Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Another great scenery shot – it’s rather nice having an office with a view.
Randy called me while he was driving through parts of Wyoming and Nebraska. For him, I will temporarily give up my no-driving-while-on-cell phone rule. He said he’s doing great other than having a little trouble shifting while taking off ramps, but he’ll get used to it. That was early in the afternoon and he was supposed to call me back tonight, when he was in the sleeper. But 13 hours later, he didn’t. So I’ll assume he’s exhausted and/or has no privacy. Well, duh! He sounds so stiff and uncomfortable now…if I didn’t know better, I’d think his mother was in the truck with him! 
Whatever is happening to him, I’m starting to think I won’t find out until he’s back at the school again around Saturday.
Seeing Randy’s Current Location
When I went to Randy company’s website to find out why there’s been no paycheck yet (direct-deposit delay), I found a link where I can login and see their current location anytime…thumbs up for that! Well, except there is a satellite delay, so it’s not quite accurate. And I shouldn’t have “clicked around”, because now I know that his load has an extra-high center of gravity…I didn’t want to know that! TMI! And when I saw he was in North Platte, it made me sad, because we have some happy memories of a fun time there (it sounds like a dull place, but it doesn’t have to be).
We were talking about driving in the mountains again, and I’ve read a bunch of time that Jake brakes don’t work when it’s wet or slippery. But nobody told Randy that. If it’s true, he needs to know it, and I shouldn’t be the one who is telling him. I hope the trainer isn’t sleeping if he runs into that situation. 
P.S. He just texted me that he’s too tired to talk. Well, then I have to wonder if he was safe to drive either. I hope so, since he seems to be doing an awful lot of the driving.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
I got to talk to Randy several times today, but I went for over 24 hours without talking to him at all…that makes my stomach nervous! The first time he called he was driving on a curvy mountain road in the rain and fog, while the trainer was sleeping (without any special instructions or guidance). Before that, they stopped at Subway and Randy ate while he drove. ??? Am I the only one that thinks all of this is bad for a brand new driver? To any trainers or former trainers out there…is this normal? It seems fairly careless to me…am I overreacting? I don’t want to ride with him if he does that kind of stuff.
To remind him of how life goes on here, I sent Randy a pic of my right foot, which is turning blue/purple and the doctor doesn’t know why. I can’t feel it half the time, and it’s the foot I was supposed to press the accelerator and brake pedal with. Which is why I’m stuck here instead of driving around slippery mountains talking on the phone and eating sandwiches while my trainer sleeps. My “clutch” foot is still good though, for all that’s worth.
Randy said when they were going through Wyoming the other day, he saw 2 trucks that he pinstriped…Pat Fruth Trucking from Shakopee, MN. It really is a small world. Except it feels really big when he’s so far away.
Now, onto a completely different subject…
Wow, why didn’t somebody tell me about the “dirty” texting thing before? It’s too funny! But only from my husband, otherwise it would creep me out. 
I guess I thought “sexting” was just for teenagers. Sorry but I do believe this is very important for couples to know before they go to truck driving school and I think trucking companies should put something about that in their training manuals.
Please show TruckingTruth some luv now people! :-)
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Hey, sounds like Randy is having a lot of fun and is learning a ton each day. That kind of intense learning is fatiguing and stressful, especially when you feel like you are constantly being analyzed and critiqued, etc. It’s tough.
As for the trainer taking “breaks” while Randy drives, one might try to view it all from another perspective. The trainer likely has a lot of experience and has seen many students at the wheel of “his” truck. He too, has a stake in how Randy performs, not to mention a lot to lose if the truck were to have, shall we say, an unfortunate “occurrence”. If the trainer wasn’t comfortable and confident, he likely wouldn’t be sleeping!
That being said, it is quite possible that the trainer is very satisfied with Randy’s progress and performance and is comfortable enough letting him have a little more “control” and “independence”. This is a normal part of any training and a natural progression for a student. That being to take on more and more with the goal being total freedom and the ever anticipated graduation to his own “BIG RIG”. A good trainer of any kind will gradually loosen the leash as he/she becomes more confident in the students ability. His relaxed demeanor also can help Randy to relax more himself and ultimately perform better and build his own confidence. The alternative is an overbearing, “nervous nellie” ballbuster with his hands having a white-knuckle death grip on the seats, looking like a deer that just step into the headlights. That type of trainer is counter-productive and doesn’t help anyone learn anything. In fact it can have a negative effect on the students progress and his intestines, causing many stops at the local store for Pepto and Tums!
He is likely doing just fine. So, try to relax so you’re not making those trips to the store for said supplies yourself “)
Just a thought “)
Keep up the great stories and updates!