Newbie member from Vancouver, BC, Canada

Just say hi to every one on the forum.

After done with my last job as a carpenter, I got my class 1 license in June, 3. After a month of trying to find a job, an O/O friend of mine offered to provide training for a month or two, so I may have an easier time finding a job afterwards.

Almost at the same time, a tour bus company called me for an interview to drive a tour bus around town. So I went there to just give it a shot. Turned out the interviewer/dispatcher has a good relationship with the competing tour bus company I used to work at as a mechanic. A few days later I was called for a driving assessment, by then I've gone through an urine test and ready to go with my friend. After discuss the situation with my wife, we decided to give up the tour bus driver opportunity.

My first OTR trip was to LA, CA on June, 27 and back via Oxnard on July, 2.

The first day I didn't drive, just watch and chat, learning the rules of the road. The second day, I drove for 6 hours, kept riding on the solid line on my right, as I seen other people do. And over the line when a truck was passing me. Passing through Sacramento on I-5 10 o'clock at night, I was having a little difficulty staying in the center of my lane while cars passing by left and right.

The third day I drove for another 6 hours, an hour into my driving, I start feel comfortable steering with only left hand and stay in the center of my lane at all time. When the night came, my trainer said he really want to go to bed sleep but don't completely trust my driving, have to keep an eye on the road for me, but he dozed off from time to time. I even start to play with light signals with passing trucks.

We have to spend 5 hours in a TK dealership to get the refeer serviced. A hose was leaking refrigerant and we kept getting alarm 26 and 32. Burnt a tank of fuel in one day. When it first gave out the alarm, it was Saturday, we stopped at a TA in Aurora at night, but the shop said all they can do to refeer is change the oil. They helped us find a mobile service person for TK, and the going rate for weekend is $500 minimum.

We decided to wait till Monday and keep clearing the alarm in the mean time, by Sunday, the refeer started to shut off, and it was really hot outside, 43 C. We went to Stockton to check it out on Monday. after 3 hours, the mechanic told us a hose was replaced and everything is fine, no charge it's still under warranty. We were wondering if there is any charge if we called the mobile service on weekend.

The fourth day we were heading back to Canada, my trainer handed me the steering wheel, told me don't miss the scale and went to the back, had a meal and climbed to bed for almost the whole time.

I can't say the whole trip was uneventful, but I did learn a lot on my first trip.

Norm

 

Thank both of you for your warm welcome. After on the road for over 7 weeks with over 16,000 miles under my belt, I'm not so new a newbie any more. After I was done with my training with my friend, I started looking for a job. Even in this economy, I got four companies showed some interest in me. I'll let you know how it pan out.