New soon to be swift trainee!

Hey guys! I took the straight line backing and coupling and uncoupling test and passed those without a problem. A few people were ahead of me in testing so I couldn't get my two parallels, 90 degree and off set done. I'll do 90 after lunch for sure then practice my off set and parallel backs for the test either later today or tomorrow. I can do a funky looking 90 degree back with one pull up but it's in the boundaries!

I just got bad news about three of my classmates, they failed their road test, one of them was the older lady I previously mentioned.. Tomorrow I am thinking they will retest. San Antonio is known for failing a lot of people. I'll find out the details for what actually happened with them, as well as keep you posted on the rest of my tests! Now I'm going to eat my lunch!! Have a good day!!

 

Passed my 90 degree back test easily. I'll be honest, don't mind embarrassing myself a little. When I was told about a 90 degree back, I thought I had to put the trailer and tractor at the 90 degree angle and back it in.. I know better now! That is virtually impossible. Anyway today I'm taking 2 parellal tests and offset and I'll be done testing for the range, then next week on the road training!!

Also the rest of my class is coming back to the academy today after their road tests. I'll post later on today. Have a great day everyone!

 

Hi guys, today has been a fun,sometimes stressful, but it was very unneeded on my part. I had three test, 2 parallels and my off set. Knocked my sight side parallel out early this morning. My blind side parallel was what caused the stress. For the life of me I couldn't get it down before lunch like I had wanted. But I didn't. After lunch randy had me go do a "real blind side" park on a real curb and betweeen a blue line and a wall! Needless to say I was scared bananas. Didn't want to damage the trailer by hitting the wall. He asked me when he saw my face, " do you trust me? Do you trust my judgement? I was like "uh huh" and in my head was saying ( do you see that wall?!) he told me he believed I could do it. So after lunch he switched instructors, ( felt he made me nervous) long story short on my blind side, there is a new range instructor named mark and he graded me on the blind side. I didn't hit the wall!! Thankfully, and mark is a really cool guy as well.

Off set, I was stressing on bad as well before I got into the tractor but once I got in I was really getting it down thanks to the hours of paralleling I did the last two days. I was in the zone! I told randy I was ready to be tested on it and he came out to the rig and I got nervous... Ugh, tests and me don't get along. Anyway, I started,pulled up to the boundary, and forgot which lane I had just come out of!!.. Now I kicked myself for a good 3 minutes before I moved. Had to pull up cause I was going into the wrong hole. I was mad at myself the whole time. Finished the test; passed it and randy told me after the test that I wouldn't have done it in the real world because a trailer more than likely would have been there. That cheered me up a bit. That and a new course that was built! Man that trail was fun I don't think I was supposed to but I went from low,1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear. Last day is tomorrow on range then I'm off on Sunday, then Monday, I'll start my road preparation. This is exciting!

 

Not yet, that'll be next week, all that was just my classroom and range tests! Tomorrow I plan on practicing off set, parallels, and 90 degree backs, just to make sure I truly got it down for everyday situations. Can't wait until I'm out there over the road!!

 

Yes! It's really fun, yet it is challenging. Today I have just been studying the pre trip inspection routine and relaxing. Have all my drive time I need to graduate from range to road but I'll still get into a truck later and do something to keep up the learning. I hope it doesn't get old!

 

The school is located in Corsicana but students from Texas went to test in San Antonio. At first they were supposed to test in Wichita, I think I spelled that correct, but for some reason or another they tested in San Antonio. That'll be the last class that tests there I'm thinking because they failed everyone except two of my classmates. Some failed because they hit curbs, I think 2 hit curbs, 1 was said not to have been following directions when she was told to straight line back, pull back up to the tester and then start her parallel park. Instead she backed up, pulled up and immediately started her parallel.

The others in my class were told they didn't have enough commentary while driving. One of the people who passed said he passed with 3 points to spare, and they even said he didn't give enough commentary. I don't know, but most of my class drove vehicles like trucks before, I don't know the full story and all the details but that is rough. They have to wait two weeks before they come back an retest. Tomorrow starts my road practice, I'm told I'll test in Shreveport, but we will see. I'm about to start studying road rules and how to shift an 8 speed Volvo. Any tips are welcome! Have a good one.