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I'm going with Maverick: newbie trainee blog

Discussion in 'Maverick' started by ybfjax, Feb 14, 2008.

Page 6 of 8
  1. Feb 27, 2008 #51
    MedicineMan

    MedicineMan Road Train Member

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    I think it was the union incident!! lol trucking companies don't take kindly to union talk
     
    MedicineMan, Feb 27, 2008
    MedicineMan, Feb 27, 2008
    #51
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  3. Feb 27, 2008 #52
    ybfjax

    ybfjax Light Load Member

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    Jun 30, 2007
    GA
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    You know, that did cross my mind when I was in my room thinking the whole thing over. But they got rid of another guy the same day, too for the same road test failure. So I ruled out the 'union' incident. But I guess things happen for a reason. BTC doesn't seem to be so bad.
     
    ybfjax, Feb 27, 2008
    ybfjax, Feb 27, 2008
    #52
  4. Mar 27, 2008 #53
    seansolo

    seansolo Light Load Member

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    Jan 29, 2008
    Cambridge, Ohio
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    I would at least like to know what I did wrong, specifically. If you are going to fire me, or not hire me, for something then tell me what it is. If I've got a lead foot, or take right turns too wide, or hold the steering wheel at 9-3 and not 10-2 I want to know what failed me.
     
    seansolo, Mar 27, 2008
    seansolo, Mar 27, 2008
    #53
  5. Mar 27, 2008 #54
    notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    He said he failed because he took a ramp to fast on the road test.
     
    notarps4me, Mar 27, 2008
    notarps4me, Mar 27, 2008
    #54
  7. Mar 27, 2008 #55
    seansolo

    seansolo Light Load Member

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    Jan 29, 2008
    Cambridge, Ohio
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    Okay, I thought it said he thought that's what it was but he was never actually told what it was.

    On the one hand that seems nit-picky, but as a newspaper photographer who has photographed steel coils leaving gouges on the road and trucks overturned on ramps (the 70-77 interchange here is notorious for that) I can see why. But I agree there should be some sort of second chance thing before they release you. He demonstrated he can drive and not run over anything or hit anybody and he had very little seat time.
     
    seansolo, Mar 27, 2008
    seansolo, Mar 27, 2008
    #55
  8. Mar 27, 2008 #56
    notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    The thing is though they want people who pay attention and listen and follow directions. They tell you in orientation what you need to do to pass all the test. Including what speed to exit ramps on the road test.:biggrin_25525:
     
    notarps4me, Mar 27, 2008
    notarps4me, Mar 27, 2008
    #56
  9. Mar 27, 2008 #57
    seansolo

    seansolo Light Load Member

    80
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    Jan 29, 2008
    Cambridge, Ohio
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    Disappeared for a while, got sleepy so I got some shut eye then the wife came home from work and it was time to make and have dinner.

    So anyways, yeah I understand they would have been given specific instructions and he messed up and went more than 10 under on the ramp.

    Somewhat related question, I have always been told that the yellow signs on US roads indicating speeds on ramps, hills, and curves, are for commercial trucks, as the speeds are a lot slower than most four wheelers can safely handle, true?
     
    seansolo, Mar 27, 2008
    seansolo, Mar 27, 2008
    #57
  10. Mar 30, 2008 #58
    ybfjax

    ybfjax Light Load Member

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    Jun 30, 2007
    GA
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    That was it. That is what it boiled down to. I was a day away. If you chose maverick, you will do fine.

    Driving with my trainer and by myself now I would say that 4 wheelers can handle speeds much faster than the recommended (yellow) speed limits. Now I always enter the curve/ on/off-ramp at or 5 mph below the speed limit. That 10mph below thing is a bit excessive, but it was probably for training purposes only.

    You'll realize that what they tell you in orientation and what you do once you are with your trainer are 2 different things. Then what you do with your trainer and what you do in your own truck are 2 different things.

    But one thing that I'm glad my BTC trainer taught me was low rpms and progressive shifting. This does help with the MPG. Floating gears (no clutch) also does actually improve the mpg and is less stressful.

    I was riding down from Memphis to Birmingham with another recent student (had his truck for 1 month) and his trainer told him to rev it up high all the time. We get low-tops so he is still able to get 6.0-6.2 mpg. But he may miss his quarterly bonus (fuel portion). He was grinding those gears like crazy. I kept saying to myself "poor gear box". :biggrin_25513:. I've already gotten up to 6.8 with only 230 miles on truck. And I was driving around a lot trying to find a shipper and then again trying to find a place to drop my trailer. So it dropped down to 6.6. I have copilot truck 11 for laptop. We'll see what happens now, LOL.
     
    ybfjax, Mar 30, 2008
    ybfjax, Mar 30, 2008
    #58
  11. Mar 30, 2008 #59
    stuge

    stuge Light Load Member

    103
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    Mar 3, 2008
    Georgetown TN
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    Ybfjax, keep us posted on how the CoPilot 11 works for ya. I have been looking into either the copilot or a stand alone gps for some time now. When you get your own mav rig how bout posting some inside pictures, im curious if I (all 6 ft of me) could stand up straight in the sleeper or not. you know it is the little things that make all the difference.

    Thanks.
     
    stuge, Mar 30, 2008
    stuge, Mar 30, 2008
    #59
  12. Apr 3, 2008 #60
    MedicineMan

    MedicineMan Road Train Member

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    Woodville, TX
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    If you get to Amarillo there is a guy around the TA, named iceman or something liek that. He fixes laptops and stuf for guys. He will load co pilot on your laptop for $30 then you just need to buy an antenna to plug in your usb port
     
    MedicineMan, Apr 3, 2008
    MedicineMan, Apr 3, 2008
    #60
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