Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

I will gladly help out anyway I can, no need for any gratuity.

 

I'm going to see where we are at the end of the week, then I'll let you know. I'm thinking maybe just a little talk from you about how it was when you were learning. Apparently my 39 years ain't penetrating.

 

That meltdown thing is concerning. Hope he can get that worked out. That could be ugly the first time he gets himself cornered.

I used to get uptight when it wasn't going right. Then after being at truckstops watching others, I figured out that it wasn't just me having issues. Now I just talk out loud to myself and make the occasional hand gesture. I must be quite the sight sometimes.

 

Thank God I have him in a controlled environment, I'd hate to see him alone in a real world back.

 

Yeah. He's got to get over that anger thing. It doesn't do any good at all. It just takes away the ability to think rationally.

 

My instructor in school explained it to me like this. First he had me set up and then get out and walk to the back of the trailer, visualize where I thought the back would go and then told me to turn the wheel in the opposite direction (if I wanted tail to go left, turn wheel right or clockwise, etc). After backing a few feet had me get out again and walk back to tail again. Then he would ask me where is your trouble (what side is going to possibly hit something or where do you need to straighten). Then he would tell me turn towards your trouble. So if you are too far to the left and need to move right, you turn your wheel counter clockwise (or to the left). Finally clicked in my head then. So, guess he taught me how to G.O.A.L!!!!!!

 

GOAL is important. SET UP IS EVERYTHING, poor set up = a huge unnecessary battle. Small movements of steering wheel, with a good set up your steering wheel shouldn't have to move ANYMORE than 9 or 3 o'clock position on a clock face. BE PATIENT, your steering input takes about 9 feet of travel distance to see the effect of your steering input. DON'T be TOO handsy on the wheel. Go slow, speed makes your input happen faster. STAY CALM!!!

 

Take the dinner dude...

 

Backing was my biggest issue to overcome too... CDL School taught me how to "pass the test"... things like "line up with that stop sign across the street".... LOL ... as if that sign will ever be anyplace I will need to back into.

 

Current load: 44k lbs of cooking oil or margarine or some such to Bunge in Bradley, IL.

Appointment time: Any time between 7:00am and 5:00pm.

So I come rolling in at 2:00pm and get told that the plant has lost power and they've shut down and won't reopen until tomorrow at 7:00am, thank you, drive through.

And thus endeth my driving day.