Roadmasters Schooling.

Hello all, I guess it's time to post an update. We have been pretty much doing our back ups and some road driving for the past few days. I finally got my off set backing and parallel parking. We did a practice test and it seems that I can do it if I think I am being tested. Which is good I guess since when it does count I should do ok. We did two backing practice test in two different trucks, the first one I did good, the second one I did really bad. I really believe this second truck is the biggest piece of crap truck I have driven. It was like night and day compared to the newer truck. I couldn't steer, turn or even see the cones in my mirrors very well. I was not the only one having that issue either, so I know it was not me. So I told my trainer that there is no way I am testing in that junkie ### truck.
This is the last week of training and we start taking our tests on Thrusday. Start with the pre-trip, then backing and last the road test. I am thinking I will do pretty good on the pre-trip, the backing has me a little nervous and the road trip I'm feeling ok with. Just have to stay calm and take deep breaths if I get nervous. There is only a few days left to practice so I better take full advantage of it. I will let you all know how it goes.

 

Thanks Foomangoo. I try to stay excited about the choice I've made to enter the trucking world. I have been wanting to do this since I was a kid. My grandfather was a trucker and I loved riding along with him in his truck. So if this dream turns into a nightmare, well then at least it's one dream I can mark off my list. If it turns out to where I love it, then all the better. I figure you really can't put a price on a dream, so I paid $5 grand to learn to drive a truck, if it turns out I don't like it, at least I took the chance and will have no regrets later in life that I didn't try it.
Well on with the update. We have been doing so more driving and I am getting the turns and shifting pretty good. My trainer says I should have not problem passing the road test. But my backing leaves much to be desired. It doesn't help that we only get a few hours of day light to practice, then when it gets dark the driving yard has crap for lights. You can't see any cones and not able to line up and back into the offset or parallel parking. When we were doing it on Saturday, I was just starting to get the hang of it, I could see the cones and see where I needed to be. During the week we only get a few hours of day light so it's not helpful. Tomorrow we do our pre-trip test, which I should do good on. Friday we do our backing test, which I am not so confident on, but I will give it my best shot. Saturday we do the final road test, which i am pretty confident on.
This I must let everyone know that is thinking of coming to Roadmasters for the night class. DON'T!!!!! You will regret it. The trainers are great, but there is only so much they can do. If you can't see where you are going, then you are not going to do it correctly. I paid $5 grand to pretty much put a blind fold on and remember where the cones are to back up a 60 ft truck/trailor. Maybe some people can do that, but I'm not one of them. I will be making a very big complaint to the corporate headquarters about the poor conditions of the equipment and driving yard and will even demand some of my money back. I know I won't get any, but it still leaves a statement of how pissed I am.
I will let you all know how I do on the test as I take them, wish me luck.

 

Yesterday we got a change in schedule for the testing. We did out pre-trip test, which I passed with flying colors. Today we will do our backing test, which I am most nervous about. I just have a hard time making those adjustments to get my trailer to line up with the cones to back into the offset. We are told we can make a practice run before we test, but I think I am just going to do it cold turkey. It seems the more I try in a day, the worse I get. So I am just going to get in the truck and go for it. Hopefully everything works out good enough to pass. Then Friday we will be driving downtown Salt Lake to practice for out test on Saturday. I feel pretty good about the road test on Saturday. I will let you all know how the backing goes tonight. Drive safe.

 

Well that is a big fat failed on the backing. Three dam times I couldn't do it. Everyone else in the class got it, but just could get the off set backing. I got the parallel fine, but that dam off set is kicking my butt. So I have to test again on Saturday, which is the same day as my road test. This really sucks, I had everything lined up and started backing and some how I kept sticking my back end out of the box, my trainer says I'm not turning my hard left to take the arch out of the turn fast enough. I am turning that wheel as fast as it will go. I just don't know. Hopefully I will get it on Saturday.

 

Today we did our road tests. Well lets just say the tester was very kind to me. I should have failed, but since I told the tester what I did wrong before he had a chance tell me he let is slide. I knew I should have waited for a car to move, but it was to late to stop. Oh well. I passed the road test. I also passed the backing test. It took 4 more tries to get it, but it finaly sunk in. I was able to back the offset and get it in the box. So I have my CDL now. YEAH.... I hope this has helped someone decide on a trucking school or career. I am off to Watkin Shepard on Sept 22nd for their 10 orientation, which will be 10 days of extra training and then if I pass their road test I will get a truck and start my career. I will start a thread on that experience to let those who want to know about W/S. Good Luck to You All.