Half Way Through Driving School

Just finished up my 4th weekend in driving school. Saturday we went to an Industrial Park to practice double clutching and shifting. I knew in my head I could do it I just needed to practice it. I started off a little rough but once I saw how important the right engine rpm was in being able to upshift and down shift without grinding gears I got pretty proficient at it. I have no problem turning and not hitting the curbs I started feeling like real truck driver. Today we practiced backing, parallel parking and alley dock parking. I can do straight line backing, offset backing and parallel parking pretty good. I struggled with alley dock, I think my set up is wrong I am getting too far to the passenger side I think I'm not pulling up enough, got to work on it next weekend I know I can get it. Well that's it for this weekend will let you know more next weekend.

Hey Danny. It was nice to finally meet you. Isn't driving fun? Every day you drive you will see improvements and you won't even know how it happened. It just sinks in. The first day we did alley docking I did fairly well. Then on Saturday I suddenly started having trouble with it. Like you I was getting in too far on the right side. I think a lot of it is that I am not getting set up at a right angle to the alley like I am supposed to. My reference points are spot on but you have to eyeball the setup. Some others are nailing it pretty good even in the same truck. I test this Friday so I hope it clicks soon.

Yes Richard it was also good to meet you. I love driving its like I tell my wife about driving the school bus, I am more comfortable driving the bus or the truck than I am my car and I do love driving. I meant to ask you when you are testing I believe you will pass with no problem. I know i will get it but I will spend all week until next weekend analysing it over and over. This is the tough thing about doing the class on the weekends I have to wait a whole week before I can get back in the truck and do it again. All three of us in our truck are concerned whether we are going to test in the truck we are in now or they are going to switch us to a different truck at the end because the truck we are in now the city horn doesn't work the blinkers are not working it doesn't appear that it is a truck that they use for testing but maybe they do it is a 96 freightliner if they switch us hope they do it next week. Let me know after your testing especially would like to know about some details of the route they take you on. Good luck!!

Congrats guys. Sounds like things are going well. That's great news. The biggest thing I found on the alley dock is to be careful when you eyeball the initial back you stop short of where you think parallel is since it's slower to react than you may think. I screwed myself twice by forgetting that little detail. If the truck is in the condition you say, no way will you test in that truck. If you do, something is very wrong. Espically with the turn signals not working. I got my CDL this Friday. Knock em dead guys!!!!

How did the weekend go Danny?

It went good Richard, got to drive over to Fulton industrial twice on Saturday. Got my shifting and down shifting pretty good. I remember you talking about having to downshift in such a short distance, on 278 that was for sure just about the time you would get up to 9th gear you be coming up on another light and have to down shift. I pretty much have all the skills down. We had the yard all to ourselves on Sunday so Joe our instructor got the keys to another truck so we had two trucks we were using got a lot of time behind the wheel. Have you got a start date with Schneider yet? Got ant bits of advice on the testing at Dalton that might help me. They say that the examiners at Dalton are a little more leanient than the other places, what's your take? I will keep you updated as I finish up school and get close to testing,keep me updated on your journey.

We had 10 people testing in 2 trucks. All but one passed and no one was surprised about the one that did not pass. He struggled from the beginning. He improved a lot as school went on but just wasn't ready. He will pass next time. I don't know what other examiners are like but we were told exactly what to expect. You won't have to do anything when you test that you haven't done in class. You will have to make 2 right turns where you will need to go into the lane of oncoming traffic but just sit there until there is no traffic. No matter how long it takes. When we arrived in Dalton our instructor drove us over part of the route and showed us those 2 intersections. They aren't hard if you do it the way you have been shown. The backing range is nice because it is paved and striped. The maneuvers were easier there than they were at school. Also the examiner will go over what you are to do and will ask you if you have any questions before you start. They want you to pass so if you aren't sure about something then ask. Many of the roads we were on did not have speed limit signs so I asked her. Some she knew and some she didn't. She did ask about 2 signs after we passed them, and we were told she would. I knew the first one but I was really busy when she asked about the second one and missed it. Turns out it was a school zone sign. And she had just finished telling me there was a school zone ahead so I should have at least guessed that. The first one was about bridges icing before the road.

I had my phone interview with Schneider today. I got the formal job offer, Of course it is contingent on my drug screening and background check. I went and did the drug screen and physical this afternoon. I am tentatively scheduled to start orientation and training on Nov 30. I'm really excited. Things are starting to move fast now. Have you talked to HOW yet?

Hey guys sounds like things are going well. Glad to here it. I graduate Thursday and start with Roehl on Friday morning..Keep it rocking guys...I'm very proud of both of you guys...

Thanks Richard for the info. Yes I have talked to HOW got my pre-hire from them back in October and I have talked to them a couple times since. Right now I scheduled to leave for Wisconsin on January 6th to start orientation on the 7th if all goes well. PJ glad all has gone well with you at Roehl, I looked at them early on but found HOW and they seem to be more suited for me. I have been following your post while in school and training was very informative and exciting to read everyday. Looks like the Georgia Boys are making their presence known in trucking. Wish both the best let's keep in touch as we go on.

Hey guys sounds like things are going well. Glad to here it. I graduate Thursday and start with Roehl on Friday morning..Keep it rocking guys...I'm very proud of both of you guys...

Congratulations PJ. It's exciting to follow someone's progress as they go from thinking about a career until they are actually driving for a living. It takes some time but before you know it you are there.