Swift - Starting the New Year training with Swift 1/7/13 - A long read...

All you have to do is tell the second one that the kiss was awkward because even though you had an ok time on the first date you found yourself thinking about her and really looking forward to seeing where things go with her.

Then tell her that you are a gentleman and a nice guy so you tried to send a let down easy text with an apology because you couldn't stand the thought that you may have made her feel like it was something on her end that caused the awkwardness.

Then make a joke about how you might be in trouble because she has even infiltrated your subconscious mind.

The final and most important step is.........always double check before you hit send lol

 

im not a driver and know that's wrong. smh... turn to the left to make the trailer go right and vice versa.. and how long have u been driving

 

You missed the part where he said grab the bottom of the steering wheel. He's correct and you are wrong. Like you said though you're not a driver.

 

READ CAREFULLY what he's saying. He didn't say "TURN LEFT" he's quoting the "bottom of the steering wheel method" If you move the BOTTOM of the steering wheel to the left, the wheel is actually turning right, thereby making the trailer go left. I'll confuse matters further. In the school I'm currently finishing, they say "If the trailer is bigger in your right mirror, turn right. If it's bigger in your left mirror, turn left" This, of course would be to straighten out the trailer. I've used Jakaby's method, and it works GREAT!
That being said, and from a guy currently in school, but having had my cdl for 31 years (haven't driven commercially for 18 years). Here's what I've learned. 1. Either method works, it's all about what your brain processes better. 2. NEVER use the accelerator pedal while backing-until you're really experienced. There's NO hurry when backing. 3. If you get confused STOP!!!! and think for a minute, let your head clear and come up with a mental "plan" on how to complete the maneuver, or correct it. 4. Watch your trailer tires. when backing, you're actually using the tractor to push the kingpin in the direction needed to get the trailer tires tracking where you want them. 5. SMALL, smooth movements of the steering wheel are like magic. When I first got back into the truck, I could still get the trailer to go where I wanted, but I was doing a Joe Wieder workout, turning the wheel from lock to lock for each correction. Once my instructor explained this to me, it made life much easier. This takes practice. 6. GOAL Get Out And Look!! If Plans go as they should, I'll be backing into a spot at a truck stop somewhere in the USA within a couple of weeks. I'd rather have drivers chuckling at the newb getting out every 5 or 10 feet to check my progress, than dealing with an irate Owner/Operator after I take out his $1200.00 Texas bumper and crunch the fender on his Long Hood Pete with a $15,000.00 custom paint job.
You'll have to excuse the commentary, but the pointers should help. And as I said, there's NOTHING wrong with what Jakaby said.

 

Please please please keep pointing out what we have been doing wrong all these years. Keep posting about how we should be doing it...our responses will have you the best prepared student when you go to try to advance past your WannaB status.

 

Please get this thread back on topic. I need to know if Doc was able to smooth things over with the 2nd lady

 

A little longer than you. LOL. (Just yanking your chain a little)

Picture yourself sitting in your seat looking at your side mirrors. Now, put your hand at the bottom of the steering wheel. Do you want your trailer to wrap around your left shoulder? Then, as you grip the wheel at he bottom, turn the wheel to YOUR LEFT. ( again, as you sit in your seat looking at your mirror). Now, look at your hand as you grab the wheel at the bottom and repeat what you just did to make that trailer wrap around your left shoulder. That wheel is actually turning to the right.

It can get real confusing. I learned that when I was 13 years old. My uncle and I went fishing. He was drunk, so I had to back the trailer into the water to get the boat out. The only thing I remember him screaming at me that made sense or was coherent at the time was that little trick about backing up trailers. It stuck with me. Because of that, I have pulled everything from beer, logs, heavy equipment, farm equipment, and now 53 ft vans for about 25 years now. That little rule is about the only thing I can really claim that I learned about driving from someone else. Everything else you, like I did, will learn by doing it and failing a lot of times before getting good at it. Good luck to you, future hand!

 

And I agree with Barney Rubble- I want to know if Doc is a "Player" or a "Poser". LOL

 

All of this is great advice btw. Just the basic rule of thumb (as I said in the earlier post)- if you can get in there forwards, then you can back it back out of there. It just takes patience.

 

DocWatson,
I am enjoying reading your story here! Just read day 3 of your training with Swift! I am going to go to school with Swift in a couple of weeks. I live in Kansas City now so I will go to the academy in Memphis, Tennessee. I use to live in Washington too until my ex and I divorced. One thing I am hoping is that my recruiter is telling the truth about everything. I read that you had to pay for your DOT physical. I was told that I will take my physical when I start class and pay $40.00 Maybe its different around the company. Also I have to pay to get my CDL permit here in Kansas before I go to school. I am a Veteran and so I was told my school woll all be paid for and I do not have to pay anything back except I have to pay for my food at school and $500.00 for the lodging. They will take it out in small increments in weekly paychecks later. I have not signed any paperwork for the cost of school so I am guessing I will do that at the school. I just hope it is going to be free, this is why I chose Swift. Did you ever go see your recruiter before you went to school? Its weird that everything is done on the internet. Just don't wanna get screwed over. It would be nice to have everything in writing!
I am excited to read how all your training went and how you are doing today driving with Swift. Reading your posts will help me with training I am sure. Thanks for all the time you've spent writing all these!
Be blessed!