Profile For Prophead

Thanks, guys, for the support and suggestions. I am so fortunate in that I have almost one-on-one drive time with the instructor. He's concerned that it is taking me longer to learn the maneuvers and that I am behind on their schedule. I offered to pay extra for extra time. (Over and above the $5000 tuition - sheesh...)

Truckers make the BEST philosophers. I love the time/opportunity angle. At age 56 myself, my instructor suggested maybe my "blanket" was a little hole-y. But I refuse to even contemplate that. It's amazing and painful to learn a skill that one is not naturally talented for. My natural talent is for teaching, but after 20 years in a public high school classroom, I am burnt out. My dream job has turned into a nightmare. So, after missing my OTR husband for many years now, this is my new challenge. And classA, you are correct. Some opportunities are in place momentarily, and then disappear. I feel that this endeavor is exactly that.

A couple of techniques that have seemed to make good sense for backing: A Knight instructor mentioned information similar to classA's post above while demonstrating backing technique - while looking in your mirrors, steer towards the problem. So if using the driver side mirrors and the trailer is getting too close, turn your steering wheel to the right ... steer towards the problem. Another driver video made reference to using your hand to illustrate what will happen. Make a fist, extend your thumb & pinkie fingers with your thumb at 12 o'clock and pinkie at 6 o'clock position. The thumb represents the steering wheel and the pinkie represents the direction your trailer will move. So, if you rotate your hand clockwise so that your thumb rotates to the 2 o'clock position, the pinkie (trailer) will be moving to the left. Conversely, if your rotate your hand counterclockwise so that your thumb rotates to the 10 o'clock position, your pinkie (trailer) will move to the right. Just a subtle way to visualize which way the trailer is going to move based on moving the steering wheel right of left. I know for me, I'm way more visual and what some would ridicule, I find particularly helpful.

Disclaimer: I'm a trucker wannabe who sympathizes with the plight of the modern day trucker and who pays a deep respect for the profession and what it means to the American way of life.

I wish you the best of luck and can't wait to read your post when "it all just clicks" and it will. Stay safe and happy trucking!

Thanks guys. I've been looking at lots of ads today. Someone on another site was talking about "out and back" runs like Fed Ex or US mail, but it looks like they want at least 1 year. Well, it's early in my journey and at the very least I am going to have some quality training and a Class A CDL for hardly any money at all (Hope Grant) so it can't be all bad.

Hi, just wondering what you ended up deciding to do. Sounded like there were a couple of options you were exploring - Roehl and various Craiglists ads. I'd like to be in the same position you are someday and am curious as to the path you chose. Best of luck to you and safe driving!