CFI At Crowder College

It was a school test which is deducted from our score on our final road test scheduled for tomorrow. I test for my CDL on Wednesday.

Great job. Was that a school test or pre trip towards your CDL?

Big Scott, do you prefer to give yourself more room on the right (blind) side? I prefer hugging my driver's side as I can see what is happening there, unlike on the right side. I'll then use pull ups to straighten up the trailer in the box as finish with a straightback. That right (blind) side of the box, I am trying to keep away from as much as possible.

Here's an example that may help. The first is my driver's side, the second is my blind side or right side.

Being closer on the sight/driver's side protects the blind side. As you watch others practice, pay attention to where the blind side is going VS the sight side. Hope that helps. Also, on the CDL test an extra pull up is a fail.

"Also, on the CDL test an extra pull up is a fail."

I am confused then, because the instructors told us we can take as many pull ups as needed. We just have to have 12 or less point deductions total for the 3 backing moves.

Big Scott, do you prefer to give yourself more room on the right (blind) side? I prefer hugging my driver's side as I can see what is happening there, unlike on the right side. I'll then use pull ups to straighten up the trailer in the box as finish with a straightback. That right (blind) side of the box, I am trying to keep away from as much as possible.

Here's an example that may help. The first is my driver's side, the second is my blind side or right side.

Being closer on the sight/driver's side protects the blind side. As you watch others practice, pay attention to where the blind side is going VS the sight side. Hope that helps. Also, on the CDL test an extra pull up is a fail.

You're kicking ass, Don!

I practiced some alley docks today and not real comfortable with them yet. But I'm finally starting to understand the mechanics now that I've done it a few times.

I've been after that in-cab with a vengeance. I'm fairly good with all the outside parts of PTI, but keep mixing up the phrasing on certain parts, lol.

Think we start testing next week, as well. I'd love to plan a victory dinner sometime because we both got licensed next week! Not sure when that'd be possible, but hopefully we both nail it next week, and hopefully our paths cross somewhere out there.

Best of luck with tomorrow.

Godspeed, brother!

Jeremy, the switch will come on in your mind and you will be saying to yourself, "now I get it!" Some people just get it quicker than others on some things, but many like myself just need to keep practicing and we will get there.

"I'd love to plan a victory dinner sometime because we both got licensed next week!"

I'm not counting my chickens before they're hatched. Haha. One step and day at a time.

You're kicking ass, Don!

I practiced some alley docks today and not real comfortable with them yet. But I'm finally starting to understand the mechanics now that I've done it a few times.

I've been after that in-cab with a vengeance. I'm fairly good with all the outside parts of PTI, but keep mixing up the phrasing on certain parts, lol.

Think we start testing next week, as well. I'd love to plan a victory dinner sometime because we both got licensed next week! Not sure when that'd be possible, but hopefully we both nail it next week, and hopefully our paths cross somewhere out there.

Best of luck with tomorrow.

Godspeed, brother!

Great to read your progress updates, Don. You're getting there.

"Also, on the CDL test an extra pull up is a fail."

I am confused then, because the instructors told us we can take as many pull ups as needed. We just have to have 12 or less point deductions total for the 3 backing moves.

Big Scott, do you prefer to give yourself more room on the right (blind) side? I prefer hugging my driver's side as I can see what is happening there, unlike on the right side. I'll then use pull ups to straighten up the trailer in the box as finish with a straightback. That right (blind) side of the box, I am trying to keep away from as much as possible.

Here's an example that may help. The first is my driver's side, the second is my blind side or right side.

Being closer on the sight/driver's side protects the blind side. As you watch others practice, pay attention to where the blind side is going VS the sight side. Hope that helps. Also, on the CDL test an extra pull up is a fail.

Maybe Missouri changed the rules since I took it. When I tested we had one free pull up on the straight back and two on everything else. Now, that I think about it I think I'm wrong. It's extra get outs that are automatic fails and extra pull up are points.

In MO extra pulls are 1 point each, and the 3rd GOAL is an auto fail.

if your butt leaves the seat while looking out the windiow it is a GOAL!!!

so if you master a straight back and one maneuver, you basically have 12 pts to screw up the 3rd maneuver.

and be sure to close that door when you GOAl...MO is 10 points for not closing the door. ouch

Thanks, Rainy D.

In MO extra pulls are 1 point each, and the 3rd GOAL is an auto fail.

if your butt leaves the seat while looking out the windiow it is a GOAL!!!

so if you master a straight back and one maneuver, you basically have 12 pts to screw up the 3rd maneuver.

and be sure to close that door when you GOAl...MO is 10 points for not closing the door. ouch

5/18/18, Day 15

This morning, we went to the backing range and practiced our offsets and parallel. I am better doing both but still inconsistant. I'll bang them out with a minimum of pullups, then have a real stinker. I find when my set up isn't great, then that is when I'll have a bad backing.

After lunch, we had our final road evaluations. This one included a drive through Neosho. Much more trafgic and there is a tight left turn with two lanes of oncoming from the left. If someone is in the left turn lane, we cannot make that turn. Luckily, when I turned after waiting for red to turn green, no vehicle was in the left turn lane and I made it fine. My shifting was much better on this evaluation. I was driving what I call 'Old Blue', which is an older Freightliner that shifts well. I also emphasized getting my foot off the clutch between shifts. On the return to Crowder College, I fueled up the truck. I received a score of 91, my best drive score yet. Driving 'Old Blue' definitely helped. I hope I can test using that truck.

Over the weekend, I'll practice my pre-trip and in-cab. Have a good weekend.