Started PTEC in St. Petersburg, FL

Ok so yesterday I forgot to mention that Laura had also set up a serpentine course for us to practice in. But due to the storm not everyone got to do it. I got to do it twice.

Today we had our DOT drug tests, and then we were taught how to down shift. WOW is my left leg super sore!!! But I got it yay. Hubby is doing ok too.

One of our 6 students quit today. At least I think that's what happened, he was there in the morning and then right before the DOT testing he disappeared. I know that sounds suspicious, but I'm 99% sure he was on the straight, he was a totally normal looking guy. But he had been complaining about all the school work we had to do, like all the chapters we have had to read and tests we have to take. He needed new glasses and would get a headache every time he would read for more then a half hour. I'm kinda bummed I really liked the guy. Now there are just 5 of us.

 

FYI the book we are using is called Trucking: Tractor-Trailer Driver Handbook/Workbook by Alice Adams. If you are serious about taking the course and want to get a jump up you can buy the book used on amazon.com for around $10. Or check your library (mine didn't have it but yours might). The book is terrible imo, the worst text book for a class I've ever read, but I think it's the only text book out there for commercial driving schools.

We have to take a 10 question test for each chapter. Closed book, no re-do's. We have 7 minutes to take the test. And we HAVE to get an average of 75% on all the tests in order to pass the class.

 

Today Laura taught us coupling and uncoupling procedures. Now, we are only in our 2nd week, and the book said we would be taught this in the 3rd week! I'm not sure if that's normal or if we are just such stellar students haha. So after she taught us that, we went to do our pre-trips. She told us that she wanted to see each of us come over and do at least one coupling throughout the day. So the rest of the day was spent taking turns out on the range and doing chapter work inside. At the very end of the day my husband and I both went out at the same time. I wasn't going to go out again because I feel like I already had everything down (including dock parking from a 90-degree angle), but I got bored being inside. But then Laura surprised us, and she taught me and my husband how to parallel park! Took me 3 tries to get it right (on my own without her help). But it's going to be a different story with that trailer on the end lol.

Tomorrow we hook up the trailers woot!!

 

Yes we are on 10 speed transmissions, they taught us how to upshift to 6 but we can't go higher then that because we can't go too fast on the range.

Today we hooked up to a trailer and Al went over the pre-trip requirements for the trailer. Then he showed us how to go around the corners to account for the off tracking of the trailer and how to do a straight-line back. Then we got to take turns running around the range in our trailers, yee haw! I didn't hit a single cone or curb and got the straight backing down pretty much in my first try. I think my previous training helped me (I drove small tractor/trailers in the Air Force over 10 years ago).

No school Monday for the holiday, I'm bummed but I'm going to take advantage of the extra day and get that huge assignment finished so I can turn it in early. That way I can concentrate more on the driving and the book work.