my swift experience so far from the start

Good luck on your new adventure. Keep us posted.

 

Me too!!! On both counts.

At first I was bummed out because I had to take an extra training class in backing. But while going through it I realized it was just what I needed - and wanted.

My mentor was a great guy, but he really didn't know how to train me to back properly. He would try to direct my movements, instead of teaching me how to read and react to the trailer.
Plus, he is a bit dyslexic, so he sometimes said right/left when he meant left/right... then would yell at me when I went the wrong way.

The instructor at the class explained things so much better, and I actually got it right. He explained just how far in front of the other trucks I should be to ensure the trailer swing-out would not clip something, where to place my drive wheels when I make my first turnout so the rear tandems would line up correctly, how to correct if I was too tight or loose, where I should actually get out and look (and how to judge where the trailer was going to determine the next 'get out and look' point, if needed), how to correctly pull forward to correct my position (which does not involve any 'snaking', which he detests).

He explained the physics of it, instead of just telling me how to move at any given point. And that was just what I needed for it to make sense to me.


Personally, I think this instructor (James) should be teaching the mentors how to teach backing skills to their students. It would cut down the number of 'trained' students that he had to re-teach. It would also cut down the number of backing accidents incurred by new drivers.
In fact, I am planning to call my mentor to suggest just that.

Heck, I should submit a suggestion to management to require this training before ever getting on a mentors truck.

I guess I am opening a can of worms here, because one guy would have to be in charge of the backing training for an entire country.
But, he does it so well, HE SHOULD BE!!!!

 

Thanks, I'm hoping to get my truck this next week.

Keep on Truckin'!!!

 

Good Luck AZS, May see you out there some day..........

 

Great news man I sure wish I get a truck like this. I am sitting at home right now waiting for my truck. Got to call in the morning and see if they have one. Touch screen qualcomm is sweet.

 

sirius should be easy. You just buy the radio and then plug it into your existing radio. One cord that goes from the Sirius to the radio installed in your truck. and a plug into the cigarette lighter