Packing List for Students

Hey don't forget to bring you a big jar of Vaseline, really makes things go in easier when it's time to bend over, dispatchers and trainers frown on it being in the truck, as they are allergic to Vaseline.

 

I don't know if we get a gym discount. Don't count on getting to a gym on any but extremely rare occasions while on the road. The world is a whole different animal when you look at it from the perspective of being limited to where you can fit a truck. Truck stops rarely have gyms, and those that do are rarely used. Bring lightweight workout equipment, like running shoes and bungee. Or you can work up a good sweat polishing the windows and mirrors and buffing on a nice application of Rain-X...

 

Is it possible to wear contact lenses or should I plan to just bring glasses for the training.

 

Of course you can wear contacts. Glasses as a back up. No regulation against it.

 

Thanks I guess what I was worried about was that there would be a place to take them out and put them in
like a washroom and also its hard to wear them if you get dust blowing in your eye while driving.
I think I need to get some prescription shades for wearing during the day.

 

I've heard lots of horror stories about nearly every company. Most of the ones I've heard about Swift sound like they're from CRE drivers that failed out of Swift...

 

Pinkshoes.

A little bottled water is all my better half uses on the truck too , She has contact cleaner and other contact stuff.
Don't worry . You will be a nervous wreck worrying about stuff like that.
I know this is new to you .
And I applaud new drivers asking questions. Nothing to worry about . Relax, Listen, Observe and take notes. When not driving take notes . In school take notes. They for one will be easier to remember if you write them down and they will be there in the future to assist you .
Example, If your lucky enough to get a manual transmission watch the driver as he floats the gears. ( not using the clutch to shift) and is using clutch for starting and stopping only. One day it will be your turn and you will be ready .
I still look up some of my notes from 15+ years ago.

 

Thanks I do worry about every little thing its not like being at home.
I have heard from other students that we can't float they say we have to use the clutch when we have our first job.

 

You have to double clutch to pass the DMV test, get through school, and get through training and testing out to get into your own truck. If your trainer is "by the book" they won't let you float. Once you are in your own truck you can start floating.

Being adept at double clutching and floating is a good thing. There's cross over skills. Either way you still have to match rpm's to speed and gear selection.

One drill I use for teaching is to park the truck, take it out of gear, then practice GENTLY raising and lowering rpm's from 1100 to 1500. Get used to how LITTLE you need to move the throttle. The biggest problem to overcome with shifting is trying to romp on the pedal and back off way too much. Once you get the idea of that small range of motion with the pedal the shifting will be a whole lot smoother. Whenever I get into a new truck I do this drill as part of my "Getting to Know the New Gal" before I hit the road. She seems to appreciate it.

 

One of the instructors at school once showed me how he floated and it looks super easy when he did it.
But we were never allowed to do it. To be honest I don't know if I could do it. It seems harder to me.
What if drivers choose to just double clutch when they have their own truck is that acceptable.