Class starting 25 Oct 11

They hired you to stay out of airplanes?

 

A few people were sent away, but most made it. Out of 47 on Tuesday, I counted almost 40 making it. A few of us were still working out medical issues Saturday, including a couple sleep studies....... My situation took me home temporarily....

I twisted my ankle as a Federal Employee in August. I brought the doctors release back to work, but Orion's doctor would not accept that. I have to go to a doctor and have a 4 page fit for duty document done Monday. For anyone who might be having a problem, there is a local urgent care clinic close by that might be able to evaluate an injury and fill out the 4 pages for you (for $60 or so).

If in doubt, get that 4 page document filled out by your doctor and sent to Orion via FAX, including the visit doctor's notes. You must sign an Orion release for them to accept the doctor's documents. It can be hectic and complicated, and they put everything on you to do, so if you have to... slow down the pace and ask a few questions. (you might have to be insistent, but don't be rude).

I hope to have my instructor by Monday evening......

 

Still in SPRINGMO, waiting on my instructor to finish classes. Yes, I have a brand new instructor. No, he is not green, been training for a while. He selected me after I said hello to him outside the back door. It is how many of my classmates are getting picked up. It gives the instructor a chance to evaluate you in a no pressure environment and the students usually don't know they are an instructor. I didn't know he was, and it surprised me when he tracked me down.

It is strange that so many (11) people are still here in the second week, but there is a shortage of non-smoker instructors. They WILL NOT let you go out with a smoker if you are a non-smoker, NO EXCEPTIONS... Most have instructors now and a few will leave today. I will probably leave tomorrow night.

Yesterday I passed the Pre-Trip inspection portion of the CDL. They keep the paperwork here until I come back. If you do this before you go out for your 100hrs, you get reduced to 75hrs. It also still counts for your TriFecta...

I have been very lucky to get a class of mature, upstanding people that I will be proud to keep in touch with, but I don't think many are on here... No Drama, No antics. Just focus and patience. Many will take their pre-trip today. I wish them all luck.

 

Boy, everyone is fretting this... It is alot of remembering not only what you check, but how you explain it to the examiner. PMS / CBB / ABC / Frays exposed wires / Filled to factory specs / Checked with an air gauge / Not Leaking / 2/32nds / 4/32nds / more than 1/4 inch friction material left / and on and on and on. Headaches.

Nevertheless.... They give a good class here that helps and if you have a camera phone, take pictures of each slideshow slide for later. Practice in your head, practice in the pad truck. Practice on your bed in the room if you have to.

Even if you have it down 100%, keep working on it. Memory is the key. I thought I had it down and forgot 3 things I had never forgot before. The more you practice, the less nervous you will be on the test. Good Luck...