Swift Training @ C1 Indianapolis

Lots of tests today @ school. Passed them all easy peasy. School let out @ 4pm, today was the BMV's "late" day. They allow testing until 5:30pm. Dipped over there & completed my General knowledge, combination, air brakes as well as tanker, doubles/triples & passenger endorsements. Was gonna do Hazmat but ran outta time, I'll pick that up next Tuesday (or maybe Saturday if the branch is open).

Feels good to have my permit in hand! If all goes well I'm on track to complete the program in week 3. Gotta keep the momentum going & start practicing pre-trip.

I'm not accustomed to waking up so early, LOL. I'm pooped.

 

Arrived @ 6:15am Did open-book tests for FMCSA Rules & Regs (green book) updated monthly! That must get expensive. Ohio students piled in a van to go to Ohio & attempt the CDL Permit written exams. Those from Indiana who either failed yesterday or didn't go to BMV (it was afterschool & optional) was given another opportunity to do so during this time today.

Went outside to the range with remaining students & observed first complete instructor led pre-trip demonstration. At one point I sat down on the pad to view under the trailer and was politely chewed out. Sitting on the range is a big No-No. I was informed it's unwise to NOT have your feet underneath you at all times (incase you need to move quickly) when students that have never driven tractors before are behind the wheels several tons of metal...makes sense!

Finished with groups of 4 doing in-cab, safe start & 4 point break check.

Break for lunch 11:45-12:45.

Returned to class for MAPTRIP. (Map reading/Trip planning) Lecture & Practicle test.

Finished with brief description of paper-logs (4 main lines, flags & brackets) & assigned homework. Class dismissed @ 4pm.

Seeing as how there are only 5 Swift students left (myself included) I decided to make friends with one of them. We buddied up afterclass & went to the range. We located an unused rig & went over pre-trip again together.

Using the range after-hours in highly encouraged. Although you (obviously) can't drive around without an instructor...we are permitted to fire up the engine for purposes of building the air-supply tank pressure for gauge & the 4-point brake check. They just ask that you keep hands off the air-horn & don't unnecessarily burn up wiper fluid.

It started to rain so we bailed after running through pre-trip twice.

Thanks for reading. Time for homework & watching pre-trip videos!

 

Obviously! Blinker fluid usage is clearly outlined in section 7892.3 subsection "d" provision "IV" paragraph 2.

 

Missed blogging day 4, was all about logs. We now gotta keep a log of all of our time at the school as if we're drivers. We only use off duty (Line 1) for breaks & after school and on duty not driving (Line 4) for school until we get into road skills. Then we log drive time.

Day #5. Pre-trip, pre-trip, pre-trip! Was raining ice but overall a highly productive day. Had pre-trip homework yesterday which outlined the flow of the pre-trip (IE Front of vehicle: fill the blank, fill the blank. Passenger side Engine compartment: fill the blank, Drivers side: full the blank). Tbh I thought the homework was a but redundant seeing as how I don't have a truck here LOL but I did surprisingly well today when going through the process with my classmates.

I started with the same buddy I had yesterday. He had the checklist & I was going blind. By the time I finished drivers side Engine I now had about 10 people huddled around me asking me questions & following me through doors, mirrors, back of cab, etc.

I use an acronym of ABCDEF One I get to the back of cab. Airlines(electrical), battery, catwalk, driveshaft, exhaust & frame. Then "Mr. Lapskag Jr." for Mounting bolts, release arm, locking lins, air-line (for 5th wheel), platform, skid-plate (5th wheel), king-pin, apron, Gap & Jaws. I know it sounds silly but it helps me LOL.

I (technically) missed the tandem release because I called the release handle a lock pin. I realized what I did when I got to the actual lock pin (if that's the lock pin, what the hell is this doohickey called?) Lol. I also get the brake drums & hub mixed up.

I remember the tires by ICD. Inflation, condition, depth. Anything metal is checked for CBB, cracked bent or broken.

I really surprised myself today & apparently half the class thinks I actually know what I'm talking about...I'm Not so sure Haha!

Anyway, tomorrow is an optional day but I'm going back with a few other guys (and gals) to work on pre-trip some more & get keys to the trucks normally used for backing practice to do a live 4 point brake check. I Got to do a few live 4 point checks today but then an instructor would come & need the truck, so I'd switch trucks & then 5 minutes later here comes another student & instructor.

They don't care if we get into empty trucks with keys to practice but if someone has range time scheduled that takes presidence over pre-trip.

Tommorow there will be fewer students due to it not being a mandatory day. I expect to (hopefully) have this down before the weekends up.

We get to straight-line starting Monday but unless we can pass pre-trip by Wednesday we're not allowed to offset or parallel until we pass. I WILL NOT (not) pass. Even though we (technically) have until the end of week 3 to nail it... It's simply out of the question and I consider that timeline to be unacceptable.

I wanna be ready to road test by the end of week 3 & I'll be a monkeys uncle that a clevis pin or release handle will get in my way.