I got the job but now have a problem

I got the call from TWT that I'm going in for training starting August 4th. I'm very excited about it since this is the company that I wanted to work for since I heard about it from Chinatown.

While I was on the phone the guy I was talking to said that because it will be a month since I finished school *1 week with a 48' then the last 2 weeks with a 28' trailer* I should ask the school if I can pay for extra driving time/ask someone who has a truck to let me drive so I can practice for their drive test.

I only know 1 person personally that has a truck and he's gone 9/10ths of the time. I went through DVR to get my cdl and they won't pay for more lessons. As far as they are concerned I'm almost finish. They are going to help me get my Hazmat first then I'm done with their program.

Does anyone have any ideas how I can get some practice in without committing to a job that will be all season long? My instructor says I should go over to Eastern WA and do harvest but it's all season long and I only have 2 weeks left before I leave on the 3rd. I'm fairly comfortable with the shifting part but the turning with the larger trailer wasn't something we focused on for long. Their excuse was they didn't want to replace the tire because it had a nasty huge nail sticking out of it so we drove with the smaller trailer because "That's the one you'll use for the test anyway."

Thank you for any help you can give me I really appreciate it.

 

Surely there are leasing companies that offer vehicles to use for the DMV test in your state. They may have a couple that you could rent to practice in. It might be expensive, though.
Or how about a local temp agency that you might be able to get hired by for a couple days. You would get practice and be paid to do it.

 

id say try the test for twt. if you don't pass then that sucks. as the school if you can get a day with the 48' trailer in around town/ yard practice area for the job as it is needed.

 

You'll be fine. Take your time. Swing those corners wide. If you think you have enough room, you don't. GOAL. Your ready just relax and get er done.

 

You probably won't have any problems with TWT's road test. A 53' trailer is easier to maneuver than a 28'.

If it doesn't work out with TWT in the beginning, then go with Watkins-Shepard right there in WA then later go straight to James J. Williams or back to TWT.

 

There is a guy selling a bunch of Volvos up in WA. Just tell him your interested in buying, but want to test drive. Pick a crappy one and have at it.

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/4549135672.html

let me know how that green 99 770 runs. I wish it wasn't so far away, else I'd buy it.

 

I'm with Systems Transport 1/3 companies under Trans-Systems INC. We share yards with TWT and JJW though and i talk with reefer guys enough.

Since your a newbie your going to spending a minimum of 4 weeks in a trainers truck when you hire on with TWT. The hiring drive test for newbies here is not a big deal. I could barely shift and almost ran my trailer into another truck (first time pulling a spread axle) and they passed me on the drive test. Obviously things drastically improved when i tested out to go solo.

 

I've got a friend thay drives for twt. He likes it there and this guy isn't the easiest to get along with.🍋

 

Thank you everyone. I appreciate it.

The DOL here doesn't do any testing. They have a third party do the test with the school trucks. Good idea on the temp agency but won't I have to sign a contract like last time I tried one for something else? May have to do some research with the one I see on worksource all the time.

I haven't talked to the school yet but with all the new students they have currently their local *functional* trucks are running out daily and last time I talked with them they were rather irritated sounding because they messed up my papers and had to fix it.

I wasn't able to apply to Watkins-Shepard because of my location they want me to have my passport which I don't have yet. I will be working on that asap though. I'm having enough trouble getting the DVR people to finish the HazMat. If this falls through I will apply once I have it.

Now that sounds like fun icsheeple. Sadly, Spokane is about a day's drive from here. I'd have to make it a 3 day trip.. It would be fun to drive that white/red one with the grill guard.

Thank you Ramblingman and Okiedokie. Hearing that helps a lot. I feel I'm fairly ready but the way he was making it sound I'd forget enough to not qualify if I didn't spend the extra money for more lessons. I still have some trouble with the double clutching and popping the clutch a bit at the end and grinding the gears a bit. I think what I'm afraid of the most is turning the larger trailer because I spent so much time learning the small trailer.

Over all I'm very excited now for the really hard part....Waiting.

 

Let us know how it goes for you either way. Use your mirrors swing the turns wide/better to wide than to tight and double clutch a 250 rpm upshift and a 500 rpm downshift. You'll be a big dog in no time.