Heading For Little Rock! Maverick

Jim you are SO RIGHT ON about this! As a newer guy, I can attest to this for all of you BRAND-newbies and soon-to-be's. Sarge had me do the backs at the end of the days alot of times- and at the truck stops- repeatedly at the truck stops. Once I'd get backed into a spot, it was time to pull out of the spot and into another one. I did seventeen backs in one truck stop out in Oklahoma in one evening. It helped me dramatically.

ttownrunner- you really should heed this advice if you need practice with the spread-axle trailers, they do not twist and turn very easily into those tight spots.

 

I do this also, and it has helped me avoid some problems that I know I would have gotten into if I had not. Very good idea to do this. Kind of like a surveilance satellite photo of your destination to make sure your plan is fool-proof. It also really helps out with your time in and out of the pick-up/delivery.

 

Would anyone like to volunteer for that position, lol.

 

I've already talked to my trainer about the way the trailer is different and I want to learn to handle it backing. Delivered at ft. Smith and picked up there and drove back to nlr and leaving for Chicago in the morning. Recopying my notes on securement helped a lot. Thanks for the advice. I want to learn all I can while I have someone with me. Thanks ya'll. Be safe. Talk to ya'll later.

 

So hubby is now a maverick! He did say that if you dont pass the final
securement test that you may have to stay an extra week for securement training before being assigned a trainer? Has this happened to anyone?

 

another good exercise Sarge had me do during some down time at NLR terminal was to practice backing in a snake-like motion in the big gravel lot in the back of the complex. That really helped me understand the "agility" of our spread-axle trailers. Invaluable exercise, I highly recommend it.

 

They did say that when I went thru in November, however none that made it that far in my class had to do that, we all passed. I would advise him to not worry about that and just focus on nailing it the first time. Take GOOD notes and before hitting the submit button on exam, go back to 1st question and "re-take" the test. Tell him NOT to try to be one of the first ones done with tests. I was almost always the last one done- & it was on purpose. I hardly missed one question on any of the numerous tests by taking my time.

 

That's what I did. Notes and read the whole question and then go back over the test.