truck looking at everything, kinda going over my pre trip and checking everything out. The truck is a 2010 cascadia with 170k miles so it's pretty clean and in good shape. I'm looking at the brakes and....hmm, something isn't right. One of the tires looks wrong. And I see it's off its bead. The tread isn't messed up so it had to be recent. I point it out and we call road rescue and are directed to the TA and get it fixed. I'm all proud because not only was I practicing my pre trip, but I actually found something pretty important.

    At the TA I went in the sleeper and conked out. I slept through the repair. I guess there was a chunk of steel in the tire like a nail. We are in texas now. I guess we have a drop in san diego and another in LA.
     
    gravdigr, Jun 26, 2011
    gravdigr, Jun 26, 2011
    #27
    shriner75, Freebird135 and wulfman75 Thank this.
  10. Jun 26, 2011 #28
    Freebird135

    Freebird135 Road Train Member

    1,527
    906
    May 7, 2009
    In the air conditioning
    0

    good to hear you are out there and learning the ropes

    by the way, oklahoma has to be the most boring state to drive through
     
    Freebird135, Jun 26, 2011
    Freebird135, Jun 26, 2011
    #28
  11. Jun 26, 2011 #29
    gravdigr

    gravdigr Road Train Member

    1,210
    1,121
    May 2, 2011
    Hollidaysburg, PA
    0
    Yeah, once out of st louis there was nothing interesting till oklahoma city.
     
    gravdigr, Jun 26, 2011
    gravdigr, Jun 26, 2011
    #29
  12. Jun 26, 2011 #30
    Freebird135

    Freebird135 Road Train Member

    1,527
    906
    May 7, 2009
    In the air conditioning
    0
    wait til you go through alburquerque at night....its a sight to see
     
    Freebird135, Jun 26, 2011
    Freebird135, Jun 26, 2011
    #30
    shriner75 Thanks this.
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