Less than a week training headed to the Rockies

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by bluguitar89, Aug 27, 2017.

  1. bluguitar89

    bluguitar89 Bobtail Member

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    New driver here. By new I mean 3 days of behind the wheel instruction from my boss and he wants me to take the CDL test 3 days from today, and leave THAT DAY with me driving to Copper Mountain CO. I WILL drive the whole trip because my boss will be in another truck. So the obvious thing I want to know is how crazy is this? I nearly passed my CDL exam just 2 days in and iv driven the mount in a car before, but it's know full well that it's a difficult ball game in a class A.

    I'm about ready to outright refuse to go on the grounds that it's unsafe to send me into the rockies on my first drive. Any advice? Is it not all that bad? We have a meeting tomorrow morning on the subject and it'd be great to hear from some experts...
     
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  3. bluguitar89

    bluguitar89 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 27, 2017
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    I should add that there are other people who can do this drive and I can drive more local gigs (Illinois/Indiana) but he's really fixated on me going to colors with him so he doesn't have to hire more hands and he can train me further once I we're there. I'd much rather stay in the flatlands for awhile and get some experience in before facing the mountains.
     
  4. mitrucker

    mitrucker Road Train Member

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    That's a tough one there. It's not that far into the mountains. It is still warm out. My biggest worry would be how heavy you're going to be. If it's a heavy load, then no way.
     
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  5. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    If you don't feel confident then by all means refuse.I know I would.That's crazy letting you drive your first trip without a trainer.My first load was going thru the mountains but I had a trainer.
     
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  6. Puppage

    Puppage Road Train Member

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    You're the captain of your ship. If you're not comfortable, that's it. Listen to that little guy in your head.
    Just my two cents.
     
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  7. bluguitar89

    bluguitar89 Bobtail Member

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    Yeah I don't know how heavy I'll be. I do know I'll be taking the lighter of the 2 loads, but the heavy load is something like 70-80,000 pounds so I can still be up there. Hauling a 50 foot trailer of sound and lighting equipment with rigging. Probably not light.
     
  8. ChaoSS

    ChaoSS Road Train Member

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    Just make sure when you go down hills you do so slowly enough.

    If you can't step up to the plate go get a job with a Mega that will hold your hand the whole way and treat you like a child. If you want to be treated like an adult then step it up.
     
  9. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Well. I'm inclined to ask "Are you any good?" Some people have a natural sense for truck driving. Some don't and are slow on the uptake. And some are in between somewhere.

    The toughest steel is that hardened with extreme heat.
     
  10. baha

    baha Road Train Member

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    As long as he stays right along with you and can stay on c/b if you need to ask questions it will be just a training trip
     
    Last edited: Aug 27, 2017
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  11. pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    bad advice
     
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