Profile For Tyrell R.

Hey do you still work for TMC

Don't let that methodology for backing bother you. Backing is one of those things that, for some people, all the instruction in the world doesn't help at all. You've got to experience it for yourself, and the repetition of it is what begins to help it register in your mind as to how the trailer responds to the movements of the tractor. It eventually becomes a natural sort of eye/hand coordination type of exercise, but it's different each time you do it because of all the variables involved.

Yeah I understand. Today on the yard they showed us how to "walk" the trailer by jackknifing it then pulling forward without the dump valve and backing up with the dump valve. Then it all clicked for me just how the dump valve actually works, seeing it pivot like that so clearly. I had my lightbulb moment so to say. Thanks for the encouragement Old School.

10/9/2013

Today wasn't much different than the previous days. In the morning we talked to our training coordinators very briefly. They told us where are trainers live, and also explained that we will talk to them once a week during training and report on how many miles we drive, how many times we got to back, what kind of freight we hauled, and whether or not we get enough showers. This is just to make sure we are prepared for our own trucks after training. I was informed my trainer lives about 50 miles from me, so it is very likely I will see home during the five weeks of training.

For the road time today we went to downtown Des Moines to practice tight turns and city driving. It was a lot of fun, and I got the same instructor I had yesterday. He is a fun guy to hang out with and for the most part today he just told me where to go, my road driving is definitely my strong point. At the backing yard we practiced the same maneuvers and also added a 90 degree back to the list. They then told us to never back 90 degrees with a loaded trailer because there is a good chance your freight will tip, so I guess the 90 is for deadhead only.

Tomorrow is the last day of driving then Friday is just paperwork and getting our rental cars to go home and meet our trainers!

OK y'all I'm just finishing up trucking school, been in school for six months so I'm well trained. I need help finding a good otr company to start with that has plenty of freight.