Class 1 school in Vancouver area.

Even some of the service companies have transport drivers, you don't have to be part of the frac crew which are the ones who work their ### off outside the truck so much. Hauling nitrogen is another one that is mainly driving.

 

Well I had my road test today and passed 30 demerits.. pre-trip 100%, uncoupling / coupling 100%, I got following

10 demerits, palming the steering wheel while shifting, while cornering..
10 demerits, waiting at a green light to turn right
10 demerits, for almost waving a person on from a stop sign, i stopped myself, waving them on apparently is a DA, i lifted my hand about 4-5" from the gear without passing the dash and he picked it off. The tester kept putting his arm on the window sill of the passenger window too and blocking my lower mirror, I had to tell him several times to move his arm

Anyways, woot, got the Class 1, early nice birthday present to myself, the start of a new career path.

 

Way to go bud!! Congratulations.

How many demerits are you allowed?

 

60 demerits on the road test, but they come in 5's and 10's.. you can also get an immediate fail for breaking the rules of course. Speeding, dangerous acts such as rubbing a curb etc.

Thats just the road test tho, if you blow your in cab air, forget about hitting the road - 3 misses on that and its a fail.

When do you start? I thought you were in town last monday?

 

Yeah that's what I expected but the scheduling didn't work out. I start next wednesday instead, but they have condensed the course (more hours per day) so I still finish on the same date. Will save on motel cost at least!

 

So I started today, same truck and I think same instructor. Two instructors named Wayne lol.

The guy I'm with is rebuilding a 1940 ford truck, sound familiar?

 

Yep thats the same guy - you must be in the Western Star, truck 106 - thats the one I had.

Yes there are 2 Waynes and a Mike as instructors there.. good luck! it took me a bit to get everything down, but we drove out to clinton on my last day and really ended on a high note

 

Yup, 106. I hope it's as good to me as it was to you.

Well I've done two days now and am enjoying it. Getting a pretty good feel for where the tractor is on the road. He was considering running with a trailer today but I requested another day in the tractor to get more comfortable with it. I'm glad I did, I felt much more confident by the end of the day.

I feel I could learn enough to pass a Class 3 road test with a little more practice, so I just have to hope that the confidence with the trailer will come quickly too. Did a couple/uncouple at the end of the day and will take the trailer out tomorrow.

My shifting has definite room for improvement! lol

 

I'm definitely following through on that threat!

 

HAHA

if you can't find em, grind em

Glad to hear you're liking it.. Wayne is very patient, there are times he might seem frustrated but he never vocalized it with me.. he would just step out of the truck and let me do it my way until I did it his way

You'll find that pulling the trailer actually seems easier.. I didn't really notice the weight of it, more like the tractor smoothed out and it was easier to drive - you just have to be VERY AWARE of the length you're at is all. I used trailer 448 for pretty much all of it.