My Progress Becoming A Truck Driver
Topic 9111 | Page 4
Thank you all for your help. I really appreciate it! I missed the log book section a few weeks back and the school invited me in to attend the log book class. I jumped at the chance and attended today. I am glad I did as there is a lot to those paper logs. If you aren't paying attention you could end up either overworking or missing a 34 hour reset and having all sorts of screwed up hours. We spent about 4 hours in total maintaining a fake log book and going on imaginary runs for about two weeks. Every day the wording became more elaborate and challenging. For instance at the beginning we were told specifics.
You wake up from a hotel at 6 AM You have breakfast from 6 AM to 6:30 AM You pretrip your truck from x to y.
Now, going into one of the later days you had to pay attention to the night before because the next day doesn't state where you wake up from.
you have a 30 minute breakfast, a 15 minute pretrip and you depart the truck stop at 7 AM you drive for 3 hours following one highway into some state then turn onto another highway where you take a 15 minute break and continue driving for 4 hours where you take an hour lunch in such a town and state then drive for 3 more hours and you stop and sleep in a motel in another location.
From this you can gather all the information you need for off duty, sleeper, driving and on duty (not driving).
It was really fun and enlightening! :)
Tomorrow it's more driving!
Cool beans. Paper logs...the trials and the challenges, etc. Everyday I thank my higher power for the Qualcom (electronic logs) !!!
Electronic Logs:
Electronic Onboard Recorder
Electronic Logbook
A device which records the amount of time a vehicle has been driven. If the vehicle is not being driven, the operator will manually input whether or not he/she is on duty or not.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
I'm looking forward to the elogs myself...
The past few days have been pretty much the same. I am having no problems with yard skills, pre trip and driving. I am feeling extremely confident with the road test on Thursday. I feel I'll be walking away with a sticker on my permit allowing me to turn it into a Class A CDL. 13 weeks and counting at school, I'm quite thrilled about graduating.
My time at school has been cut to half days so I have been spending the extra time tying up loose ends. I spent extra time with my fiance and our two little girls. I downsized from 2 10x10 storage units to 1 10x10 storage unit. I have been knocking off items on a shopping list to pack for the road. I have a duffel bag that is getting filled with items needed for OTR. Once school is complete, I'll migrate all my crap from my briefcase to my laptop bag so all i will have with me is a laptop backpack and a duffel bag.
I have to order an atlas and I am considering this one: http://amzn.to/1LP8uSc
If you have a suggestion to something else please let me know.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Elog:
Electronic Onboard Recorder
Electronic Logbook
A device which records the amount of time a vehicle has been driven. If the vehicle is not being driven, the operator will manually input whether or not he/she is on duty or not.
Elogs:
Electronic Onboard Recorder
Electronic Logbook
A device which records the amount of time a vehicle has been driven. If the vehicle is not being driven, the operator will manually input whether or not he/she is on duty or not.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
I'm looking forward to the elogs myself...
The past few days have been pretty much the same. I am having no problems with yard skills, pre trip and driving. I am feeling extremely confident with the road test on Thursday. I feel I'll be walking away with a sticker on my permit allowing me to turn it into a Class A CDL. 13 weeks and counting at school, I'm quite thrilled about graduating.
My time at school has been cut to half days so I have been spending the extra time tying up loose ends. I spent extra time with my fiance and our two little girls. I downsized from 2 10x10 storage units to 1 10x10 storage unit. I have been knocking off items on a shopping list to pack for the road. I have a duffel bag that is getting filled with items needed for OTR. Once school is complete, I'll migrate all my crap from my briefcase to my laptop bag so all i will have with me is a laptop backpack and a duffel bag.
I have to order an atlas and I am considering this one: http://amzn.to/1LP8uSc
If you have a suggestion to something else please let me know.
Earplugs. Once you are on the trainers truck and dispatched as a team, you will be in the sleeper bunk while your trainer is driving. I can only speak for myself, but without earplugs, for me it was impossible to sleep while the loaded truck was moving on bumpy Interstate highways.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Elog:
Electronic Onboard Recorder
Electronic Logbook
A device which records the amount of time a vehicle has been driven. If the vehicle is not being driven, the operator will manually input whether or not he/she is on duty or not.
Elogs:
Electronic Onboard Recorder
Electronic Logbook
A device which records the amount of time a vehicle has been driven. If the vehicle is not being driven, the operator will manually input whether or not he/she is on duty or not.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
I'll be sure to add earplugs thanks! :)
I failed today. I was confident felt like I had it and then I screwed up the alley dock. How the frak did I screw something like that up?! Again, my instructor was ****ed at me. It isn't like I screw this **** up on purpose. *sigh*
Anyway, I scored perfectly on the pretrip, I didn't miss a thing. I was quite pleased with myself. Straight line was perfect, offset was perfect. It's just I screwed up the alley dock. *sigh*
I tested again this past friday. Suffice to say I failed AGAIN. I am growing quite discouraged. I have one last chance then I have to find another way to take my road test.
I did migrate my hazmat and tanker endorsements onto my Class B license so that I am prepared for the worst case scenario which would be to drive the large straight trucks over the road. I would much rather drive the tractor trailers though. I gotta do everything in my power to pass next time.
This time with the alley dock I thoguth Iw as totally lined up and I was lined up to the wrong cones. See, the truck has to go all the way through the cones and be straight and get into the box in the back.
In this diagram you will see how there is a curb (the equal signs) and the cones the Pipes "|". I missed the front cones and aimed towards the cones into the alley instead. I felt like a flipping idiot when I realized where I messed up.
I was so afraid of hitting the curb (as I hit it last time) I was too close to the cones this time around. What's funny is if I didn't realize I screwed up the alley dock i would of had the trailer in with no problem AGAIN. *sigh*.
Last time I kept hitting that further curb... My trailer was going in it was all perfect and I kept hitting that curb. This time, I was too close to the cones and couldn't make it in.
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HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Over The Road:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
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I tested again this past friday. Suffice to say I failed AGAIN. I am growing quite discouraged. I have one last chance then I have to find another way to take my road test.
I did migrate my hazmat and tanker endorsements onto my Class B license so that I am prepared for the worst case scenario which would be to drive the large straight trucks over the road. I would much rather drive the tractor trailers though. I gotta do everything in my power to pass next time.
This time with the alley dock I thoguth Iw as totally lined up and I was lined up to the wrong cones. See, the truck has to go all the way through the cones and be straight and get into the box in the back.
In this diagram you will see how there is a curb (the equal signs) and the cones the Pipes "|". I missed the front cones and aimed towards the cones into the alley instead. I felt like a flipping idiot when I realized where I messed up.
I was so afraid of hitting the curb (as I hit it last time) I was too close to the cones this time around. What's funny is if I didn't realize I screwed up the alley dock i would of had the trailer in with no problem AGAIN. *sigh*.
Last time I kept hitting that further curb... My trailer was going in it was all perfect and I kept hitting that curb. This time, I was too close to the cones and couldn't make it in.
Try not to get discouraged. Backing is the one skill that is the most difficult to learn and master. Not sure if you are pressing or being too hard on yourself, try to relax and keep cool. You obviously know how to do this.
You've done a great job of keeping us posted. We are all looking forward to reading the next chapter when you are road training.
Best of luck.
HAZMAT:
Hazardous Materials
Explosive, flammable, poisonous or otherwise potentially dangerous cargo. Large amounts of especially hazardous cargo are required to be placarded under HAZMAT regulations
Over The Road:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
I did it! I have finally graduated from Mike's School of Trucking and now hold a VALID Class A CDL with H N P S T endorsements. :)
Thank you to all of you for your advise and assistance.
Thank you to the folks behind truckingtruth.com for creating and maintaining the highroad program which helped me pass the written tests.
:-D
Now, to choose from a pile of companies that are interested in me! :)
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
I did it! I have finally graduated from Mike's School of Trucking and now hold a VALID Class A CDL with H N P S T endorsements. :)
Thank you to all of you for your advise and assistance.
Thank you to the folks behind truckingtruth.com for creating and maintaining the highroad program which helped me pass the written tests.
:-D
Now, to choose from a pile of companies that are interested in me! :)
Congratulations! A lesson in perserverance!
Best of luck as you move forward.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
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Thank you all for your help. I really appreciate it! I missed the log book section a few weeks back and the school invited me in to attend the log book class. I jumped at the chance and attended today. I am glad I did as there is a lot to those paper logs. If you aren't paying attention you could end up either overworking or missing a 34 hour reset and having all sorts of screwed up hours. We spent about 4 hours in total maintaining a fake log book and going on imaginary runs for about two weeks. Every day the wording became more elaborate and challenging. For instance at the beginning we were told specifics.
You wake up from a hotel at 6 AM You have breakfast from 6 AM to 6:30 AM You pretrip your truck from x to y.
Now, going into one of the later days you had to pay attention to the night before because the next day doesn't state where you wake up from.
you have a 30 minute breakfast, a 15 minute pretrip and you depart the truck stop at 7 AM you drive for 3 hours following one highway into some state then turn onto another highway where you take a 15 minute break and continue driving for 4 hours where you take an hour lunch in such a town and state then drive for 3 more hours and you stop and sleep in a motel in another location.
From this you can gather all the information you need for off duty, sleeper, driving and on duty (not driving).
It was really fun and enlightening! :)
Tomorrow it's more driving!
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated