Female Noob off to School - What's most Important?

I have learned so much from this site already, and am so grateful to all who have posted solid and insightful information, or answered questions. But I wanted to ask---other "noobs," trainers, and experienced drivers a little about the actual 4 week (in my case) training with a CDL school.

Questions: What are familiar "rookie" mistakes? What reading can I do to speed up the learning curve? Which parts of the course most often present difficulties for students? What is your advice for making sure you hit each level with confidence and the least amount of frustration? What should I bring with me that I might not think about that would help?

I like the school, looked at several, and am psyched about the experience. But I like to be prepared, and know the best tips in advance to get the most out of my schooling so that I'm really ready to interview. Fellow female drivers, you may have some insight and tips on the training process, and I'd love to hear from you.

People always say, and I've seen it here that "the only stupid question is the one not asked." So, I'm asking. Any advice you guys have is very much appreciated, as I prepare myself for schooling in a whole new career.

Thanks in advance. I found this site by accident, while researching this field, and what a goldmine! So grateful. So bring it on, share some anecdotes that helped you to learn to be the best driver you can be (even the "oops" moments).

Thanks again, Nydia
(53 hours to go and counting down!)

 

I am only a week ahead of you, & in a class with 4 guys & one other woman. Learning all you can from forums like this one will put you ahead of many of your classmates, based on my own experience this past week. All week long I have discovered things that I learned in the past 2 months online were unknown to the rest of my classmates. Some were not really into the internet, possibly, & others just didn't seem to have done a lot of investigating.

It is hard to ask the "right" questions, when you don't know enough to know what they are. Try to get as much out of your classroom training as you can, & wheno in doubt, ask questions, is the best advice I can offer.

 

i did a short stint as a trainer.... 1) shifting, takes time to learn especially if you try to double clutch (somewhat like chewing gum and skipping rope in synch)
2)Backing, get out and look if you can't see how close or far something is...... That is most of driver accidents. oh and relax.... people will psych them selves out, and often will repeat the same mistake when they get frustrated.

And when that kid is doing the arm thing wanting to hear the horn....... Before you do,make sure the driver is aware of your prescence and that the "little darling" is doing that. i gave the ol' double toot once and mom freaked and rubbed the divider with the tire..... not good
Happy Trails, Cuz

PS women are easier to train and generally make better truck drivers

 

Hey cuzzin,

Can I just use you as a reference when I start talking to all those recruiters?LOL ( referring to P.S.)

 

Trainer/Mentor for 12+ years trucking, Safety/Training Officer with FD NorCal 18 years.....just a little background.

First, keep in mind that what your first step in this new career choice is nothing more than the absolute basics to get you to a point of passing the DMV written and driving test to achieve your goal of having a CDL. You are going to have a lot of memorization regarding how to completely, and correctly do a pre-trip inspection. If you aren't mechanically inclined, this will be a decent hurdle to get over and behind you. Pair up, or group up with other people in the class, and work together to accomplish this and the remainder of the schooling. Never forget, it isn't a competition to see who can get it right first...you all need to get it right to succeed and continue in your journey.

Driving; have you ever driven a vehicle that is towing a trailer? A boat, a U-Haul, a utility trailer...if not, this will throw you a bit having that extra length behind you and negotiating turns and curves. Keep an eye on both mirrors, glancing back and forth, and as your eyes cross from right to left, or left to right, learn to glance at the instruments, the tachometer, speedometer, oil pressure, air gauges, and all those other little blinking lights and noises coming from that dash and the floor next to you. Never let your eyes get "fixed" even to the front...your goal for every second driving, is to be aware of everything around you, front, right side, left side, rear, blind areas...keep your eyes moving! Learn the sounds of the truck and engine at the different speeds and gear selection...a change in the "normal sound" means you are doing something, or something wrong is happening.

When you are not driving (at the wheel yourself) pay attention to what the person at the wheel is doing, what the surrounding views are, and learn to look at all road signs. Believe it or not, you will actually need to teach yourself to read every sign....practice with billboards, restaurant signs, street markings, intersection approaching, lane ending, lane merging, stop signs, Yield signs, public information signs. At the end of the day, write down how many you remember...make a game of it with your fellow students. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy! Pay attention to the troubles and successes the other students encounter in shifting, turning, double clutching...what you see in them could be what need to either correct or change in what you do. Pay attention to your difficulties and compare those difficulties to others having the same or similar problems, or success at what it is or how it is accomplished.

Backing; here is something that could be a little ahead of your skill level, but read through it, print it, and offer a copy of it to your fellow students, or even the school they might like it:

Use the steering wheel to your advantage! Everybody teaches "steer the opposite direction"...bad thinking, poor instruction!

Your visual part of your brain is already doing a "reversal" with all the information coming in through the eye...it has to reverse the image to be processed. So when you try to think "opposite" you actually are stressing yourself a bit more. Here is the trick I taught all my students for 15 years:

The top of the steering wheel turns the direction you want going forward, the bottom of the steering wheel turns the direction you want to turn going backwards.

The set up is the most important part of backing into a dock or parking location. Let's learn what I call the "Banana Profile":
1. With the units in a straight configuration, drive across the front of the location until the space between the tractor and trailer is at the midpoint of your location.
2. As you cross this midpoint, turn right to a 45 degree angle away from the point. Drive straight (45 degrees from the location) until the tandems are at the midpoint of the location. (You must be watching your driver’s side mirror) As the tandems attain the midpoint turn the wheel left (again) to put a bend in the tractor/trailer until you have achieved the "Banana Profile". (The tractor/trailer has the same shape as a banana.) Now straighten up and continue until you have clearance of the driver’s side rear corner of the trailer and the location the trailer will be backing into.
3. At this point, you should be able to smoothly "track" right into the "hole". Just visualize the line and adjust the turn aspect (declining) as you enter the hole and straighten up as you go.

LET THE TRAILER DO THE WORK...ADJUST TO THE TRAILER, DON'T FORCE THE TURN MOVEMENT BY OVER STEERING. The longer the trailer, the more time it will take to show its movement. Don't get anxious, be patient, and let the trailer make some movement, then you correct the tractor to the movement of the trailer.

1. When backing, place your hand palm down on the center bottom of the steering wheel.
2. Use the bottom as your guide for the direction you want the back of the trailer to move.
3. Having your hand, palm down, gripping the wheel will prevent you (with the natural limits of movement) from over-steering. DO NOT LET GO OF THE WHEEL!
4. Grip the window post (the separation bar between the wing window and the door window) with your left hand, and again, DON'T LET GO. This "anchor" stops you from moving around in your seat...every time you move it changes the visual perspective in your mirrors...SIT STILL!
5. A tractor/trailer combination will NEVER back in a straight line...you need to "add" and "subtract" turn movement constantly. A little adjustment either way will keep the units straight and where you want to go.
6. If there is no "guide line" painted on the surface, visualize the straight line you want to line the driver’s side (sight side) of the trailer then the tractor onto.
7. When you start backing, pay attention to the tandems (trailer wheels)...these are your first and primary points of lining up the unit. As soon as the tandems have gone into the box, begin reducing the turn aspect of the tractor (bring the nose around to the "square line" with the trailer. Now change your focus to the midpoint of the trailer...just before the midpoint gets to the "line", get the tractor square with the trailer so there is no turn occurring...you have achieved the aspect of straight line backing once the tractor is square with the trailer and the midpoint of the trailer is in the box.
8. Keep in mind there are 3 "pivot points" to a tractor/trailer combination.
8a. Tandems are the rear pivot.
8b. King pin (drive wheels) is the center pivot.
8c. Steer tires are the forward pivot.
To move the tractor trailer either direction (right or left) you must accomplish an "S" configuration/movement with the tractor/trailer. Which direction you need to move the units is the direction you begin the movement. (This is for forward adjustments...if you have not centered the units in the dock.) To move it will require 3 steering movements...make sure the movement is sufficient (far enough forward in distance) to achieve the moving distance required (right or left). Just imagine you are driving on an "S" painted on the ground and follow it COMPLETELY.
__________________

 

Dont compare yourself or skill level to other in your class. You or others might have had experience with trailers (boat,utility) or driving larger vehicles. Instead, strive for consistent improvement in your skills and confidence level. Also, confidence is good, being ####y is bad. That was the best advice i got in school.

 

Good luck, stay patient and dont get frustrated, thats my best advice. All the rest comes with practice and a little common sense. But most of all, have fun and enjoy what ur doing.

 

This is good advice . No two students are alike . I'm sure you'll have a dedicated attitude , be attentive , and make your best effort . That's all you can do . School is only the beginning and just teaches the basics . What's most important is where you choose to go when you get your CDL .

 

Just be yourself, don't try to compete with the other students, ASK a lot of questions. You'll do fine.

 

Hey Otter you need to write a book ! That was great if she just prints that off and reads until she has it memorized she will be way ahead of most of the knuckleheads in the school ! Thanks for post such a complete explanation.