Profile For Craig L.

Well everything was going good Pre trip, in cab LABs all passed. Straight back was solid nipped a cone coming back. Offset, i think jesus took the wheel because I didn't mess that up at all. Not sure how I pulled that off.... Alley dock killed me and used all of my points.

The timing of turning the wheel is what nailed me too cause I'm either too early or late.

So test is tomorrow. I took the school over a week ago and came for some practice on Saturday. Terrible at backing once It was starting to click on that Friday my last day. It seems I oversteer, maybe over think it and I have trouble turning for the direction I want it to go. This is primarily with the alley dock and offset. Hope this will click on test day.

Ok, so I am trying to get my alkley dock down and my offset. Straight back I can pretty much handle. Are there any tips and tricks I can use??

Tried using the bottom of steering wheel as a reference, tried using the rear tires... Other times I can't see what the right side of my trailer or opposing side is doing in offset or alley.

I know when backing right goes left and vice versa and I know to turn toward my "trouble "

But half the time I can't tell which way to turn the trailer or even to make it move how I want of that sometimes i can't really tell how i am straight with the trailer or how much my wheel is left or right!!!

I need a sure fire way to fix this.

FedEx has advertised this driver apprentice job in Pittsburgh area.

It's getting harder for them to keep people in seats. 10 years ago you had to work the dock for a while to qualify for this program and now they hire off the street. I think it has to do with not getting the instant gratification of immediately going through the program and getting a city driver offer. People failing drug tests is also a problem.

In the North guys are retiring or transferring down south to warmer climates.

If you guys n gals have any questions post them and I'll do my best to answer them or get answers for them. It's a lot of information taken in at once so I may miss some things.

Yeah that how my buddy got in. I haven't seen anything down here though in my area yet.

What did the trainer get a citation for?

What state are you in? I am near Boca Raton Florida and tried to find a position like this but haven't come across anything yet. Curious to follow the journey and learn how you came across this.

Craig L. We were learning how to shift on the simulator on day 2 and they explained everything on how to double clutch. I know how to drive a standard already, all my cars/trucks have been standards. I just had to get use the the double clutching which isn't bad at all, it was the down shifting that was kinda weird but not too bad either, I got it down also. The only thing as for rules are the gear recovery method they had for us to remember what gear we need to be in in case we miss a gear, which is.....

1-4th gear is all under 15 mph.

Add the mph together to get what gear you should be in

15 mph: 1+5 = 6 (6th gear) 25 mph: 2+5 = 7 (7th gear) 35 mph: 3+5 = 8 (8th gear) 45 mph: 4+5 = 9 (9th gear) Above 45 mph: (10th gear)

Also the hard walls and soft walls will really help in finding the gears too.

Nice that is a pretty easy method to remember for a 10 speed. I have seen some 6 speed trucks too, did they give you a method for that as well?

I was reading through the high road manual but maybe I missed the section of the pre trip I am guess and would like to study it so I am ahead of the game...

Use this

• Pre-Trip Inspection Study Guide
• Daniel's Pre-Trip Inspection
• Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist
• Pre-Trip Inspection Practice Questions

Thanks I will definitely study that!

Yeah good thing he did have a car or I would have to wake up early and walk 4 miles to train and 4 miles back (not a bad thing). But I gotta do what I gotta do to make it work!!

Day 4: Hooked up a trailer and was going around the track learning how to to right turns. I got the shifting down!! The trainer was really impressed with me and told everybody to watch me bc I got it down perfectly (made me feel good) we all got an overview how we did and pointed to me and said I did great. So that helped my confidence and made me feel better. Now I can't wait to start this backing I'm nervous but just gotta keep calm and do what they tell me to do. So basically that was we did.

Day 5: So today the did left turns all day today and learned how to pull in between 2 trailers like at a truck stop. That's just about it. My roommate is having a hard time shifting and I'm trying to help him. First 2 days he was having trouble with pre-trip so I've been helping him on that and today he got it down, and thanked me for helping him. I told him everything I know about shifting/rpms/speed but I can't shift it for him. I kinda feel bad bc he is trying so hard, I told him to practice in the chair at the hotel room. I told him I know it may look dumb but it will help you how to double clutch, I hope he gets it down bc we are going into week 2 and me and the 2 other guys that are with us will most likely go do some real driving on the roads while my roommate stays behind and learns a little bit more. Hopefully he will get it!

Did they teach you double clutching and shifting in the class? Are there any rules to help you remember the shifting techniques?

Guys, sorry for the delay in replying. Life has been extra stressful these past few weeks. Thank you for the helpful information. I was just now able to get my DOT card. To my surprise, I'm certified for a year! I am going out the door now to get my temps!

@Marc, I just got the Medtronic 670G. I love it. The sensors, however, are not working well for me. They keep failing. I'm guessing because right now I am very active and moving a lot. They are likely pistoning on me.

@Brett, I am looking at my brother who just got out of school. He said there were recruiters there daily. He is single with no kids, so he is happy to be OTR. His paychecks have been $1200 - $1500 per week gross since he started a couple months ago.

Is that your plan to go OTR?