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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;RoadSideDown, post: 11657669, member: 314577&quot;]END OF WEEK 3</p><p>Overall this was a fantastic week. The first week was mostly classroom, videos and pretrip. Second week was introduction to all the backing maneuvers and shifting. Nearly seemed impossible we could master those. </p><p><br /></p><p>This third week was day after day of running through all the drills, rotating between tasks after breaks (we are union after all LOL!). All of us are doing good on the backing. I believe everyone is shifting around the yard fine. Plus we got into rotations driving on the road. Some had some difficulties with down shifting in traffic, watching their speed, hill starts, etc. my first one was ok but rough as I let myself get amped up by the traffic. Drives 2-5 were much smoother and I got many compliments from the instructors. Looks like everyone is close to passable but more polish next week will be good. </p><p><br /></p><p>My confidence did get rattled Thursday. All week I was nailing the alley dock backing and then suddenly on the fourth day I could not even get close. Undershooting every time. I went to bed early, woke up refreshed and today I was back to nailing the alley docks with one pull up and one GOAL. Others had similar experience on different tasks but seems to just be a passing glitch. Very solid week for everyone. </p><p><br /></p><p>My Oregon DMV exam is scheduled for Nov 22, Monday. Next week will be just the remaining five students and two instructors and more focus on just the test trucks (Volvos). So we should be able to really burn into our brains and muscles the shifter and clutch and backing with those. We might also have time to get extra training for chains, hazmat, and hooking and dropping sets. Not necessary for the CDL of course but the CDL trainers want us up to speed as much as possible before handing us off to the terminal trainers. So probably bumping the dock a few more times, too. </p><p><br /></p><p>I also found out that one of our instructors will also be one of the two trainers I drive with my first month hauling freight. He is a great driver and trainer so I am looking forward to working with him. </p><p><br /></p><p>After three weeks of CDL training I am very pleased with the YRC program. I can’t think of anything that could be improved. It would be nice of course to have several current model trucks to train on rather than old cast off trucks. But the good thing was we had one useable truck per student. That allowed us to get tons of time behind the wheel. I haven’t heard one complaint of lack of equipment or wheel time. The instructors are top notch. Not just excellent course planners and instructors but accomplished drivers and genuinely nice guys and fun to work with. </p><p><br /></p><p>We are coming down to the wire![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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