Beginning The Change Of A Lifetime!

The failure rate isn't based on the permit written tests, it's based on the actual license test. I guess it's the way the state of Maine "grades" tests that only about 1 in 5 pass the first time. But most pass by the second time. The written test was fine for everyone in my class except our NH student, but I can tell from watching some of the other guys backing that the license test could prove to be challenging for some. Believe me though Brett your High Road training was the biggest factor for me passing my written!

I wasn't trying to compare the written tests with the driving test. I was just pointing out that if your job is to train someone to pass a test and only 20% of your students are passing the first time then clearly something is wrong. I wonder if other schools around Maine are having the same results? I can't imagine it's a policy of the Maine DOT to fail four out of five drivers the first time they test.

Sorry Brett I just have misunderstood you. Yes that number does seem quite low. Honestly I didn't check the numbers before I signed up because this was the only school that was going to work for me in my current situation. I hope for my sake that number is not true. I will get my CDL though regardless what happens the first time out. Please don't think I was trying to talk down to you. That wasn't my intent.

By the way off topic question.... would TT still think of me as a trucker if I were to get a nice local job?

Oh I didn't think you were talking down to me or anything. I was just saying if I was in charge of training people for something and 80% of my students failed the first time I would be mortified!

You're right though - you're going to get your CDL whether you pass it the first time or need to come back. No big deal at all.

And yap - local drivers are every bit the trucker that OTR guys are. Local truckers do a ton of backing in tight places, sit in heavy traffic a higher percentage of the time, and still have to handle an 80,000 pound building on wheels. There's nothing at all easier about running local.

Day seven. Today was spent entirely on the road. This was due to the eighteen or so inches we'll be getting tomorrow. They did "cancel" school but told us that Sunday around noon if any of us want to come in and can do it safely then we could do done yard stuff. Since I'm really the only close one I might be the only one who shows up. Maybe.

Today's road time was pretty lame in the morning. I went out with the same instructor and same truck I have everyone Every time. And he brought us down the same old back country roads we've been going down since week one. I was hoping for some city driving side he said I was ready for it last week but no such luck. The afternoon was a little better because I finally got to drive a different truck with a different instructor. I felt like I learned a lot more.

So there may not be anything to report tomorrow but better safe then sorry. Until next time

Oh man! I haven't had time to keep up with your posts each week, but I finally just caught up tonight! I gotta say, this is great! Its awesome to know what to expect when I start school. And the map was really cool. I cant believe how far they had you drive! Thanks so much for the great info!

Hey that's awesome Susannah! Glad I have been able to help someone. When did you say you were starting class? I'm finishing up the second weekend in January. I know you'll love it though. The instructors are wicked good at what they do and are absolutely there to help you learn. I can't wait to see how your experience goes.

Back to the school though. Like I said we have this weekend and next off for Christmas. I did end up going in last Sunday for backing practice. I was the only one to make it in. I took the opportunity to get as much truck time add I could. I also made it a point to get at least three parallels in a row with no pull ups. Which I able to get no problem. Another thing I forgot to mention is out class has been shrunk down to six. Both of the guys that dropped down to the CDL B course are no longer with us. The NH student couldn't pass hours written in time to stay with the class and the other guy I'm not sure what happened. Sucks for them I guess. Hopefully they're able to come back at a later date.

Well that's it until next year! I hope everyone has a merry Christmas our happy whatever you celebrate and a great new year!

I was hoping to start jan 13 but due to finances i will probably wait till feb or march. :( Oh well. At least that gives me more time to prepare.

Yea I would recommend waiting until this cold has passed because it's wreaking havoc on the trucks!

So let me get everyone caught up with this weekend.

Day eight. Let me tell you that having that much time off was sucky. Not so much because of forgetting how to drive but for not being in a truck at all. I missed it! I guess that's a good sign. So due to some more crappy weather from friday we didn't do any road driving just went over to the industrial park. And not only were the roads terrible but because the temps reached -30 at one point with wind chill, and the trucks didn't take to kindly to that. One of the main road trucks had a throw out bearing and clutch go bad so it was down. The other main road truck came down with a case of a bad starter so it was down. On top of that a few of the yard trailer's air brakes kept locking up. I understand these aren't the newest trucks in the world but boy do they not like the cold weather. So anyway We didn't drive the roads only the industrial park. Well at least that's was what I was told happened because I never left the yard. That was actually fine with me though because they showed us alley dock today. I felt much better about staying at the yard learning that then driving in a circle and not getting any real driving time. Now after going one for six on my first attempts something clicked and I started nailing it. There was to many times I was chasing the trailer to fast and not getting the right angle. So to this point I'm comfortable making all four manuevers. We get three attempts on our test and I know I can at least be at 33%. And speaking of the state test I got my testing date. January 8th!! This week!! I still have three more days left of school and i'm tetsing before I even finish. They said it doesn't happen often but they had slots to fill so I've been moved into one of them. Bring it on I say! So lets move to Sunday.

Day nine. Today was a very loooonnnngggg day! Our day started the same way as Saturday but things just got slow. Very slow. Basically what happened was this. They had one truck to bring guys out one on one with, and only two working trucks in the yard to practice with. This normally wouldn't have been a problem with just the six of us except it wasn't just us six. They had students coming from the weekday class to practice before their tests this week. So that added around four or five guys. So because they were only coming in for a little bit in the morning to practice I just kind of sat around while waiting for those guys to get their time in. Finally at around Ten oclock or so those guys finally started working out of there. And right at that time it was my turn to go out for a little road time. Even though we were only going to do some laps (because Maine had a hard time cleaning up from this last storm) I was gettng to do it in the International with the automatic. The school just got it back from having the transmission fixed. I know there's no real challenge in driving an auto but just getting the opportunity to try it out since they are becoming more popular was nice. Boy did it drive smooth. So I only got a little time in and we came back to do lunch. Here's where the day really got slow. First thing after lunch a woman from the office came to chat with us and do our exit interviews and some surveys. 45 minutes later we got back into the yard. Now let me explain how this class is doing in terms of skill. One of us already has his CDL-A and is judt doing this as a refresher to get a job so he's fine. Two of us (myself included) are right where we need to be and need no further instruction just time to really get better at it. Three of us however should have moved down to CDL-B. Now i'm not perfect in any stretch of the imagination, but these guys have a hard time going backwards straight. So in light of this I couldn't in good conscious hog a truck when these guys needed so much more work. So I stepped aside and let those guys get some time in. I did jump in from time to time to run the full course and nailed it seems like every time but for the most part I stayed out of the way. I did try and help one of them a couple of times one when to make the turns and which way. Needless to say the cones sure did take a beating. I did forget to mention one thing. I have never driven the actual truck i'm taking my test in. It's a Mack which is much different then the FL or Intl we drive normally. Well I spoke up about this because my test is THIS WEEK! So around three oclock they got me out in it to get used to it. It's certainly a much more forgiving truck then the others. The shifts just glide into place. After we got back I stood around for a little bit then went home for the day.

Suffice to say I'm nervous as hell going into my test this wednesday. I know I can pull of the manuevers and the pretrip. It's the road test that worries me. I don't want to make any stupid mistakes. Like for instance when I was getting my regular license I pulled onto a snow bank during my parallel park and he failed me because he has to consider that a curb. Well we have plenty of snow banks around right now so I don't want to hit one even if it is just snow. Also the little things like not being in the right gear for a turn or not using my signal long enough when merging. Or not using my mirrors enough. I know I do use them enough normally but will I forget? Or what about getting into a tricky situation and having to make a choice on what to do and making the wrong one. I know i'm just psyching myself out and need to stop, but I've been working hard to get this so I don't wan to screw it up. So anyway that's how the weekend went and i'll be sure to fill you all in on how I do Wednesday. Wish me luck!!