Roehl GYCDL Training

Day 5. Since it is January the 1st, the range is closed and we have no training. A good way to knock down a bunch of video classes that we have been assigned. It is very close to what I learned for my CLP , so it is simple, although time consuming - you cannot proceed straight to the exam, but have to actually go through everything. Hard to complain though as I am doing it at a free hotel. Our trainer decided to compensate for the lost day and offered some extra practice on Sunday which is very kind of him. Yes, and did I mentioned that this hotel has a hot tub in the outdoor court yard and a sauna next to it? If paradise looks different, I will be surprised :-)

Day 6. It was a short day, after 4.5 hours of classroom covering HOS and being OTR with a trainer I did a pre-trip and called it a day. I like how pre-trip is done here. Yes, it is a federal thing, but still every state and company adds or deletes something. Which is not such a big deal of course.

Day 7. Today my trainer took me on a town road for the first time, and then we were learning to make 45 back ups. One week is done, two more to go. I like it fine so far, and it looks like Roehl was a good choice.

Day 8. I have a feeling that I came to training only yesterday, and yet, it is my second Monday here :-) More city driving today before lunch, including a 45 back up at a gas station next to an older Volvo with a dry van , then more backing up after lunch. My shifting still sucks, but definitely much less.

Day 8. I have a feeling that I came to training only yesterday, and yet, it is my second Monday here :-) More city driving today before lunch, including a 45 back up at a gas station next to an older Volvo with a dry van , then more backing up after lunch. My shifting still sucks, but definitely much less.

I think my shifting may be getting better as well. Though, if they don't want to change the clutch soon, I will have to get MUCH better!!! (I was put with a different trainer for "remedial shifting" instruction

Day 9. Pre-trip has finally more or less set in my mind. In-cab and brake tests are all good, definitely have to spend more time on trailer. Engine is good too. Today we drove in town until lunch, then practiced 45 backing and finished the day with straight backing between cones set at 12 feet (before it was more like 14). In a few days there will be a pre-test, and sometime next week we are going to have a real test. If everything goes well, next Sunday I will be heading back home to pick up my plastic and then meet with a trainer.

Days 10 and 11. Two very similar days - pre-trip and city roads in the morning, more pre-trip and maneuvers in the afternoon. A strange thing, instead of doing things better every day, today was my worst day ever if you look at grinding, missed gears and messed up white lines. Go figure, this how learning works I assume...

instead of doing things better every day, today was my worst day ever if you look at grinding, missed gears and messed up white lines. Go figure

Andrey, I can't explain it. This is something I have seen repeatedly in training. People will be doing really well and then all of a sudden they look like a drunk monkey at the wheel. Don't let it rattle you. Tomorrow or the next day you will look like an expert, and you will feel much better about how things went. I've had days myself where I think, "Maybe I shouldn't be driving today." I will have made some stupid mistakes that I know I shouldn't be making. Whenever that happened I would pull over somewhere, take a break, maybe get some exercise or something to clear my mind and then proceed.

Don't let it prey on your mind. Just keep moving forward and focus on becoming a real professional. It will all fall into place for you. It honestly takes years for you to master this truck driving stuff. You are going to feel quite inadequate when you pull that first solo run, but you will survive it and live to learn many lessons along the way.

I would pull over somewhere, take a break, maybe get some exercise or something to clear my mind and then proceed.

Thank you, Old School, that's exactly what I need - clear my mind and go on.

Day 12. We have been practicing straight back, offset and 90 before lunch, then after a short session on a simulator drove the truck on city roads and came back to the yard for more backing. I didn't like this simulator, it makes me kind of dizzy.