Team Werner

Ok, so I promised to tell you about day 2.

On Tuesday we got to school at 8am and did our drug tests first thing. Luckily, I had been studying for that test my entire life, so no problem passing!

After we did that we broke up into 2 groups and went to the trucks and were taught pre-trips. We were just shown a basic pre-trip around the truck and what to look for. In Nebraska when you take your CDL test you are not required to perform a pre-trip. The only thing you test regarding inspections, is when you take the written test at the DMV on the computer. So, they didn't spend a whole lot of time. We were basically shown what we need to look for and the parts of the truck and that was it. We are then required to pre-trip the truck everyday with our group that is going out driving. And to think, I had been so worried about pre-trips! So, the day started with the pressure off and I was feeling pretty good. Some of the females were having difficult times opening the hood of the truck, but I managed it very easy on the first time. I guess all this extra weight I have is finally good for something!

We then breaked for lunch and came back and off to the Dr for our physicals. Now even though Jeremiah and I had just gotten our physical done in Dec we had to get another one done here. Stupid if you ask me. I had to laugh because the doctor that examined me was chatting with me and told me that these physicals are such a joke! He said that he would never give his patient on of these so called "physicals" that they are basically just a hi, ok you are alive and can breath, well here ya go!

That took all afternoon and we got back we got our stuff and headed back to the dorm!

All in all, day 2 was easy and just a lot of sitting around. We were all supposed to be studying while at the doctor's office but in reality everyone was chatting, even the instructor's.

There was a guy in the Dr office who is a driver, not affiliated with Werner or the school, he just happened to be there. Well, he had just had an accident the week before (he had been injured and that was why he was at the DR for a follow up) and had rolled his truck. He has been driving for over 20 years. He told us all these stories and claimed he always makes at least $60K and sometimes even up to $95K. He said one time he was driving over 105mph in his truck, got pulled over and the cop had already cleared his radar gun so he got a ticket for speeding but for only like 10 miles over!!! Anyway, on Wednesday when we went to school our instructor commented on this guy. He told us that everything the guy said is probably BS and that if he actually drove over 5500 miles himself on average then that is why the guy was involved in an accident!! He said alot of guys like to brag and tell tales but that you have to take everything you hear with a grain of salt.

I will also update you on a few other things that have happend. One guy got sent home on Thursday because it turns out he has, I think Jeremiah said a SR22, something about getting a no-insurance ticket and he didn't tell Werner about it and they found out, so he was sent home. And then today another guy left, but on his own. He didn't show up to class today from I heard, and then this afternoon when his roommate when to the room he found that they guy's side of the room was empty and the sheets and all his stuff was gone. The guy was pretty young, 22, and this was his first time away from home and his wife had been calling missing him really bad. He was in my group the day I had the incident with the truck. He had messed up a few times as well and was very nervous and scared. I am not too surprised to see him leave. So, counting me the class has now lost a total of 3 people. Nobody failed their drug tests or physical.

Yesterday (Thursday) Jeremiah said that he spent the majority of the day straight line backing. Then he went to the DMV to take the gen. knowledge, air brakes, combo, and pre-trip tests. He had passed them all on the pre-tests he took online but he failed them all at the DMV!! He said they were worded so differently, it just through him off. He is going to have to study the Nebraska book more before he goes back. There are also several people who have not passed their permit tests yet, and they have been given Monday as the last day that they get the chance to pass the test of they go home.

Today (Friday) was Jeremiah's first day out on the road. His instructor told him and his driving partner that they did so well that he was going to let them go drive some in town. They were the first group allowed to do this! And this was just day 2 of driving! His instructor said that Jeremiah and B (his driving partner) are the two best in the class so far. Jeremiah said he isn't going to let that go to his head because he feels he still has alot to learn and still made several mistakes. His bad habit is not keeping both hands on the wheel at all times. He forgets and lets one arm rest.

But that is better than this one other girl. She almost hit a train!!! She said she saw the train, her brain registered hey there is a train, but it just didn't send the signal down to her feet! One of the guy's riding in the truck told us that he was scared for his life and saw his life pass before his eyes, but she did finally get stopped in the nick of time.

I am sure that I will still have more to tell you. I might not be in class anymore, but I will let you know what Jeremiah tells me.

Take care!!!!