New Year-New Career!

I’m sorry I didn’t respond - I thought I did! I guess I’m 50 after all... haha

Thanks for the encouragement and advice! It’s sure appreciated!

One more thing Jared. With those 28 foot trailers you are probably going to over steer real easily. Additionally that is a major issue that most of us have as rookie drivers. We just tend to over steer when going backwards. Try making smaller adjustment to the wheel when correcting yourself.

One more thing Jared. With those 28 foot trailers you are probably going to over steer real easily. Additionally that is a major issue that most of us have as rookie drivers. We just tend to over steer when going backwards. Try making smaller adjustment to the wheel when correcting yourself.

I’m sorry I didn’t respond - I thought I did! I guess I’m 50 after all... haha

Thanks for the encouragement and advice! It’s sure appreciated!

One more thing Jared. With those 28 foot trailers you are probably going to over steer real easily. Additionally that is a major issue that most of us have as rookie drivers. We just tend to over steer when going backwards. Try making smaller adjustment to the wheel when correcting yourself.

One more thing Jared. With those 28 foot trailers you are probably going to over steer real easily. Additionally that is a major issue that most of us have as rookie drivers. We just tend to over steer when going backwards. Try making smaller adjustment to the wheel when correcting yourself.

Things still moving along well, Jared? Has this 'weather' impeded your training at all? I can't WAIT until spring. Puxatawney Phil says no early spring, but Buckeye Chuck (here in Onio) says otherwise. (Maybe PA will have more bad weather, just not Ohio ?!?!) LoL! You being out in WA . . . doesn't matter either way for you, eh? Hahaha!

Best wishes, continue!

~ Anne ~

Week 4 Day 16

Well, we’ve made it to the final week of truck driving school! Thank you all for following along and the words of encouragement!

Anne- the weather kept us out of the trucks for one full day (even in yard) and one additional day for driving. We had in some places in the city 10-12”. We just stayed in class and work the PRETRIP 😅

I’m still having a BLAST. It’s been an incredible personal growth experience for me. I would say the first week by Thursday I was thinking “there is NO away I’m going to remember enough of this pre-trip to pass” last night I sat in a chair and my wife had a copy of the pre-trip and I visualized and walked her through from start to finish . I missed only 21 points. And some of those I wouldn’t have missed if I had the tractor and trailer in front of me. Clean up a couple of easy mistakes and we are good to go. Well, failing is missing 41 points. So I guess I’m ok now. 😅

Backing I feel good about. Once I learned how to set up and NOT oversteer so much. Thanks everybody for the advice. Little movements work wonders!

I have to say I’m not sure PAYING for this school out of pocket was worth the $4400. Very little instruction - not enough equipment to train students. We have 10 students 3-Autos and 7-manual drivers. We only have one auto truck that’s not allowed to be used to practice backing or air brake tests. “Truck is to new” so we auto drivers been learning everything in a manual. We have been using the auto for our road training. I won’t even have a chance to back the auto and test trailer till last day of class. And I test 4 days later. I’m thankful to at least get a little feel and how it looks backing up. So that’s good!

The students pretty much just train each other and the couple of instructors walk around and yell lots- I had one yelling at me (not kidding) follow it up follow it up when I was doing my first offset... so I actually stopped the truck and said “I have no idea what the heck you’re talking about” he had this strange blank look and I said - - I’ve never even been in a semi before yesterday. Come on man help a guy out. 🤣

Don’t get me wrong I’m thankful for pointers the instructors have given but it’s not worth the $4400 out of pocket- at least for this school. If I did it all over I would have went to a mega carrier and gone through their process.

Honestly not complaining - just sharing my thoughts. Especially if you’re checking out a school - do some more research. Ask to attend a class. Etc. I wish I did that...

Well, got it get the coffee started! Here we go!!

I have to say I’m not sure PAYING for this school out of pocket was worth the $4400. Very little instruction - not enough equipment to train students. We have 10 students 3-Autos and 7-manual drivers. We only have one auto truck that’s not allowed to be used to practice backing or air brake tests. “Truck is to new” so we auto drivers been learning everything in a manual. We have been using the auto for our road training. I won’t even have a chance to back the auto and test trailer till last day of class. And I test 4 days later. I’m thankful to at least get a little feel and how it looks backing up. So that’s good!

The students pretty much just train each other and the couple of instructors walk around and yell lots- I had one yelling at me (not kidding) follow it up follow it up when I was doing my first offset... so I actually stopped the truck and said “I have no idea what the heck you’re talking about” he had this strange blank look and I said - - I’ve never even been in a semi before yesterday. Come on man help a guy out. 🤣

Don’t get me wrong I’m thankful for pointers the instructors have given but it’s not worth the $4400 out of pocket- at least for this school. If I did it all over I would have went to a mega carrier and gone through their process.

Jared, the seasoned hands here tried to tell ya! (as they do all... )

Look at the bright side. You'll soon, also, have your freshly minted CDLA just like the others; just could've saved four weeks and 4k.

I'm not picking; I LOVE FOLLOWING your venture. What you 'ought' do, is sign on to a 'mega' that has tuition reimbursement, good sir.

Let us know how things go, here on out! Glad you stood up to that 'yeller,' btw!!

Hang in, hun.

~ Anne ~

I hear ya! I actually had already paid for school prior to finding TT- well, I probably would have paid for it any way to be honest 🤣🤦🏼‍♂️

Thanks for following along and the pointers !

I have to say I’m not sure PAYING for this school out of pocket was worth the $4400. Very little instruction - not enough equipment to train students. We have 10 students 3-Autos and 7-manual drivers. We only have one auto truck that’s not allowed to be used to practice backing or air brake tests. “Truck is to new” so we auto drivers been learning everything in a manual. We have been using the auto for our road training. I won’t even have a chance to back the auto and test trailer till last day of class. And I test 4 days later. I’m thankful to at least get a little feel and how it looks backing up. So that’s good!

The students pretty much just train each other and the couple of instructors walk around and yell lots- I had one yelling at me (not kidding) follow it up follow it up when I was doing my first offset... so I actually stopped the truck and said “I have no idea what the heck you’re talking about” he had this strange blank look and I said - - I’ve never even been in a semi before yesterday. Come on man help a guy out. 🤣

Don’t get me wrong I’m thankful for pointers the instructors have given but it’s not worth the $4400 out of pocket- at least for this school. If I did it all over I would have went to a mega carrier and gone through their process.

Jared, the seasoned hands here tried to tell ya! (as they do all... )

Look at the bright side. You'll soon, also, have your freshly minted CDLA just like the others; just could've saved four weeks and 4k.

I'm not picking; I LOVE FOLLOWING your venture. What you 'ought' do, is sign on to a 'mega' that has tuition reimbursement, good sir.

Let us know how things go, here on out! Glad you stood up to that 'yeller,' btw!!

Hang in, hun.

~ Anne ~

I hear ya! I actually had already paid for school prior to finding TT- well, I probably would have paid for it any way to be honest 🤣🤦🏼‍♂️

Thanks for following along and the pointers !

I have to say I’m not sure PAYING for this school out of pocket was worth the $4400. Very little instruction - not enough equipment to train students. We have 10 students 3-Autos and 7-manual drivers. We only have one auto truck that’s not allowed to be used to practice backing or air brake tests. “Truck is to new” so we auto drivers been learning everything in a manual. We have been using the auto for our road training. I won’t even have a chance to back the auto and test trailer till last day of class. And I test 4 days later. I’m thankful to at least get a little feel and how it looks backing up. So that’s good!

The students pretty much just train each other and the couple of instructors walk around and yell lots- I had one yelling at me (not kidding) follow it up follow it up when I was doing my first offset... so I actually stopped the truck and said “I have no idea what the heck you’re talking about” he had this strange blank look and I said - - I’ve never even been in a semi before yesterday. Come on man help a guy out. 🤣

Don’t get me wrong I’m thankful for pointers the instructors have given but it’s not worth the $4400 out of pocket- at least for this school. If I did it all over I would have went to a mega carrier and gone through their process.

Jared, the seasoned hands here tried to tell ya! (as they do all... )

Look at the bright side. You'll soon, also, have your freshly minted CDLA just like the others; just could've saved four weeks and 4k.

I'm not picking; I LOVE FOLLOWING your venture. What you 'ought' do, is sign on to a 'mega' that has tuition reimbursement, good sir.

Let us know how things go, here on out! Glad you stood up to that 'yeller,' btw!!

Hang in, hun.

~ Anne ~

Keep on keeping on, man. You ARE such a positive person. I love it.

~ Anne ~

I’m still having a BLAST. It’s been an incredible personal growth experience for me.

Jared, if you are like me you will still be saying this years from now. Trucking has been one incredible journey for me. I absolutely love it. My life has been changed through trucking. It is one of the first things I ever did that made me feel, "I was born to do this stuff." I hope you continue to enjoy the journey that trucking takes you on.

I 100% agree! Never thought I would feel like “I’m made to do this” 🎉🎉

I’m still having a BLAST. It’s been an incredible personal growth experience for me.

Jared, if you are like me you will still be saying this years from now. Trucking has been one incredible journey for me. I absolutely love it. My life has been changed through trucking. It is one of the first things I ever did that made me feel, "I was born to do this stuff." I hope you continue to enjoy the journey that trucking takes you on.

Week 4 Day 19

Well here we go..... !

Had all three evaluations yesterday as we are wrapping up our 160 mandatory hours.

1. Pre-Trip Went very well- they have a scoring system they developed. If you miss 41 points on the pre-trip after the Air Checks you fail. I missed 7. 🎉

2. Backing We have three backs we do: straight back, offset to right and 90 back. Point system is scored if you score 14 points is a fail. I scored 0 and have the only 100% 🎉

3. Road Skills test We drive with a trainer for 18 total hours and they also take the students up to the test center and familiarize us with where we “might” end up driving. All my trainers have told me I’m more then ready to take the test.

I’ve been having a blast! I can’t wait to take the test next Wednesday at 2pm PST.

Today I have another chat with Schneider who has a dedicated regional route available in my area that gets me home on the weekend and I will drive Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Nevada.

We shall see how it all goes!

Thanks for all the encouragement this last month and I will of course keep ya all updated as the journey continues !

CDL Test Today-

Well, let me wrap up this thread by thanking everyone for all the kind words and encouragement this last month.

Today I took my CDL Test- it was suppose to be tomorrow and it was rescheduled to today. Whew that was an unexpected change and I was out on the Washington State coast- glad we had plan to head back early.

Pre trip went fine- just went slow and steady.

Backing - we do straight, offset right and 90 back.

All was well till the 90 back. Set up great started back and REALIZED - I am looking at the wrong cone. 🤦🏼‍♂️

Pulled up to correct. Still out of position. had to pull up again. Out of position again. The 3rd time - I was way out of position and examiner stopped me to pull-up.

Talk about frustrated - I can 90 back. I put it in drive repositioned and said out loud- come on Hughes put it in the whole.

So I did... after I was done and sitting there wondering - where’s the examiner. He jumps in and says “let’s go on the road” that had to be a good sign!

Did our road test - got back—-

PASS PASS PASS! CDL-A IS MINE!

What I should have done on the 90 when I realized I was looking at the wrong cone was just restart - I panicked and tried to work it out in a way that wasn’t going to happen. Worked out in the end 🎉