Started Natonal Training

Started on Tuesday the 4th. In the past few days of doing straight line backing, parallel parking, offset backing, coupling and uncoupling I've realized how much I enjoy driving trucks. A recruiter from Roehl Transportation is coming by today to talk to us.

I'm pretty happy about that since I'm pre-hired with them. Toady the group I'm in will be going out on the shifting track, then tomorrow we'll go on the road. I believe this is definitely money well spent. The instructor Skip is a trip! Dennis is pretty hilarious too. All of the instructors are great and very helpful. If you don't do something right they won't yell, they just let you know what your doing wrong lol.

Well off to day three. I'll try to keep the shiny side up and the greasy side down. I'll keep y'all updated. Y'all take it easy.

 

I like mike too, hes like a slplitting image of my uncle. Harolds our instructor for our group.

 

Yesterday we went around the shifting track for the first time. I ground a few gears at first, but then I started picking it up quickly. I recorded video but my Internet's too slow to upload it in time. I'm doing really well now. Roehl came out yesterday, the first time in a few years. It was nice to hear a few more things about them. I'm feeling very comfortable with everything around the truck. The only thing I'm worried about right now is alley docking which we'll be learning Saturday.

 

Today we went to the Tater Fields. I love driving that truck so much. Definitely a big difference between driving on the road and driving on the shifting track. Your nerves are a lot worse on the road. We were behind the other training truck, they were stopped at a stop sign, turning left. An SUV whips out around their right side and cuts in front of them turning left. He cut right into the lane not knowing if there was any oncoming traffic or not. I was passed on a double yellow line road going over a hill-top. It's incredible at how stupid people can be. Just because they don't want to wait two minutes to go their turn.

I now like driving the Rig more than my personal car. I feel more comfortable in that truck than i do my impala.

 

So today we drove to the flying J on the outskirts of St. Augustine. Definitely a lot of fun driving these trucks. Please dont take that the wrong way, I know it's not a game or a toy, but I just enjoy Driving so much. This is the lifestyle I want.

 

So Yesterday we went to Jax. I hate driving in traffic, but it wasn't too bad. they started doing evaluations on our driving. They don't count against us yet, its just to show us where we're at and what we need to improve on.

<299 is a failing score
300-400 is passing

I would have made a 360, but I auto failed. I ran a red light... I didn't think I had enough room to stop so I just kept at the speed limit. It changed red as soon as the top of the windshield was about to cover the light. Harold said if he can see it turn red then I had enough room to stop.

I was pretty bummed out and mad at myself for it, but i didn't wanna just slam on the brakes ya know. Anyway, tomorrow we go to Palatka. At least I know Palatka well since I used to live there for about 17 years. I figure that will be a new day and a new evaluation.

Today we did more backing. I finally have my straight line, offset(both blind and sight sidde), parallel(both blind and sight side), and alley docking down pat using both one of the old KW's truck 11 and the white/volvo/gm truck 21.

I know i'm good on coupling and un-coupling now. I just gotta work on my road driving and I'll be good to go. I wish I could float the gears while im in school. It's SOOOO much easier than double-clutching..

 

Today we did the coupling and uncoupling test. Passed that and passed both the DOT test and logbook test. So I'm happy about that.

I just gotta do backing and the road test tomorrow. I'm excited. If all goes well then I'll have my CDL by friday around noon