Starting training 8-24

FullMetalJacket · Oct 29, 2015

Poacher said: ↑

I tested yesterday. Got my gold badge brother. I'm headed to Cali tonight. About to climb in the sleeper and get some rest.
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Freakin' far out, my man!

Knew you were going to do it.

So........you were testing while I was getting all my stuff back ina da truck. Had no idea......

Welcome to the family, bro. Very well deserved. You should ve proud of yourself. You really worked for it.

Big cheer & thumbs up for Doc Marten, too. Was confident he would do well, also.

Welcome to the family, too, Doc!

moose97 · Oct 29, 2015

As a follow up to my last post, and I hope that this isn't taken the wrong way...

Congratulations on the piece of plastic in your pocket. My PSD instructor kept reminding me that all I was learning was how to get that piece of plastic, and that it didn't matter if I got a perfect (zero points on any of the three tests) trifecta or if it took me several tries, and on the final chance, I passed getting the maximum number of points allowable to pass. In the end, no one would care - a CDL is a CDL is a CDL. My friend who failed backing three times has the same piece of plastic as you and I do.

Like I said - I hope that isn't taken the wrong way. I was thrilled to trifecta. But by telling me the above throughout my PSD training, he prepared me for the fact that I had more training ahead of me, and the knowledge that getting the CDL, let alone a trifecta, didn't make me a "real truck driver." Good luck with the TNT training. Sounds like you're having fun.

Poacher · Oct 29, 2015

moose97 said: ↑

As a follow up to my last post, and I hope that this isn't taken the wrong way...

Congratulations on the piece of plastic in your pocket. My PSD instructor kept reminding me that all I was learning was how to get that piece of plastic, and that it didn't matter if I got a perfect (zero points on any of the three tests) trifecta or if it took me several tries, and on the final chance, I passed getting the maximum number of points allowable to pass. In the end, no one would care - a CDL is a CDL is a CDL. My friend who failed backing three times has the same piece of plastic as you and I do.

Like I said - I hope that isn't taken the wrong way. I was thrilled to trifecta. But by telling me the above throughout my PSD training, he prepared me for the fact that I had more training ahead of me, and the knowledge that getting the CDL, let alone a trifecta, didn't make me a "real truck driver." Good luck with the TNT training. Sounds like you're having fun.
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Oh no man no offense taken at all. You are right my training is far from over. I will be in training every day until I turn in my keys for good. If I'm not learning something everyday I need to get out of it.
My dad always said, you know what they call a doctor that made C's in med school, a doctor.
I'm just proud that I scored well on the test. It doesn't make a difference on my CDL but it makes a difference to me. I always put my best foot forward and do my best.
The twofiddy in my pocket didn't hurt either.

Straight Stacks · Oct 31, 2015

Poacher said: ↑

Test day is here. I wake up at 0500. I didn't sleep very well. Went to sleep around 10. Up at 1200, back asleep, up at 2 back and forth all night. Not so much worried as I was anxious. Ready to get out there and get it started. If I could have called and woke everyone up to get ready to take the tests I would have. But thats not an option so I'll play this up and down game all night.
Finally up and over to the millennium. Had an omelet for breakfast and lets just say the people in the grill were trying my patience. IDK if they realize it but if not for the drivers they wouldn't be employed. Yet they act like they are doing us a favor. Thats just the way the world is anymore.
Get to the meeting before testing. Its pretty much just roll call and procedure of how the test will be given. Oh did I mention it was pouring. If I didn't well, it was pouring. I was third on the list. They test four at a time so I'm up to bat right off. I wouldn't want it any other way. I know me I would have worked myself up into a frenzy waiting around. I've always been the type that if we have something to do let get after it. Can't stand waiting around.
My instructor and I get hooked up to the trailer I was going to use. It was the same trailer that I had been practicing with. Train like you fight right? Right. He drives us over to the pad I'm testing on. By this time I feel like I'm about to go into combat. There is no more time for talk, no time for last minute training. You either got it or you don't. You can either do the maneuvers or you can't. My instructor and I say our goodbyes, its just me now. I wait in the cab for what seems to be an hour. Finally I get out of the cab and stand outside. Its still raining and I don't care. I need to be out and relax as long as I can before we start this.
The tester comes out we exchange pleasantries, joke about the rain, how its such a pretty day. First thing is first we start with the pretrip. I get coupling area, and trailer. I wanted the whole thing. Starting at a different point could thrown me off. Nailed the coupling area. I went through it knew that I got everything but went back and went through everything in my head again, this concludes the coupling area. On to the trailer bam, bam, bam things are just clicking. Get everything done and again I go through the whole thing in my head again. Touching everything as I go back over it, this concluded the trailer inspection.
Move on to the backing. I do my straightline backing no problem. Then I get the passenger side offset. It went well just go by the numbers and take it easy. I put the rear of the trailer in the box set my breaks and went for my first get out on look. I didn't need it so much to see where my trailer was. I needed it to get out of the cab and let some stress go. Back in the cab and finish the maneuver. I put the truck in the center lane again to be set up for my last maneuver. Get of of the truck and listen to my instructions. I get the drivers side parallel. This is my weakest maneuver. I pulled the truck into position close my eyes play every move in my head before I start. Put the truck in gear and start. My angle looks good coming into the box. Not deep not shallow. I watch my tandem until its time to start pushing the front of the trail over. I make that cut get about half way through that step, set my brakes and use my first get out and look. Everything is looking pretty good. Get back in and continue pushing the front over. It gets to the point that I need to start getting back under it. I cut hard to the right to bring the front of my tractor around, a few more feet and I know I'm running out of space in the back. But all I have to do it cut my wheels to the left hard, pull forward and put all of the truck in the box. I do exactly that and its perfect. In all of my practicing I never did a prettier parallel. The truck was centered front and back and side to side. Get out use my last get out and look, I wanted to do a backflip. We all know I can't so I didn't. Jump back in and blow my horn. DONE AND DONE!!!

Now its time for the road test. We head out turned left out of Prime and got on 65 North. Turned west on 44. On 44 I did a few lane changes. Got off about 4 or 5 miles down the road. Got off at that exit and headed back south. Took a right and drop that road all the way back past Prime. All the time he's asking me what this sign said and what that sign said. I think I messed up on one. There was no weight limit posted. He asked me what the weight limit was. I said I hope at lease 80,000. LOL Went back into an industrial park and did my emergency stop. Finished up with that and headed back towards Prime. I knew I had passed so far. Everything was smooth, I did grind gears one time but I got them in there with a little force. It was all nerves, nothing about technique. On the way back pulling out of the main entrance of Prime a woman in a SUV pulled out in front of me. Not just a little to close, it was a lot to close. I knew she was going to do it too. So I was prepared, no big deal. My evaluator was mad. Mad at her not at me. He said that right there could have cost me the test if I didn't handle it right. Lord I would have been beyond mad if I had failed because of her.

We get parked back on the testing pad. He looks over at me and says "Welcome to Prime" I have wanted to hear those words for so long now. As some of you know I almost gave up on ever coming back to Prime. I'm so glad I did. My evaluator said that was absolutely one of the best tests he's ever given. I missed 9 point on everything. One point on the inspection, zero points on backing, and eight on the road test. Inspection I forgot to say reflective tape on the DOT bumper. Road test was stuff like blinker being on to long, didn't put it on quick enough. One turn I did cut a little short.
But hey 9 points over all three tests isn't to bad at all.

TRIFECTA!!!!!!!!
Show me the money. Now on to TNT.
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Congratulations! They should've passed you on the spot sporting that Supatrucka beard!

Poacher · Nov 1, 2015

I got me some new Supatrucka sunglasses too. I had some polarized glasses. It made seeing displays very hard. Had to buy some that weren't polarized.

Chucktshoes · Nov 1, 2015

Trucking and dodgy facial hair just seem to go together.

Poacher · Nov 1, 2015

It's because we are all outlaws.

FullMetalJacket · Nov 1, 2015

Poacher said: ↑

View attachment 116436 I got me some new Supatrucka sunglasses too. I had some polarized glasses. It made seeing displays very hard. Had to buy some that weren't polarized.
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####,

Not fair! Ya gots a heck of a head start on my winter growth.

Poacher · Nov 2, 2015

FullMetalJacket said: ↑

####,

Not fair! Ya gots a heck of a head start on my winter growth.

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Hey man it's no shave November. Then there is don't shave December, just grow it January, F it February.
You get the idea.
I'm sitting in Straughn Indiana doing my thirty. Going to drive about two more hours after that and call it a night.
Picked up in Portersville Ca Friday night, deliver in Pittsburgh hopefully tomorrow late afternoon, early evening.

nofreetime · Nov 2, 2015

Poacher said: ↑

Oh no man no offense taken at all. You are right my training is far from over. I will be in training every day until I turn in my keys for good. If I'm not learning something everyday I need to get out of it.
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ALL of the most skilled and most successful drivers I have known had that attitude in common even the ones with a few million miles.

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