Finally In School

BTW several different trucks I have driven had a button on the shifter for the clutch brake.

One of the teachers had never seen one, the other had owned one.

And no! We didn't mix oil into the fuel for the Detroit 8V-71.

Two of our range trucks are Detroit 8V-92's. They are the last of the 2 strokers before Detroit went 4 cycle. They are supercharged like the 8V-71's. But there is a difference! They have a turbo blowing into the blower. They are probably 465HP. There is another version out there that had twin turbos blowing into the supercharger after passing through an intercooler. 8V-92TTA's They were rated at 800+HP! Only time I saw some of those was in a boat. There was 2!

 

And where might you be training? Who's name is on the truck? Swift? Fred's?

 

Well, just beating the bushes. Called USA Truck, and Roehl. I got a no from both.

 

Well update on the fun.

Been doing straight line backing. The state requires you to back up 100ft inside a 12ft wide space. We are doing 400ft inside a 10ft space.

We are also doing some backing where we change lanes. We have a 100ft area to do this in. The state gives you 140ft do do a lesser manuver.

Some of the guys got to do their shifting on the Pete with the 10 speed. I get to do mine tomorrow some time. No telling what the teacher is going to poke fun of me as I am the only one in my class that has ever driven.

I figure someone will hire me. One of the last class had gotten a 29mph over the limit back in January. He got 2 offers.

 

I got to do my double clutching yesterday. Teacher really knows his stuff! Already he has caught me on some bad habits.

It is a "no-no" to shift in a turn. I did a couple gear recoveries wrong. I didn't grind the gears.......I clutched and revved forgot to clutch again. It did go in smooth. It will take some practice and getting used to the tranny.

I did get to drive on the road VS puttin around the driving range. I think they figured I wouldn't crash! Just bobtailing. Trailers next week!

 

WOW!!

4 weeks since I last posted here. I have been on a night drive, pulled a loaded trailer and got fairly decent at doing blind side, and driver side parallel parking. Alley dock backing? Eazy!

We have driven the '08 KW with the auto several times. What a pig! 425 Cummins. The auto's will roll backwards on a hill when you start out.

My girl friend's son is a diesel tranny specialist. These things work like a centrifugal clutch on a go cart. It takes 1/2 the pedal to get it to roll. When it down shifts, it automatically revs to match just like you would do on a manual.



Anyways we are testing next week. Graduating 12/15. I take my Tennessee driving test on 12/17.

The teachers we have here are great. Mr. Bentley's knowledge of owner operator is good to draw from. He is quite the jokester too. Always cutting up, always teaching what you need to know. He picks on all of us with a big smile. Never a dull moment.

Mr. Warren's methods of teaching are different. Still can cut up with us! You can tell that he has a real love for trucking.

These two have really made me realize how much I didn't know.