I'm Going Off To Roehl 'cause I Need To Train!

DO NOT go to the bar!!! When I spent my half a day at Roehl in 2016 before getting sent home, both the hotel and the orientation women at Roehl made it perfectly clear they do not want students going there. Remember the hotel staff knows why you are there and they get a ton of money from Roehl every year so they will report you if you go.

Ok folks! Day one is in the books! I'm off to bed. We started with the "CRT" which is the medieval torture device which is ostensibly used to judge our range of motion using resistance. It wasn't difficult, but it isn't something I'd like to do tomorrow. I suggest snugging the straps down the best you can. Oi vey!

We did basic orientation stuff. Lunch was good! No drinks provided.

I have no intention of drinking any more while here. The beers are good. I love the selection, but that's money I don't wanna spend.

Our instructors said this about drinking. Do not have alcohol in your room. Do not drink within 10 hours of class. Do not come in smelling like booze. Behave in a professional manner at all times. They did not say "no drinking", and I think that they'd be ok with a beer after work, but better safe than sorry. Too slippery a slope for some. As y'all said, it's better to just count it as a no drinking policy.

I want you guys to know that I appreciate you're advice and concerns. If you didn't care, you wouldn't waste time to type the responses. Thanks for watching over us new guys.

Day 2 Well, I drove a tractor today! Woo! Also, I drove a tractor today! Ugh!

What a challenge! I drive a manual vehicle, but it is NOT the same! AT ALL!!! I keep finding myself forgetting to double clutch and I'm trying to accelerate in corners. Too many car habits! Argh!!!

I didn't stall it, I didn't hit anything. I need to remember to downshift into stops and that "start in 3rd" is not a joke. It's so odd compared to a personal vehicle. What a different beast. Boy oh boy.

I feel very accomplished. I did something that most people will never do. I did it pretty successfully, really. Go me! I need to practice and get my timing down. I know I can do this. I'm beating myself up over first day mistakes. Tomorrow is another day and another chance to knock one out of the park! Or at least hit a single and get on base.

All in all a good day, really. It's going to be very cold here the next few days. 6-8 inches of snow by the weekend.

I'm going to practice tonight. Any tips to get out of car mode?

Thanks for tuning in folks!

It just takes a lot of practice behind the wheel actually doing it. It will take more than a few weeks in school. Not stalling it, and more importantly not hitting anything on your very first drive, is a successful day. Double clutching is all about repetition and practice. The more you do it, the better you'll become. After awhile, it will be second nature.

Thanks PackRat. I appreciate the positive feedback. It's weird having such conflicted emotions. I needed to hear that.

I feel such a mix of emotions about today. It's odd. I feel like I bombed today, but two of the four guys in my truck are CDL A holders getting refreshers. The other guy comes from a trucking family. And then there's me. Granny shifting, grinding gears, stopping too late, forgetting my signal.

On the other hand, I JUST DROVE A FREAKING BIG BOY TRUCK!!! YEE FREAKIN' HAW!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow we hit up the simulator for trailer practice. I'm hoping to see some improvement in myself.

Also, having such experienced drivers with me means that I get more time behind the wheel. He knows they're a bit rusty. He knows I'm... learning.

The book you need to fill out is annoying but useful. They gave us Rand McNally cmv atlases! That made me feel a bit of pride. I don't know why that should be true, but it is.

Try the apple/grape salad. It's quite tasty!

Do you realize how long it takes to get a handle.on all.of this?

2 mos to downshift

6 mos to back well

1 year to get the time management / trip planning down

if you practice it will come lol

Practice “dry” shifting in your room. Use a pillow or something to simulate a clutch and hold a bottle of water in your hand. Clutch-shift-clutch and work on your pattern and timing. Also, throw in a rev for your downshifting. I’ve driven a sports car for the last 10yrs or more and you’re absolutely right, it’s nowhere near the same!

Who is your instructor? I had an absolute blast up there man, no lie. Lot of hard work and mentally exhausting days but worth every second of it. When you’re end of week 3-beginning week 4 you’ll see the week 1 students and as tempting as it is to make fun of them, remember you were that guy lol. It’s a learning experience but it can be enjoyable.

Rainy wrote this to Avvatar:

Do you realize how long it takes to get a handle.on all.of this?

2 mos to downshift

6 mos to back well

1 year to get the time management / trip planning down

if you practice it will come lol

In bold...all the advice in the world cannot replace practice and repetition. Try to be patient with yourself and focus on your personal progress.

It will come.

Welcome back! Today was day three. I got to use the simulator. It was certainly an experience. They have a setting on it which shows shifting points and clutch depression. This helped me LOADS. I got my clutch positioning to a better spot and I figured out how that until I'm in 5th, the speedometer is much less important than the tachometer. In my limited view, anyway. I still have a bad deep clutching habit that I need to break. Also, many of us including I and "Paul" are still forgetting to double clutch sometimes. And the downshift rev. Gotta remember that.

Rainy and G-Town, I completely get it. It is DEFINITELY practice. We drove with a van today after lunch. I felt much more confident. I can see that improvement will come in time.

Things here move quickly. There's so little time for anything else. 5-5:30 wake up, 6 breakfast, 6:10 leave for Roehl, 6:20 get to Roehl, 5:45 get back to hotel, 6 call home while eating, 6:30 work in the book (3 chapters per day),9 get ready for bed and read over the pre-trip a time or three..., 9:45 update logs, 10 off to bed, repeat.

Weekends are earned. I can't wait to have one!!! I'll just spend it catching up in the book, but I won't feel the pressure.

Jarod, I won't list names on here, but yes, I believe we have the same guys training us. My trainer is J----- with a long goatee. I'm having a blast as well, but yeah. Exhuasting.

I've been trying to run through shifting as often as possible in my mind and physically, if I am able. I want to get the book done and out of my life. Then I can worry about pre-trip repetition and practice.

Tomorrow's another day. Another shot at a great day. I hope I nail it, but on the third day I'll accept steady improvement.

Y'all be safe out there!

Yes, I sang the title of your post😁