Comments By Just 'G'

I feel a little bit like I'm in a tunnel of simply being on the pad, working on backing maneuvers, and learning pre-trip. I haven't really thought much about "trucking" in these last few days or the broader picture. Given the pace and intensity, I just feel very focused on what's in front of me (and a little out of touch with everything else).

As sombody who just got through this, I'm pretty sure that about where you're supposed to be. Pay attention to the instructors, follow the scripts they give you and just stay in the moment with it. They know what they're doing and they're trying to put you in the best position for success.

Best of luck to you tomorrow!

Thank you, I've been keeping track of your thread a little, but obviously had my own knitting to tend to, and didn't want to distract myself from that.

Good luck on your own progress and I'll be keeping a closer eye on it going forward.

Week 3, Day 4

Success! Passed the CDL exam. Just have to go back to Illinois and make it official. Veriha also gives a 2 cpm bonus for passing the test on the first try, so the good news will keep coming.

Thanks for all the support from everyone here. And thanks to everyone that's been a contributor, even if you didn't pay any attention to me. The wisdom and advice collected here has been (and I expect, will continue to be) invaluable.

I didn't have anything to do today until the test at 1300, so I loafed around and stayed away from anything truck or CDL related. Apparently that was the right choice. They cancelled the morning test because of the wind, but it died down enough in the afternoon to go ahead. They gave me a break on highway speed, but I think I still got up to 55-60 and it wasn't as bad as I had feared.

I feel a little sorry for the morning guy. I'm pretty sure they put him first because he was the most likely to get his head screwed on sideways waiting and now he has to stew for an extra day.

Heading back to Peoria tomorrow, and they'll get in touch on Monday about a trainer. And presumably then the real learning will commence.

Just a follow up for my question.

We had a little more discussion today about the wind conditions for the CDL test and I'm feeling better. Apparently, we're sticking to pretty wooded areas which will keep things manageable at ground level. I also don't test until 1300, so I'll probably try the highway in my car in the morning and see how it feels.

At any rate I'm done worrying until the time comes.

Week 3 Day 3

Last day before testing. They let us pretty much set the curriculum for today. We did some quick drives in the morning, just to stay on point with that. Then in the afternoon we went to the actual test range they use and practiced backing there.

That was actually pretty nice because it's nice paved lot, not the icy, slushy gravel we've been using. It's also got these nice lines painted all over it for parking spaces, which means you can tell exactly where the whole rig is at all times. I'm a little glad they don't have that on the practice range, just so you have to learn how to do everything right and can't cheat, but knowing it's going to be available on the test is nice.

Anyway, I'm feeling good at this point. I just had a nice dinner. Gonna get a good nights sleep, have a nice breakfast, screw around for a bit, and then take the test at 1300.

I'll report back afterwards.

Week 3 Day 2

More road practice in the morning and alley docks in the afternoon. I had 1 good one and 1 that fell out of the the ugly tree and hit every branch. I'm sure I'll get it eventually, but time is running out.

They gave out test times today. Mine is 1300 Thursday. So I guess I get one more day of practice.

Not really much more to say at this point.

Not to hijack this thread, but it seemed to appropriate to justify starting a new one.

I just got scheduled for my CDL exam on Thursday in Marinette, WI. The problem is the current NOAA forcast for Thursday calls for a west wind of 21 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Obviously, for a CDL exam we'll be hauling empties and pretty much the only 4 lane highway to use goes mostly north-south, so that will be a cross wind.

How worried should I be?

Thanks,

Have your instructors addressed this? Surely this can't be the first time they've tested in high winds. Perhaps they use a different test route?

It could actually benefit you. Wind of that strength would cause you to slow down giving you more time to react as long as you inform your examiner why you're doing what you're doing so they don't ding you for impeding traffic. If you do the road test make sure you're taking curves and turns nice and easy.

I brought it up as soon as they gave out the test schedule, and was told we were testing regardless. We've been given some unofficial hints that that is the preferred route. Obviously, a lot can change in 2 days including the forecast and the route. I'm not really from the area so I can't speak to normal weather conditions.

I was just a little suprised since the Safety and Training departments are pretty much the same. I just expected a little more concern.

Not to hijack this thread, but it seemed to appropriate to justify starting a new one.

I just got scheduled for my CDL exam on Thursday in Marinette, WI. The problem is the current NOAA forcast for Thursday calls for a west wind of 21 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 46 mph. Obviously, for a CDL exam we'll be hauling empties and pretty much the only 4 lane highway to use goes mostly north-south, so that will be a cross wind.

How worried should I be?

Thanks,

Week 3 Day 1

Once the trucks got warmed up and moved free of the snow, we had a nice little drive today. We got out on the highway for the first time. That was actually pretty straightforward. I understand why they didn't worry about it earlier. We drove what officially "may or may not" have been the route for the CDL exam. It went OK, I've still got some rough edges to sand off.

This afternoon was backing practice. I'm still figuring out the alley dock, but I think it's coming together.

At the end of the day, they told us that we pretty much know what we need to know to pass the CDL, we just need to refine it a bit and not get our heads screwed on crossways. The rest of the week will be practice and then 2 of us will test Thursday, and the other one Friday.

Moving along.

What I've gotten from this thread is:

1. California sucks.

2. Somebody needs to make a deal with Mexico to put a giant canal across Baja California and another one north from the Gulf of California to Arizona, just so we can have a port in a sensible state because,

3. California sucks giant donkey balls.

Did I miss anything?