TransAm Orientation

Day 3 of student training:

Today had a rough start. As some of you may know, last night I was questioning if I was going to stick this out. After a lot of great advice, I decided to tough it out and go for it!

Today we were on the range all day again. My turn at it was pretty good. I was stressed out and nervous so I hit a few cones but I know what I did wrong and was able to correct it. My biggest achievement was getting my 45 angle between two trailers! It took some time, a little wiggling and a lot of GOALs and head scratching, but I finally got it in there!!

We also took our road tests today. Two students at a time in one of the newer trucks. (The trucks for the range are fairly old and beat up). I drove first and it was AWESOME!! The instructor told us to watch our turns using the hood mirrors. When I took my first turn, he watched me and said I did it perfect! That was a real confidence booster after this morning. It was a very successful drive and I am very happy with it.

We finally got done at 5:30 and we were told to pack our stuff tonight and be ready to check out in the morning. Our trainers are due in around noon tomorrow. They will be taking some people out to the range for a little more work but I'm hoping I'm not one of them.

Daily tidbits:

I got some great news today. I found out from a driver that stopped to talk to us that I CAN request more time out with my trainer. This guy took 18 days instead of 11. What a huge relief!

TransAm runs 680 and 700 Kenworths exclusively. We got to drive a 2012 680 today for our road test and I absolutely LOVED it! The accelerator is a little slow to respond but I can work with that.

Tomorrow begins a new adventure and I am gonna do my best to rock it out!

Here's a hint for Street turns. Everyone will tell you about "turn into the second lane out from the curb", which is correct.

But, once you're established making that turn, start "driving" the tandems . What that means is, beyond making sure you don't run into anything out front, watch the inside tandem wheels in the mirror. (Right turn means right side wheels.)

Watch those to tell you where to steer. Suppose it is a right turn. Watch the right side wheels in the mirror. Too close to the curb? (Or the signal pole?!) Let out your turning - not so tight. Wheels getting away from the curb? Tighten the steering wheel a bit.

This is easy to catch on, and once you start doing it regularly, you might get that little bit of satisfaction of watching art being made.

Here's a hint for Street turns. Everyone will tell you about "turn into the second lane out from the curb", which is correct.

But, once you're established making that turn, start "driving" the tandems . What that means is, beyond making sure you don't run into anything out front, watch the inside tandem wheels in the mirror. (Right turn means right side wheels.)

Watch those to tell you where to steer. Suppose it is a right turn. Watch the right side wheels in the mirror. Too close to the curb? (Or the signal pole?!) Let out your turning - not so tight. Wheels getting away from the curb? Tighten the steering wheel a bit.

This is easy to catch on, and once you start doing it regularly, you might get that little bit of satisfaction of watching art being made.

This is exactly how we were taught to make turns in school. And once you do it right it is just beautiful. I love to watch the hood mirrors and get a big grin every time I successfully clear a corner. The smallest things amuse us....

Wow CM you have sure been through the paces. I have a KW 660 which the cab is narrower than the 680/700 but I love this truck. It's a 2013. I think the sluggish takeoff is the automatic. Mine is a 9 speed manual and it has plenty of take off. I only drove one truck with an auto, a 2009 Mack and it was sluggish on takeoff like you describe. Transmissions are a personal preference. I will never drive another auto if I can help it. As far as their lease it is in the bottom under the basement of programs. Enough said. They are doing exactly as Daniel described, trying to force people into the lease program with all the BS you listed. That is certainly not industry wide at all. I wish you well. Get some experience under your belt safely and you will be able to write your own ticket with a good solid company.

Day 4 of student training:

Today was a short day. Two people went out to work on the range. The rest of us went over pretrips, post trips, and trailer inspections. We checked out the mirror alignment station and the scale at the terminal. Then we went over the nitty gritty of the lease program. I was glad that they laid out all of the financial information for me! I still don't want to lease but at least I understand it better.

Everybody else except me and one other guy met their trainers and are headed out tonight. The trainers that I got to meet are super cool and really want their students to learn and reflect well on them when they came back. My trainer won't be back until Sunday as she is currently in the Carolinas but I'm supposed to give her a call tonight.

I'm bummed to be stuck in the hotel for several days. I'm supposed to go out to the terminal tomorrow to get some more time on the range. I passed the test but they want to give me some more time to practice. I appreciate this because my 45 between trailers is still a little shaky.

I'm planning on starting another thread about my training time OTR. At this point I am SO GLAD I stuck with this!

My high point today? When my training instructor called me a truck driver!

Dang, you are really rockin' this thing ChickieMonster! Your last few posts have really made me smile...

JJ

I'm thoroughly enjoying this blog, and the detail with which you write it. Mentally, I'm filing away all this info for future reference. Thanks for bringing us along with you! Good luck!

ChickieMonster declares a victory:

My high point today? When my training instructor called me a truck driver!

Instructors address students in a variety of colorful and at times demeaning names. I think you realize the significance of him addressing you as such? It's a show of respect that you have clearly earned. Good for you and congratulations. Keep up the good work and best of luck in your next step.

I forgot to mention. We had 12 people leaving for training today and all but two signed a pre-lease. I did have a very good discussion with the instructors about leasing and I got some good information if I do decide to lease later down the road. But I'm not even going to think about that now. All I am going to focus on is the next 11-18 days of training!

I'm sitting by myself in the hotel and I'm lonely and missing my husband and dog and cats but I keep telling myself that this time is going to go by soooo quick and then it's the open road for us!

CONGRATULATIONS! And it sounds like they're giving you what you wanted; more practice time. Again, congratulations!