Do It Like Sonny Pruitt

Day 11 - 2 Hours of Pre-trip Inspection , 3 hours of practicing for the skills test, then driving the rest of the day.

I love the instructors at this school. Some of them look like they've driven ten million hard miles. True old salts. Their faces lined like the interstates they ran. All of them give great banter. That's something I need to work on, my banter skills. Truckers have great banter.

My instructor is Military Guy.

We all know Military Guy. He's served in Iraq and Afghanistan, then took a job with a private company driving trucks and is always cryptic about his work overseas. He alludes that's it's all classified and hush-hush, and you wouldn't believe it even if he told you. Military Guy wants everyone to know he's seen some ****.

I disliked Military Guy when I first started.

I naturally dislike men who have a touch of braggadocio about them, walk with a manly swagger and use words like "swole". Getting bullied as a kid will do that to you. Also, I didn't understand his teaching style at first.

He's the kind of instructor that allows you to make mistakes, then just looks at you and says, "Now, why did that go wrong?" While it is annoying when you're in the thick of it ("It went wrong because you didn't tell me how to do it right, nimrod."), the reality is that by learning from your own mistakes, and letting you build knowledge on your own experiences rather than simply being spoon fed stuff, what you learn sticks better and quicker.

And the reason he tells all those military stories while you are driving is as much about bragging, but to keep you distracted from focusing on your own mistakes. And to relate what you're going through to a real world experience.

Also, Military Guy has the patience of a Saint.

As I wrote yesterday, I'm in a truck with two other students. We'll call them Guy One and Guy Two. Yesterday, if I may say so myself, I was the star of the show, leaving Guy One and Guy Two in the dirt. So, today, in the afternoon, I'm first out to drive in the city. I thought that today would be about my comeuppance, that everything that went right for me yesterday would go horribly wrong today. But it didn't.

I'm still making copious amounts of shifting mistakes, and I'm still not really nailing the point in an intersection when you start to turn the wheel. That's still a mystery. However, no actual damage, no carnage, we all made it back to base camp safely. Again.

Guy One is up next. He actually did pretty great in the skills practice in the morning, and he's feeling confident. And he does good. Military Guy has to beat some bad habits out of him, and it gets dicey a couple of times, but it did with me too. I give Guy Two a fist bump as we get back to base camp.

Guy Two is up next. He did ok in the skills practice, but he just doesn't have that aggressive, confident gene you need to make this work. I don't know much about truck driving, but what I'm learning is that it's not for the timid.

Guy Two is timid. And after about five minutes on the road Military Guy has had enough and orders him to pull over and stop. Military Guy takes us back to the empty industrial complex we were at yesterday so Guy Two can practice his shifting for an hour. Or, however long it takes. In my head I'm actually thinking, "This guy is not going to make it." I glance over to Guy One and he's thinking the exact same thing.

Military Guy keeps at him, though. Military Guy does not give up, does not surrender.

By late in the afternoon Guy Two is back in traffic. It gets dicey a couple of times but Guy Two is slowly getting it. You can almost see the connections being made in his brain. He starts nailing more shifts than he misses. He is able to stop at a crowded intersection without the rest of us loudly gasping and covering our eyes. Guy Two gets us back to base camp safely. He's even smiling.

What I didn't mention is that while we were back at the shifting range today, we passed all the other instructors who were parked on the side of the road, talking with their students. Who were all not driving. We drove right past.

I wrote yesterday that I was angry at Military Guy for making me go out into traffic with so little practice. What I realize now is that if I had waited until I was "ready", I probably wouldn't have gone out onto the streets until Christmas.

Military Guy might actually be the best instructor in the school.

I really enjoy reading these from you, thanks. And that "Wait til you're ready" stuff; I'm only 6 months ahead of you but I've learned that I'm ready when my dm tells me to go do it. I still get nervous most days.

I really enjoy reading these from you, thanks. And that "Wait til you're ready" stuff; I'm only 6 months ahead of you but I've learned that I'm ready when my dm tells me to go do it. I still get nervous most days.

Thank you for that, I appreciate it.

And it's good to hear that even people who've been doing this a bit still get nervous. That helps.

Day 12 - 2 Hours of Pre-trip Inspection , 3 hours of practicing for the skills test, then driving the rest of the day.

Can we talk about shifting? I am learning to like it.

When I went into traffic the first time, I was horrified. And shifting sucked donkey's balls. When I hear about Mega-Carriers all going to automatics, I though, "Thank the Heaven's above." But, by the end of today, I'm starting to get more into the rhythm of it.

Release the clutch/allow the truck to get moving/press clutch/get into neutral/release clutch/press clutch/get into the next gear/release clutch/accelerate...

Rinse and repeat. You all know the drill.

I like shifting.

What I never knew is how complicated driving a truck is:

Green light/release the clutch/allow the truck to get moving/press clutch/get into neutral/release clutch/press clutch/get into the next gear/release clutch/accelerate/make sure that guy in the silver sedan doesn't pull out in front of you/press clutch/get into neutral/release clutch/press clutch/try to find the next gear/grind gears/curse/grind gears/curse/look in mirrors/make sure that pedestrian doesn't walk out into the street/press clutch/finally find the right ****ing gear/light turns yellow/brake/brake/press clutch/get into neutral/tap accelerator/press clutch/downshift/release clutch/light turns red/brake/brake/BRAKE/try to smoothly come to a complete stop with adequate distance between your vehicle and the car in front/have some random car pull into that space you just created/curse/brake/press in clutch/come to complete stop/splitter down/place into 3rd (because our student trailer is empty, we don't need to start in the lowest gear)/look in mirrors/monitor intersection/green light/release the clutch/allow the truck to get moving/press clutch/get into neutral/release clutch/press clutch/get into the next gear/release clutch/accelerate/is that cop behind us?/press clutch/get into neutral/release clutch/press clutch/get into the next gear/release clutch/splitter up/look in mirrors/look at gauges/look at road/press clutch/get into neutral/release clutch/press clutch/get into the next gear/release clutch/HOLY ****, THAT GUY JUST PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF US/BRAKE/BRAKE/curse/look in mirrors/press clutch/get into neutral/tap accelerator/press clutch/downshift/release clutch/check mirrors/remind yourself to hug the ones you love when you get home/press clutch/get into neutral/release clutch/press clutch/get into the next gear/release clutch/look at upcoming intersection/how long has the light been green?/check mirrors/hey, that chick walking on the sidewalk is kind of cute/wait, what gear am I in?/do I need to shift up again?/what are my rpms?/dammit, I should have shifted already/make sure that woman in the PT Cruiser doesn't pull out in front of you/check speed/check mirrors/press clutch/get into neutral/release clutch/press clutch/get into the next gear/release clutch/accelerate/uh oh, the light ahead just turned yellow, I just upshifted for nothing/break/break/break/press clutch/get into neutral/tap accelerator/press clutch/downshift/release clutch/light turns red/brake/brake/BRAKE/BRAKEBRAKEBRAKE/try to smoothly come to a complete stop with adequate distance between your vehicle and the car in front/hey, nobody pulled into that space this time/smile and be thankful for small victories.....

That doesn't even cover turns.

Honestly, how do you guys do this every day? I'm exhausted.

I said at the beginning of this diary that "...after decades of bookkeeping and office administration work, I am looking forward to a change...if I can at least look out my window and see an open road and wide expanse of prairie, or mountains, instead of the same lifeless office block, that alone will be an improvement."

I was thinking about this today. At my old office job, I know exactly how this past week would have been. I don't even have to step foot in that office to know what happened. I was there about five years, I know. I know the calls I would have taken, the e-mails I would have sent, the conversations about TV shows I would have had with my co-workers. How do I know? Because that was how every week had been.

Since I've started this adventure in trucking, every day has been different. New experiences, new things to learn, new skills to practice. I got to watch the sunrise as we did our pre-trip practice this morning. My old cubical didn't have any windows. The office didn't have windows.

My new office is going to have really great windows. I'll finally get to see the sun rise and set once is a while. It's all worth it just for that.

Have a good weekend, everyone, I'm going to bed.

Day 13 - 2 Hours of Pre-trip Inspection , 3 hours of practicing for the skills test, then driving the rest of the day.

This is getting serious. Over the weekend, I had a dream about truck stops. I needed to get to one ASAP, but the lots were all full. I couldn't stop my truck. It was a nightmare. I'm dreaming about truck stops.

Next day, awake and not dreaming, I'm in my car, at an intersection and waiting to make a left turn. Oncoming traffic is in the distance, but I sat there for 30 solid seconds saying, "Nope, don't chance it, you won't make it with that trailer." I was in my car.

This is getting serious.

We did parallel parking practice today. I nailed it on the first try. Then proceeded to screw up every single attempt after that. It was a nightmare.

Overall, though, driving is getting better. Our trainer Military Guy is getting more laid back, and isn't yelling at us that much anymore. Guy Two is actually coming along by leaps and bounds. He's shifting better than all of us now. He strung together a sequence of upshifts so silky smooth Barry White would have taken notice. He's still a bit timid, but getting better.

It was actually Guy One who got the brunt of it today. He does this thing when shifting, he tries to do this dramatic flourish with all his shifts, waving his arm and hand as if he's following through on a golf swing. Or conducting an orchestra. It's weird. And it's not helping.

He better get it together. We all better get it together, it's test week. I honestly can't believe it's been almost a month since I started this school. And now it's almost done. Testing. I previously wrote that the actual driving test was going to be the Everlasting Gobstopper of stress. I can already starting to feel that stress starting to creep into my thoughts.

It's a nightmare.

On the job front, I think I've decided to go with Big Blue* Trucking. I got a pre-hire letter and I've been talking with a recruiter over the phone. Already, however, I am starting to see the little discrepancies between what the recruiter said in the classroom, and what the recruiter over the phone has been telling me. I know, I know, I need to start getting everything in writing.

I've put in a half-dozen more applications, mostly to the Big Mega Huge Carrier companies. Because, frankly, it looks like those are the only ones who hire people straight out of CDL school. But, really, it's only been Big Blue Trucking that's bothered to get back to me. Driver shortage, indeed.

I figure I'll put in my year, the mandatory "1 Year Experience" that every other trucking company seems to require, and then see what happens after that. We'll see.

Anyway, I've got to get back to studying for my Pre-trip. Maybe tonight I'll dream about everything being properly mounted and secured, with no abrasions, bulges, or cuts, and all hardware present.

____________________________
*please note that blue does not indicate the actual color of their trucks.

Day 14 - 2 Hours of Pre-trip Inspection , then driving the rest of the day.

No skills today. Dammit. After the disaster that was parallel parking yesterday, I was hoping to get more time on the range, but all the other trucks are fighting for that space now. Therefore, we went out driving most of the day.

I got the time for my test, this coming Thursday, 6:00 AM - 9:00 AM. Perfect, the exact slot I was hoping for. Get 'er done before the traffic starts picking up.

The school is in a light industrial area, so normally traffic doesn't really start picking up until after noon. By 4:00 it's a nightmare to drive around that area. So, hopefully, I'll hit the road around 8:00 AM(ish). Perfect. Still, if you are awake that early this Thursday, and want to throw some thoughts, prayers, and positive vibes my way, I would appreciate it.

I drove the most today. From light traffic in the morning to the heavy stuff in the late afternoon. Today was the first time I actually looked around when I was driving and thought, "Yeah, I think I can do this for a living." It was a nice thought. My next thought was that if I do actually go OTR , then I probably won't be driving in heavy city traffic all day, every day. Hopefully. We'll see.

The tables have totally turned on fellow students Guy One and Guy Two. Guy Two, who started out as timid, unable to shift and was literally taken out of the drivers seat by our trainer Military Guy early on, has now grown into the best shifter, and probably the best driver, out of the three of us. Guy One, however, continues his downward spiral of grinding gears, missed shifts and terrifying stops. With each mistake he gets more frustrated with himself, and the more frustrated he gets, the more mistakes he makes. Military Guy, who I once said had the patience of a saint, is close to losing that divine virtue. He has cajoled, soothed, yelled, explained, taught, yelled again, and done almost everything in his teaching toolbox to turn this around, but it's not working. Guy One is defeating himself. And sometimes that is the most terrifying and destructive enemy you can battle.

He's got one day to turn it around.

I'm off to study for my Pre-trip.

Properly mounted and secured. No abrasions, bulges or cuts. All hardware present. I keep chanting those words like some ancient charm, a spell to drive away the spirit of breakdowns. Which it is, in a way.

Day 15 - 2 Hours of Pre-trip Inspection , then driving, then some skills at the end of the day.

Guy One got it together today. He didn't do great, but he did much better. And whenever he would make a mistake, he made a visible effort to shake it off. It worked. He wasn't letting his mistakes get to him. He'll be fine.

We had another recruiter today, from a company that I have no desire to work for. He was supposed to be here yesterday, but cancelled. As he was passing out his company's pens and tri-fold pamphlets, he told us that he had been stricken with the stomach flu. He looked horrible. I didn't touch his brouchure and just left it on the table.

He made his presentation in the classroom, where this all started for us. For a four week CDL school, two weeks are in the classroom, and two weeks are out in the range, in the world. Walking into that classroom again after only a week and a half of being in a truck, it felt like years since we had been up there. So strange, like going back to your old high school for the 10 year reunion. You recognize the buildings, but you just feel out of place, like you've outgrown it. And moved on.

This month has ran past me at a ridiculous pace.

I only drove once today, but that was fine, it was a long ride, and it went well. Military Guy took me out of our normal routes into some virgin territory for real world experience. It was both nerve wracking and tedious at the same time. It was refreshing to start looking out for different signs, different intersections, different traffic patters. Different dangers. At the same time, I'm starting to see that a right turn is a right turn, a left turn is a left turn. Every intersection is different, but if you have enough tools in your toolbox, then new challenges can be easily bested with your old, well worn skills.

Ha, I'll be an old salty trucker yet.

Speaking of that....

Towards the end of the day, most of the trucks were back into the yard early, and everyone was scrambling to get one final crack at skills before testing. A few trucks had been set up, and all the other students from the other trucks were now milling about and mixing, vying for a chance for one last try. While some of the instructors had taken it upon themselves to run these desperate students through their paces, most of the other instructors were shooting the **** in the smoking area. Myself, and other students, hovered around asking questions and waited for any of that ancient trucker wisdom to drop. They were talking about hazards like cars and pedestrians. I piped up and joked, "I bet you probably have to deal with old salty truckers, too, pressuring you to do things you don't think you're ready for..."

I meant it jokingly, and the other instructors laughed in agreement, but one looked me straight in the eye, and with a steely expression just said, "**** 'em."

Not the jovial response like the other drivers, but straight, almost somber. Almost angry. "**** 'em." Like he was saying that to a specific old salty trucker who had somewhere, somehow, wronged one of his students.

I like to think that in those two colorful words, he was saying, "Don't do it, don't let them push you around. You are responsible for you, and don't let anyone interfere with that. Ever."

It's comforting to know that there are old salty truckers looking out for us young pups.

Test day tomorrow. 6:00 AM.

Good night, everyone.

Best of luck to you CodeRed!! The hardest part of the test is not letting your nerves get to you. You've got the right attitude, a great set of tools and skills, and just enough nerves to make you cautious and alert! Knock 'me dead and remember to BREATHE!!

I'll say a little prayer for you while you are testing. Let us know how it goes!

Day 16 - Test day.

I passed.

The pre-trip went good. Maybe even great, who knows. The skills test got dicey at times, but on some of the maneuvers I was allowed two pull ups and two GOAL's before I was docked any points, and you bet I took most of them. For the driving test, I screwed the pooch on a downshift almost at the very beginning of the test. But I remembered to breathe, and I remembered that I wasn't doing anything I hadn't done before. I nailed the very next downshift, and knew it was all going to be ok.

On a couple of turns, I watched my rear tandems come inches from the curb, but never hitting, and certainly never going over. My examiner gave me one or two "You got lucky there, son." kind of looks after a turn, but I just smiled and kept running.

I feel like the weight of a fully loaded trailer just lifted from my shoulders.

I got the rest of the day off. I'm going to take a nap.

I want to thank Trucking Truth for all your resources and help, I definitely couldn't have done this without this site. Thanks.

Now, on to actually finding a job.

Whooooohooooo!!! Go CodeRed!! It's such an awesome feeling isn't it!!

Way to go! I've loved reading your diary and wish you the BEST of luck in your career! Let us know what company you decide to go with and who knows? Maybe we will see you out on the road sometime!