From the schoolbus to the truck

Well I have finally started school today. I am going to OTC here in the good ole ozarks. It's a new program and looks very promising. My background is last year I became a class b holder and started driving a schoolbus. Job is great. The money is not. So after a lifetime dream and being a son of a driver I have taken the plunge. For the last year I have been living at this website and have learned a lot. It showed today at school. Today we went over the CDL book on General knowledge. Tomorrow is airbrakes and combination. I only need the combination since I already have a class b with airbrakes. Friday we get our permits then we get to drive. I can't wait. I will be posting my daily events for the other newbies to read on and whoever might be entertained by them.

 

Day 2, We went over airbrakes and combination vehicles. Got outside to look at the 5th wheel assembly. During lunch I got inside the truck and looked around. The truck desperately needs TMT to fix a few things. LOL The school has a 97 frieghtliner and a 97 international. Tomorrow all the students go to the DMV to get permits, have lunch and then start driving. Woo Hoo!

 

Day 3: I woke up and got online to take some practice cdl tests. I only need Combination Vehicles where as the rest of the class (about 7 of us) needed Gen know, and aibrakes as well. Since I only needed one I did some last minute studying for Tankers and doubles.. So this morning we all met at the dmv and tested. Half failed half passed I passed and got my endorsements as well. I will try Hazmat next week when I have more time to study. Those of us who made it through went back to the school and we got to drive the range. After dreaming about it since I was five years old I got to drive a big rig. It's a 97 Freightliner donated by Trailiner. While it was just around the range it felt good. I can't wait til Monday.

 

Day 4:

Today the rest of the students who didn't pass their written exams friday redid their tests and came back. Since they passed today everyone is on the same page. Because of this me and two other students got more drive time behind the wheel. We stayed on the range and practiced shifting up, stops and starts, and backing straight line. We went over log books and started the learning process of recording everything on a driver's log book. My instructor says I am doing well just gotta be smoother on the clutch. (still have my four wheeler habits). We have a couple of s turns on the range. I'm doing well on those. On my straightline backing I have to think opposite of my schoolbus. Seeing something long in my mirror backing up is not new but it being "hinged" is. It basically makes everything opposite of what I am used to in steering. If the trailer in the left hand mirror goes one way you steer that direction. In a bus or straight truck it's different. Oh well. I did ok but need a little practice. Today we were dismissed early on account of the sleet and snow. It was 78 degrees yesterday, today it's like 25 degrees. I guess they didn't want a bunch of amatuers playing with 18 wheelers on the ice. LOL

 

Day 5......nothing! School was cancelled due to snow. Springfield has got about 5 inches of snow. The amounts are worse the further east on I44 you go. Coincidently westbound was backed up due to a jackknifed truck. Oh and those of you traveling on US65 wave hello as you go by the school in Ozark, MO. Until next time....

 

The cancellation is more for the students getting to school I think. Everyone has to drive quite a ways to get here. We did get some "ice" time as the parking lot had some slick spots. I appreciate everyone's comments and help. It's overwhelming at times other times it seems easy. I try not to think about it too much.

Day 6:
Range time this morning was shifting up, downshifting, and straight backing into a dock after an S turn. This was to teach us to set up good before you even start backing. After lunch we went over pre-trip inspection and did alley dock from the side. It's all how one sets up. There were times it was easy and there were moments I struggled. I wish I had more time behind the wheel but sharing with three others isn't too bad. The other three are in the other truck. I am prefering the International. The clutch seems to be smoother on it. I am actually double clutching on downshifting without thinking about it. I bet everything is easier when it's second nature. One girl didn't know how to drive a standard until now. I say she is better off because she doesn't have the four wheeler bad habits of shifting.
One thing I am NOT looking forward to is the Pretrip portion of the test. I had to do it last year for the class B schoolbus test now I get to do it all over again with more stuff to remember than last time. I am wondering when I should take the written for my hazmat. We go to the DOT to test on March 27th and 28th. I wanna time it so I can just put it on my CDL when everything else is done.