Profile For Papa Jim

Bill, I went with Roehl and so far I am satisfied.

Just got home following my orientation and training with a trainer. It has been a long 28 days, but it all went well. I grinned a few gears in the trainer's truck, but I think he expected that some. He was a real good guy from Jacksonville, Fl.

Got my truck which I was called 20 minutes after theassignment and told it was sold. So I have to head north when my home time is over to turn it in. Hope to get something similar.

Well, thanks to everyone who has read my log and a special thanks to those who replied.

See you on the road.....

Papa Jim

Twenty three hours of class left until I take my DMV Roadtest on Thursday, Feb 6. To be honest, I tired of class and really want to get going.

I leave for the Atlanta area on Sunday to begin working with Roehl on Monday.

Class has been fun, just seems it has gone on for ever. After 1 week of backing, we hit the road to begin driving. My team in the truck voted me to begin first with this new concept of "Double Clutching." Well all my fear of that was for nought. Nailed it right from the beginning. Downshifting took a little more practice however. But our awesome instructor taught us look at the speedometer and if you see 45, add that together to get 9 and that is the gear to downshift to. So, 35 is 8, 25 is 7. That tip was perfect. Nailed downshifting. Next was turns in the city, not to bad since I had driven a bus some.

So, school is almost over, I'll keep you posted on Company Training.

Until then.....

Papa Jim

I'm also a student at ATI, in the class behind Littlefeet. ATI is good. Tonight finishes week 1 of Phase 2 for us, 3 weeks to go. Just to let you know, I was hired by week 3 of Phase 1 by a company and given a date to report already. Employment is not a problem if your DMV Record is clean and you don't have other "issues" to deal with.

Pushing on....

Brett, well it's obvious I don't know how to "quote" your post and reply, so look up above and this is my response to what you said earlier.

Brett,

Yea, I was looking it over for my DMV test, did good there, only missed 2 out of 25.

I'll return and go over the HOS section soon. I fully want to understand it.

Thanks for your website, BTW.

Papa Jim

Bummer! I see a few weeks ago you had gotten started on the Hazmat Endorsement Lessons in our High Road Training Program but never got to the Logbook Hours Of Service section. But you'll pick it up in school.

Well, it's been a few days since I posted last, so I thought I would do an update.

I finished Phase 1 training with a very good grade. That made my day.

Now Phase 2 has started. Since I'm in a night class, we have to do 10 hour week end days during Phase 2. My first day was this past Saturday with Pre Tripping and Straight Backing. We have 6 students and two trucks, so we rotate three students in and out of the drivers seat. Back up 3 times, then let the other guy in the seat. Got that without any problems. I'm happy with that.

Then Sunday! curved backing. I just could not seem to get it, and being the perfectionist, I was beating my self up. Two guys in the group have worked for an RV repair service and have great backing skills, one fellow is an Army truck driver, he didn't have too much of a problem. Then the other three of us had a learning curve to over come.

Now, I've backed a utility trailer and knew the concept of turning, but as everyone knows a tractor-trailer is NOT a utility trailer. So as the day progressed, I'm frustrating myself with my inability to get this curved backing. The instructors were giving us hints as we went along, but still it wasn't clicking.

Around lunch, one of the RV guys came up and said, "Jim, when you are there feet away from the cone, it's made, look to the next cone, etc..." It clicked, I got it, for the rest of the afternoon, I made fairly good backs, but needed to work on timing., now, Sunday was a bright sunny day.

Then came Monday night. About haft way through, I was as backing about 60% good and blowing the rest. So back to the advice given. Finished off with three great backs and one perfect one. Now I just need to duplicate that one.

Since our class was progressing rapidly in backing out instructor set up one truck to do dock backing. Ok, that was more challenging for sure.

For all you guys and gals reading this, I'm really enjoying this class, hopefully, when we get out of the training range and onto the road, I'll continue to enjoy it. I'm sure I will.

I'll keep you updated. Until then, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thrusday and half of Saturday to go with this backing thing.

Papa Jim

PS, I'm waiting on number 11 grand baby this week also.

Better name to google is cellphone signal interrupter.

PJ, I've just read you post from beginning to end, sounds like you have had a good experience.

I'm in week 3 of my private school training, 5 to go, with a 2 week break.

I had my physical for Roehl today and hopefully will start orientation Feb 10 in Atlanta. Looking forward to it.

Papa Jim

Well, I wanted to give an update on my process so far.

I've been in class two weeks and two days, unfortunately, the school is taking two weeks off over Christmas, so, I'll still have five more weeks of class/driving to finish up.

Since I already had a CDL B, all I needed to finishe up with DMV was Combo to get my A permit, but today, I applied for my TWIC Card, went to DMV and took HM, Doubles and Triples and Tank tests, so when I finish, I'll have every endorsement available.

Last two nights, we've been doing logs and maps. I not totally sure I fully understand the 70 hour rule completely, but I'm sure it will click one day. Mapping was easier to grasp.

My class in Phase 1 have been watching the Phase 2 students and joking about all the backing they are doing. Our day is coming...

Well, until next time. Keep the wheels rolling...

Randy, thanks for the input, fully understand traffic, I live in Southeast Virginia, well gotta run class calls.