First day of CDL school

Look into the milk industry then. You will have to visit your state's testing place for a license to be allowed to assess the raw milk, weight it and collect it for food grade. One of the questions related to the cows. If they are emotionally happy they produce good milk. For some reason I remember that one.

You will be trained to weigh milk to very exact because the entire farm and family depends on that number you write on that clipboard.

You might not realize it now but at 24 you have a opportunity. The things you stated will assist you powerful in the milk tanking work. Up at 4 at the truck and rolling by 5 and to the first farm and so on. It's a beautiful routine. Not so stressing really.

Eventually you will meet and know everyone. And there you might find doors open to you later on. Who knows.

I am a little bit of a bear now and then because of who I am, but I enjoy teaching a little sunshine where possible. Especially since you have done do well in your tests.

 

Any state will require a separate certification only for those that are actually involved in the loading/transfer of raw milk from the chiller(at the dairy) to the transport tank. If you are just going to be hauling it from A to B then a CDL with tank endorsement is all you need. Most dairy loaders that I have encountered(down here in SW USA) are working 12 hr shifts and running their tail feathers off!!

 

Your nearest Milk Collective or Coop etc will provide you that information to the particular testing location for that cert. It is not a formal license like the CDL, but it IS required for Food Grade collection for raw milk which itself sometimes requires good judgment to refuse spoiled, contaminated or otherwise bad milk from loading into the tanker filled with good milk. (And the blood, sweat, labor and tears of the farms you picked up at...)

 

I'm starting school next Saturday! My question is...
The most viewed pre trip inspection video on youtube,"
Is that pretty much the same as how they have you doing it at truck school?

 

First thing about inspecting a big truck.

Everything bolted to, welded to, attached to, built on, wired on etc etc etc all over that truck and trailer is ESSENTIAL.

So, when you inspect a big truck you start at the Drivers cab door, hood open and work your way to the front and around down the right side around back and back to the drivers door. The second phase would be getting under neath the rig to really get into it.

When you do one rig often enough, to be a little masculine it becomes like a mistress, or a woman you are very familiar with now. Any changes that develop due to something beginning to break, go flat, overheat or other issues will cry out for attention to you. And you will go fix it. (Shop etc)

Keep in mind a determined DOT Team at a scales on the highway intent on writing something OOS on that truck or any truck WILL FIND SOMETHING wrong with it. Especially if you are not nice to them.

The description of how I do a PTI, is the same as I learned it back in the 80's and if presented with a semi truck I will inspect it just like that all the way around and under just like always. Doing something over and over and over instills a form of muscle memory into your mind. Any variation or problems will really get your attention.

 

That's awesome!! Thank you!
I know there is a lot to learn at the school, am also aware that they are there to make sure I pass everything. So that takes the pressure off a bit.