At Crowder for Conway in Joplin,MO

I thought i'd start posting here instead of at the conway blog to make it easier for people searching for info on schools

those looking for previous info on my start & progress info may go there. I dont have time to retype, got to much to do to get ready for monday. but best of luck to all of you. heres my post for this past week at crowder & will update through the library computer at the crowder when the oppurtunity arises.

hello there to everyone

Before you start reading you may want to take a potty break because I’m sure to get long winded here. But here it goes.

WOW, where do I start. It's Saturday & the first week is over. Been a crazy but fun week so far. Lots of time driving which I really appreciate since I'm more of a hands on type of person. Lots of pre-trip, which I pretty much got down minus some fine tuning. After class is over I go right back to the trucks & practice pre-trips before going to the chow hall for dinner. My take on pre-trip is you better have it down by end of the first week because the beginning of week 2 you start in cab inspections. For me, it just makes the transition into week 2 a lot easier, if there is such a thing. LOL

Here’s a breakdown of week 1

Monday- paper work, intro, familarize with trucks. Then off to doctors for piss test to end day. then reading homework.......
And as far as the piss test goes. You know right now where you stand on this, so why waste your time & money, not to mention Conways &Crowders by hoping to sneak through it. The way I look at it either you do or you don't. Enough said on that.

Tuesday-class for 1-2 hours, then off to pre-trip, pre-trip, pre-trip. driving practice up-shifting WOW its a long way down to the ground. what ever you do don't hit the barrels you will have to fill out an accident report. Park trucks then end day back to class for review. For me back to truck for pretrip, pretrip then dinner at chow hall then, home work reading

Wednesday-classroom for 1-2 hours. log intro. then more pre-trip, pre-trip, pre-trip. Then driving up-shifting, then intro into transition of high end then back down again, over & over again. At end of day park trucks & un-couple. Back to class for logs, & review of day. More homework. For me. Back to pre-trip before dinner. then homework reading

Thursday-classroom on logs. then pre-trip, pre-trip, pre-trip. Hook up trailers then off to driving figure eights, up-shifting - downshifting over & over. then maneuvering cones referred to as serpentine. Then straight backing, the first barrels knocked over today by 1 student. Thank god it wasn't me !!!!!! LMAO Back to class to fill out logs & end day. For me, back to pre-trip before dinner. Homework reading & practice log

Friday-classroom review logs. then off to vehicles re-couple trailers & pre-trip. WENT FOR FIRST ROAD TRIP WOW!!!!!!.....That’s all I can say, for me being this my first time in a big-rig. 5 day latter driving down public roads, lets just say.... for me the intimidation factor kicked in. there’s a lot more to focus on then just up-shifting & downshifting at this point just when you think you got it they throw in LIGHTS,ROAD SIGNS,VEHICLES BEHIND, VEHICLES COMING AT YOU, NOT TO MENTION YOUR DRILL SARGEANT SITTING NEXT TO YOU WATCHING YOUR EVERY MOVE. LMAO What a great experience, as nerve wrecking as it was. Now with all that said not to mention the big sigh of relief. the instructor was great coaching you through the times when shifting didn’t go as planned. I was definitely wearing my dunce cap several times. And whatever you do don't stop the truck. Then back to driving figure eights at the course. WOW, again you have no idea how much easier this became after being on that road trip. Now i'm trying to shift a little easier. More serpentines, straight backing. Also appears another set of barrels knocked over. ONCE AGAIN, thank god it wasn’t me. Then parked trucks. Back to class for review of day, & logout. Homework reading & practice log trip. For me, back to pre-trip at truck & trailer, then dinner & then long trip home to see wife for weekend.

RECAP, folks this course is intense & very detail oriented. you have to be truly dedicated to this. all i can say for now is pre-trip, pre-trip & more pre-trip.LOL You really have to want this, because they are looking to insure you can identify the the different parts & systems of both truck & trailer & be able to identify what you are looking for as to what could be wrong with each. not to mention in the language that they want to hear it in. LMAO & if your not sure about anything don’t be afraid to ask no matter how stupid you may think it is, Because it just might be the tidbit of info that helps to make it all !!!CLICK!!!

Gotta go for now, gotta do laundry, read, practice trip log & more pre-trip, pre-trip, pre-trip. First big test on Monday. BYE FOR NOW

 

hello to all
on my wayback to Crowder on Sunday I stopped in at the terminal at Conway in Joplin. Got a chance to walk the complex & must say I was impressed. I also met a fairly new driver by the name of Josh Allen who voluntered to show me around. He also showed me around his truck & equipment. Josh if you read this I just want to say thankyou for the hospitality you showed me. You certainly made me feel welcome in a strange enviroment & hope to meet more of you Conway drivers in the future.

wanted to take a moment & let all who happens to know John our trainer at Crowder, he was in the hospital. Apparently he suffered a major heart attack Sunday evening. also had a few more on monday had quadruple bypass & appears to be recovering ok. those of you faith please join us by including John in your prayers. He has certainly been missed this past week. I certainly don't know him personally but from what time I have spent with him has illustrated the passion he has in helping drivers both experienced & newbies like myself excel to be the best we can. And I can only hope I get the oppurtunity again in the near future. heres my update for week 2

monday
first test both on paper & on the road. I know I certanily felt more relax & confident, it's amazing what 1 week of good instruction & practice can do.

tuesday
today we went on another road trip & then back to the range to begin change lane backing.

Wednesday
started the day office in class reviewing yesterdays log. then watched film on staying fit & trying to eat correctly as a truck driver. Another part of film was identifying signs of getting tired. then off to vehicles to do pre-trip & begining in cab inspections.

lunch

back to vehicles where we spent the rest of the day out on the course practicing backing back into our lanes after starting a left hand turn. I must say after a few tries it kinda fell into place. though a few are still struggling, they also should pickit up soon, I hope.

finished day off back at class where recieved our homework consisting of 2 chapters to read, also a practice trip of 3 drop points. So as you can see much to do.

after class i went back to trucks to practice incab inspection & brake test before dinner. I'm so glad they allow us access to the trucks after hours. it certainly helps spending some personal time to either get a little ahead or sometimes caught up.

thursday
turned in yesterdays log & reviewed for errors. watched films on safety issues. conway came by & provided lunch while presenting co. to students.
lunch, then road trip ungraded. then back to range for backing practice. after class back to vehicles for practice on incab inspection.

friday
videos, short films where you identify road hazards & test your alertness. reviewed yesterdays logs for errors.
went to backing range to practice alley backing. road trip, this time graded. wow road was narrow,winding, not to mention 1 way & narrow bridges. you definitely had to be alert. then back to backing range for alley backing practice. WOW week 2 over now for 4 hr drive home to see my honey & hopefully get some fishing in.

note-i really enojy all the time behind the wheel driving, I think it makes all ther difference in the world

its sunday morning, got laundry going fishing went ok yesterday,enough blugill for fish fry today before heading back to crowder. got homework gotta go.

 

here's my update for week 3

Monday-took test on logging in morning. then to trucks for pretrip & incab inspects. then back out on driving range & backup practice. Mostly 90 degree backup. Introduced to switch lane backup.really tight but been able to get it in with a pullup or 2.

Tuesday-morning in class for movies then went on road trip. my best road trip yet. still need to practice on down shifting from high end. This appears to be my true weakness so far. Mainly because the only practice you get on highend up & downshifting is out on the road trips. I do suspect the confidence will come with each road trip taken. I just wish there was more of them with increased frequency.back to lane changes. & also introduced to parallel parking which wasn't as hard as it looked as long as you dont freak out & stay focused.

Wednesday-heard the other class tested today for cdl. if they pass their backing then off to road test.
movies in moring then to trucks for pretrip & incab then back to lane change. Lonnie came by to check up on us & asked why we had cones so close at our lane change. appears Garritt our instructor was playing a prank on us by putting the cones in 25 feet closer. the jokes on him though cause we figured it out anyway. i even got it in with no pullups Haha, what a difference another 25 ft was, no problem now. didn't get to practice parallel today due to other class testing for cdl. went to range also to practice up & downshifting.

Thurdsay-roadtrip put off till friday. watched videos on cargo securement. then to trucks for pretrip & incab inspection. introduced today to the required Conway 45 degree backup. Not to difficult. My take on the backup manuevers for me is the ability to anticipate what the trailers movement is gonna be with each turn of the steering wheel. Now the real confusing thing on the 45 is that for all backing manuevers except the 45 your allowed only 2 pullups before they start deducting points. but with the 45 you have to get out at least 3 times to get points. key here is stay focused & G.O.A.L lmao

friday- final exam in morning then road trip test. passed written with 92%. Road trip didnt go as good as i'd liked, missed a few downshifts on the highend & shifted in the intersection.But all in all, did ok. then when we got back we got to go to the cdl course for backing practice on the asphalt. the 90 degree seemed tighter, but it might have been the 53 ft trailer. WOW what another great week........Its amazing how far we've come in 3 short weeks. Garritt did say we're basically done with classroom other than reviewing or daily logs or misc. other than that the remaining 2 weeks will be spent in the trucks practicing our backing procedures & hopefully getting to do the skid pad. And of coure getting ready for our driving tests.

Bye for now got laundry & pretrip & incab to perfect have good weekend

 

hello to everyone,

i'm late posting because the students at crowder we're on spring break & the computer lab was only open till 4:30. which of cours the same time our class ends.

So here goes my updates for week 4

Monday- classroom in morning then to trucks for pretrip & endcab. then to backing range.when things got tidious we went to the driving range to practice shifting. this was the time we saw a minivan pull up & low & behold heres John our instructor & his wife. He's already running around after quad bypass.but WOW did he look good for someone who just went through that. We all wish him the best & hope to see him soon. But he sure did leave us in capable hands. Garritt, Charlie,Billie, & several other instructors are all very informative, always willing to answer questions. we ended Monday with lots of back up practice.

tuesday-classroom in morning to review logs. then on road trip for test. I finally was able to relax due to my ability to feel comfortable & confident about driving a truck at 60 mph then downshifting from the highend on down. Practice does make perfect, though i'm far from perfect but at least more confident. this is one of many things that seperate this school from all others & that is TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL. After road test back to backup range for 90 degree, lane change, & parrallel parking.

Wednesday-classroom in morning to review logs from yesterday then to vehicles for pretrip & incab.then to backing range.
Got our first taste of the ODSTACLE COURSE, MAN WAS THAT FUN.tomorrow is big day for obstacle course contest to see who scores highest. also got train crossing instruction from train engineer

thursday- to vehicles for pretrip & incab. then off to obstacle course. finshed day off with my high score of 105 out of 120. 2nd highest in class, felt good about that. More importantly though is the way the obstacle course forces you to not only use but also coordinate the use of them to get through each station.
As we rotated teams theough the coursethe rest of us we're at the backing range doing our manuevers. TOMORROW IS SKID PAD

Friday- At class early at 7am where we were taken to class for instruction from Kelly on skid controll. Then off to skid pad. all I can say is what a blast that was. Getting a truck & trailer up to 34 mph then having your co-driver hit the brakes is pretty #### freaky. Merrill if you ever read this i'm just glad you left it in the classroom LMAO thats a inside joke. the main purpose of the skid pad is to help you understand & grasp the reality of the consequences of when you over drive your ability &/or the road or weather conditions. It happens fast, & it was only fun because it was in a controlled enviroment. I hope to god I never have to experience it in real life. Kelly, thanks for a great block of instruction it was awesome!!!!!!!!! We finished the day off back at the vehicles doing pretrip & incab. WE ARE DOWN TO 2 MORE DAYS TILL THE BIG DAY ON WEDNESDAY WHERE WE TAKE THE FINAL TEST FOR OUR CDL'S.

Gotta go for now I got laundry & practing of pretrip & incab. everyone have a fun & safe weeekend

 

well everybody ,

week 5 is here.

Monday-was to take road trip to Joplin but got canceled due to high winds. so we practiced instead

Tuesday- 3 People tested & passed. the remaining 6 of the class continued to prepare

Wednesday- I tested today @10 am & PASSED,Guess who got the DOT inspector, ME LMAO!!!! While driving she asked me if she made me nervous. Itold her i was trying to picture her as a u.p.s. person because of her uniform color. She asked me if it was working & I said HELL NO !!!! She said she didn't think so. LOL. anyhow I did ace the backing, pretrip & incab. Struggled a little on shifting during the driving but other than that i did pretty well. Boy did I sleep much better after that was over.

THURSDAY- we power washed trucks & cleaned the interiors. then took class photos which i'll print out tonite at walmart & hand out after graduation tomorrow. We made up our trip to Joplin today which was cancelled on Monday. We will get out early tomorrow to allow us to go to dmv to get liscenses issued. Need my liscense on Friday because I have to be at Conway on Monday for orientation. Then if all goes well, with trainer on Wednesday next week.

Will complete my blog this weekend for Friday & my overall impression of this 5 week process. which by now if you've been reading my posts, you know where I stand.WOW

Ooppps almost forgot!!!!!!!!!!! John came by today to be part of our class picture which meant alot to all of us. He is recovering well & is suppose to be back teaching for the next class!!!!

 

hey colarodo, its me wannabe 46, tell everyone there john sheppard said hi & thanks for everything, made itthru conway & training process, picking up truck this weeekend. gonna try & comedown monday if possible. best of luck to you