cdl school update

Hey Guys and Gals,

I just wanted to update ya'll on my progress. So far I'm doing okay and better than I thought with straight backing. The light bulb finally clicked and I realized that it's a "dance" or a finesse between the 9 o'clock and the 3 o'clock position on the steering wheel. If I look hard enough in the left mirror, I can see my trailer tandems moving and "weaving around" the yellow line. I still need a bit of practice but it was enough to help me with alley docking.

I started practicing alley docking yesterday and today and so far I think I'm doing well as can be expected of any new student. I can get my rear trailer to the entrance of the "docking space" but it takes a bit of maneuvering to get right into the space without hitting the lines. I got it in once by myself and the instructor helped me a few times. I'm still learning the "fine art of steering wheel finesse".

I even tried my hand at driver's side parallel parking today. I'm able to get my trailer tandems into the parallel parking spot and with the "fine art of steering wheel finesse" and instructor's help, I am able to get in there.

Tomorrow, I plan on practicing more driver's side parallel parking, alley docking, and I will try a new maneuver, the offset right and left backing.

At my school, we have macks, volvos, and freightliners (some older and some newer). However, my problem is that I'm having a problem knowing when the steering wheel and steer tires are straight. I have to open the door so I can peek at the tires to know when I'm straight. I don't understand why that is. It seems so intuitive in a 4 wheeler but I get so loss in the steering wheel of these semi trucks. Any advice for that?

I'm also trying to memorize what directions to steer in while doing these backing maneuvers because steering a trailer is doing the opposite. It's like 2+2=5, and I have to visualize what path my steer tires take then I have to visualize how my drive tires and trailer will move in conjunction to it. I know it's not rocket science but it #### near feels like it.

I must say that I've always had respect for truckers and after these last 5 days out on the pad, I have even more respect for truckers. It takes skill to operate these trucks and especially to back them. I have been on such an emotional roller coaster these last 5 days. I've been frustrated, hopeful, nervous, so doubtful, wanted to give up, determined, annoyed, feeling stupid and inadequate, and even wanting to cry because I don't want to leave empty handed. I want my #### CDL license in 4 more weeks.

Wish me luck and that the "light bulbs" come on for me.