My 10 day Orientation Experience with

There is a husband and wife in my class. They say more and more are getting into the industry. He just retired from 30 years as an insurance agent.

 

Raining again today. We started in classroom, got truck assignments, now realize there are 2 training trucks, for my class we have 4 now. We hooked hooked to trailers with about 45000 lbs. in them. We then went back into class watched a video, then we went over safety, shifting, UP and DOWN hills, yes in school they say no here they say yes. We then went to lunch and after lunch we hit the road. I was first to drive in 1718 with Kelby we had 4 trainees in the truck. WOW a LOADED trailer is WAY different then empty as well as the 53 instead of the 48 I learned in. I drove down Broadway all the way to a truck stop up and down a few hills and through downtown Missoula. I saw the University of Montana Grizzlies stadium. The other 3 guys went and we all did well all 4 of us are still here. I think everyone made it nobody sent home today. When we got back to the yard Ray and I needed to show our backing to Kelby we both did pretty good. I will also mention I got all the handouts in the white folder completed.

I look forward to more driving, not sure how much we will get I guess the next drive will include a bunch of turns to make sure we can drive the trailer.

Until tomorrow.

 

Day 3

Today was a bunch of class, about 7 hours on LOGS. LOGS, LOGS, LOGS. I think I know logs inside and out now. NOT, still a bunch to learn but understand them much better. I completed the 1st Log exercise I hope it is right. We went into the yard to check out different trucks and trailers we learned to slide tandems. Spent about an hour practicing in the yard then I headed to dinner at Famous Daves BBQ. Was a great day. We are supposed to have the trucks connected and ready to go at 8am for our next drive evaluation. Some people are concerned it is cut time and we may lose a few people before we get our next $100 tomorrow afternoon. I hope everyone does well I enjoy chatting with pretty much everyone in my class a few less then others but hope we ALL make it through tomorrow.

Until tomorrow.

 

Day 4

Sad but AWESOME day. The couple from class that were going to team decided to leave on their own accord, the lady had a pretty sore leg and back from all the backing practice. We did our 2nd road evaluation I did not hit a single curb and let me tell you there were a few hairy one's but I made it. Everyone else in class made it I think there may be 2 on the bubble but this weekend they can practice, practice, practice. Also got good news at the end of the day. Our instructor picked up a load and I was 1 of 3 picked to go with him on a 36 hour 2000 mile trip from Missoula to Fort Collins CO, then bobtail down to Denver terminal get a trailer from the terminal then pick up a load back to Missoula for Monday 10am delivery. This will be fun. Technically this is not part of the 10 day orientation so we got lucky to get to do this. I will post something on Sunday evening about the trip.

Also met WingRider from the forum here today.