School Update

Howdy all!

Been a while since my last post, but trust me, I've been reading up on this forum. Very helpful, as always.

I am in my 11th week of a 16 week program at Alexandria Technical College in Alexandria, MN. I've driven everything in our fleet at least once. This includes Straight Truck, Dump, Cab-over Dual-Axle, Single Axle Day Cab , and Dual Axle sleepers. I like the sleepers the best, which is good, because that's what i'm going to end up in! I've pulled every trailer except the double drop flatbed. Dry Vans, Reefer , Step deck, Tanker, etc.

A few weeks back I got my permit in the program, after we went over the MN manual in class of course. Passed all my tests. One of them I had to take twice, but I passed them all in the end. I have a Class A Permit with Hazmat , Tanker, and Doubles/Triples Endorsements. I also have a Class B License with a School Bus and Passenger Endorsement. I got that separate from the program because I got a part time job driving school buses for the local school district, and the depot just so happens to be right across the street from my program! Convenient, eh? But the way I see it, when I'm done with the program, i'll be able to drive damn near anything on the road! It's a good feeling.

So after we got our permits we went out on the road with our instructor. He has an older Kenworth that he took the sleeper out of and put in 3 seats with seat belts in the back, so he has the capability of taking 4 students on the road at a time. When it's time to switch, we'd just pull over somewhere safe, flip on the 4-ways, and switch. Let me tell you this, even though we spent a LOT of hours on the private one-mile track we have on campus, practicing turns, shifting, coupling/uncoupling, backing, etc...There was NOTHING that anyone could have done to accurately prepare me for how full your plate is when you're driving on the road. You have to focus on everything around you, shift, watch your trailer, position your rig for turns, make turns so that you're safe and not endangering the general motoring public. Probably things that Brett and starcar and all the other seasoned drivers on this forum don't even give a second thought to on the road, but DAMN!! It's nerve wracking!

I have been out with my instructor 4 separate times now. Both on the country roads, and in town. We've made lefts, rights, up shifts, downshifts, gone on narrow roads and wide roads alike. He expressed to me last week that he felt I was ready for my road test. I think I am, to a certain extent, but I'm just nervous as hell! My pre-trips are good, backing maneuvers are good, but the confidence level just isn't there yet while we're driving on the road. That being said, I've taken multiple road tests in my life. Class-D, Motorcycle, and Class-B. All three, I've gone through this same feeling. All three, I passed with flying colors. Plus, my instructor holds me to a MUCH higher standard than the state will.

That being said, My road test is tomorrow morning, 11/13/13 at 0800 CST. Wish me luck!

I really just can't wait to get out on the road :) I've actually made the decision to haul flatbed. I think it will be a healthy challenge for me, what with load securement, tarping, etc. I think I would get bored with Dry Van sooner rather than later. Anyone know of any good companies out there for skateboarders?

To those of you that made it this far down, Good job for reading all the way through! I certainly didn't intend for it to be this long :P

Keep on Truckin. Stay safe out there!

Hey that's an awesome update Julian!

Best of luck to ya on the road test! And don't sweat the fact that you don't feel 100% confident in being ready for the test. Nobody ever thinks they're ready. But the instructors know what the State expects. If they say you're ready then you're ready.

And keep in mind that what the examiners are really looking for is to see if you understand the basics. They know you're just beginning the process of learning to drive a rig and they know you'll have more training as soon as you get started with your first company. So what they really want to see is that you have the ability to keep your cool under pressure, you have an awareness of everything going on around the vehicle, and that you understand the basics of shifting, backing, and driving on the roads.

So don't feel like you have to "nail it" once you get on that road test. You don't. They expect you to grind gears and take some corners a bit too wide. They don't expect you to drive like a pro.

We have some great article called Passing The CDL Road Test - What Are CDL Examiners Looking For? for anyone interested.