YRC/Yellow Driving Academy

Exactly. I’m worn out with nursing. I did it for years. Got tired of being beat up by confused patients and then yanking their catheters out. Never knew when a patient would fall and get hurt. Families made their cancer and old patients be full code (like why????) so never knew when they would crap out and do CPR until EMS arrives. Pandemic exacerbated my exhaustion 100 fold. We had to be these old patients’ little dictators through the pandemic and it wasn’t nice. The state made us neglect these people in the name of the coronavirus.

I was a travel nurse but your kids get tired of it cause they miss their friends and home life. They enjoy it the first couple months.

 

Week 1: Day 4

Learned the concept of offset backing to the right. Did it twice. I think I understand it. Use tiny movements because we’re backing pup trailers they move away quick.

No shifting practice today. Did pretrip, got it memorized to the steering part. Have the air brake check memorized now. Also learned how to couple and uncouple a trailer but didn’t get to do it yet.

Whats cool about being an employee is the instructor can sign off on you being safe to drive in the yard. Two students can go around a few times on their own and practice shifting and turning in the yard. Looking forward to that! Can’t do that at any other mega carrier or college program.

The HAZMAT part of ELDT classroom part is terrible. We as a collective body of students got so many answers wrong for a couple of times until we got it right.

Lost one student. He quit and didn’t say a word. He didn’t even get into the truck at all. Personally I think he got let go due to bad behavior. Don’t be debating your experience with the instructors. Be polite and respectful.

 

Week 1: Day 5

I practiced on the straight back and offset to the right for 4.5 hours today. I can get the trailer in the hole most of the time now. The good news is if I mess up I remember I can straighten up and try again. Backing those pup trailers can be difficult for sure. I watched the last ELDT Hazmat video and saw some distracted drivers kill people with their cell phone usage... It was a tear-jerker for sure. I did not do any shifting practice today. I did memorize up to the steering gearbox. I just couldn't memorize anything else right now but hopefully, after a good night's rest in my own bed, I'll be good to memorize more stuff.

 

Week 2: Day 1

Spent another half day at the range. I’m getting the right offset in pretty consistently with just moving forward a little (doesn’t count against you if you don’t steer anywhere else). The parallel park on the right side was introduced.. I get the concept but I think it will take a few more turns to start getting proficient.

I memorized the in-cab inspection, air brake check, and outside pretrip until the fifth wheel. That’s about half! Our instructors do a great job.. they really do. They give you shifting, backing, and pretrip paperwork so you can study. I find out that certain vehicle clusters you can use mnemonics to memorize easier. I use O-C-V-A after starting vehicle to remember the Oil pressure, Coolant Temperature, Voltimeter, and Air Gauges.

I got to take a couple laps in the yard to practice upshifting and downshifting. Then I drove 7 miles outside the yard on city streets. Did okay 80% of the time shifting.

Got another per diem deposit. Doing good!