Never ending student driver journey

How many peope have see the Never ending story OOO did I just date myself there lol.

This is my journey so far now I may not get to all of it tonight. I will however tell you that tomorrow I take the DMV tests.The whole Four point break test, Tug test the in cab and your PTI. Here in Califorina atleast in my town we do three skills thats it. The Straight back Parallel park a controlled right turn and ally dock thats it. Then the drive which is about 30 or so mins. I don't have my hopes up very high because today the truck I wanted to use for the test broke down and was put in the shop so I have to use a truck I didn't really practice in. Lucky me right? There is a little bit of good news I have used this truck before and have taken the DMV test before in this truck and its the whole reason why I went with the other truck. I have taken the test four times tomorrow will be number five. so four times I failed in this truck. One of those doesn't count because they were nice enough to let me retest even after starting the drive. Said my truck manfunctioned or something like that. she could have really failed me but she didn't which is good. atleast one of the testers is nice.

I have been in truck driving school since July(week of July 4th) I got my permit. started all the medical stuff and junk. Before I get into that lets get into some background about me, My name is Chris I am 6'5 pretty large guy.( I want to ask some questions about this latter pretaining to teams but I will hold off.) I was running my own vending machine busniess. I came into some money from a family member passing away and he really wanted me to start my own busniess. I did a little research and I was looking around and found some vending machines. Long story short, I think I made a big mistake investing in these machines. I have had nothing but problems these supposeded "New Machines" but I was willing to try and find a way to fund my vending machines. I didn't want to let this family member down. even if they are nothing but problems I will more then likely have to replace each one. anyway, I have always wanted to try being a trucker. My Grandpa on both sides and grandma on my dads side were truckers. I like the idea of traveling it seems fun to me. I was able to pay full price for a 4 week class. I told them I have never had a manual transmission. I have never really saw my grandpa shift either. I do remember the yellow and red buttons though from being in the truck as kid. anyway I had problems on different things I am a slow learner. Maybe its a good thing its taking this long for me to pass its gods will or somethin Logbook, PTI, brake tests, you name it I struggled to get it down, but I did get it down. First, test was ok. I past my brake tests in cab and PTI I did my straight back Parallel and went to the ally dock. I pulled up way to far and failed. Next test I nailed all the skills and then went driving. I was so nervous that I think I was shaking, yeah I know thats pretty bad. I wanted this SO bad though. Well I got to this railroad crossing and thinking it was four way stop sign(which it wasn't) started to go tester says stop! I stop stalled the truck on the railroad track. instant fail. Next test I start the drive I stall it on the first corner of the test I did this on the next test as well. Well now I know how to not do that. start in 2nd instead of 4th gear(yes its emty trailer). its a little bit more shifting but I haven't stalled doing that yet. so now I have to retake everything premit which I passed and wait 30 days before I can take the test again fastforward. Tomorrow is the day. Thats pretty much my journey so far. My shifting is very smooth. The last DMV test I took the tester even told me she knew I knew how to control a truck I was just so nervous that just stalled it. like I said this is something I want so bad that but makes me so nervous its nuts. I just need to calm down and do it. and I hope I will be back to post tomorrow saying that I did it.

I have a bunch of pre hires and US xpress is one of them. Wedge I haven't gotten around to reading everything you posted in your start up post and your post on this forum because I just recently found this website but you and bunch of the others that I think are cool and would make working for US xpress cool. you have made it easy for me to chose US xpress now. I know that the other start up companies probley have some guys like Wedge but you seem really happy. I want to be like that. Now I just need to pass.

Will post tomorrow one way or another. Later
Chris

 

Your going to have to do better then "Go with Roehl" for me to actually want to do that.

 

I think its just nerve's really. I am a slow learner I will be the first one to tell you that, but I do get it from doing it over and over again. I have a very clean driving record I know 4 wheelers aren't exactly a semi but only been in two accidents in my life both not my fault (they hit me) I have only gotten pulled over once and that was 11 years ago when I first started to drive. I have driven (like I said not a semi) to SD and then back to Washinton state through OR and down to where I live in Califoria so road time isn't the problem. I feel comfortable enough in the truck as well. I will be working with teams I am not going solo don't think I could do that. I was actually thinking about maybe going local after I get a couple of years in OTR. I do consider myself safe and I got the G.O.A.L video while in school but I see what your saying and even with skills after a ally dock I go back and make sure I am still in the box. I think the whole failing over and over its helped me more because my school keeps training me I have all most 5 months of driving and skills. In a way its helped me grab onto more my shifting is really smooth I down shift just as good. Once I get passed this and I know what your saying about having a self-confidence issue though. I think I have always had a problem with that but thats personal and I won't go there though.

I still think this is what I want to do my teacher told me if he was still running his trucking company he would hire me no problem and he's been driving since 79 I don't know how much of that is just building me up or whatever.

I am driving a shorter trailer but my trainer told me what you just did about docking and has shown me how. I really wanted to stay away from that longer trailer till I pass then I can get in some practice with the longer one before I even call anyone to hire on. I have driven it. In short my trainer told me all the 53' footer is is the same wheel base postion as the shorter trailer just with a longer trailer not sure how true that is but it seemed to help me deal with it. I am always looking in my mirrors and what not I feel I would be a ok driver.

I thank you for your reply GAlanFink maybe see you out there I hope some day.

 

I passed the tester I got was very througho and asked me to explain alot of things I didn't know. The first time I took the PTI I missed two this time I missed 16 thats not right. I don't like the fact that testers have different rules everyone should have the same rules and FOLLOW THEM