Hello from Oregon

Hey Zeto, sorry for the delay, been driving and driving and driving.

The 10-day isn't all that bad, but some do wash out. If you have the capability and desire, you'll be fine. Basically, it's a 10-day job interview, followed by a 90-day job interview (probation).

My main piece of advice is to be prepared to completely throw out any particular thing you learned in CDL school. Some of that stuff was good, some of it is just plain wrong, and as soon as Watkins Shepard tells you otherwise, just flush it. Don't argue or point out the difference, just get rid of the bad, adopt the w-s school of thought and move forward.

The main example is driving a downgrade. My CDL school and Oregon DMV has it ALL WRONG. Adopt the W-S way of doing it, understand it, and you won't have any anxiety in the real world.

Be in the gear that you need to be to control your speed entirely with the engine brake. If you're going too fast (not on slick surfaces) USE THE BRAKES to slow down, brake HARD, slow it down, find the gear that you can use the compression brake to control your speed with. The brakes work, use them, but don't ride them down the hill and heat them up and light your tires on fire! With experience, you can go faster, but do it the way they say to do it!

 

Hey Y2K, sorry for the delay, they keep dispatching and I keep driving and not much time for internet stuff.

I grew up in Tigard, was in Sherwood for the last 4 years, now I live in a truck. Like you said, this is one rotten economy we got these days. Fricking wizards of wall street anyway . . .