Comments By Dingo

Wednesday was a so so day. Off sets were good, 90 was great. Driving was not so good. Didn't hit anything but damn if I could turn right. Just didn't want to happen. It was actually not all that cold. So over all a fair day Three of the guys I started class with passed their CDL test and get to go home Saturday.

Thursday more of the same

Today started off with congrats you are truck drivers and watched several videos about phase 2 training. Even though I have not passed my CDL test the instructors have faith that I will Wednesday.

We went to the simulator for winter driving. I nailed the first scenario with icy roads and did pretty good with the high winds. But when I got a foggy day with downhill curves and ice it was not pretty.

Failed my pretest on the pretrip. I forgot the passenger side lower steering arm and tie rod. And missed the spring leaf and mounts on the driver side. Points to stick on monday when I have to do it again.

I cab was good, didn't miss a point and brake checks were good.

Straight back and offset I didn't get a single point. But the 90 degree that I have been nailing good for 2 days was a disaster.

Passed the drive so all in all not a bad day. As long as I am showing improvement my instructor is happy and he always has a smile on his face.

Off to study. Half day class in the morning.

Dingo

Day 13 and 14... yesterday Monday got on my new truck. It was -8 an 0630 with a wind chill of -25. We did the straight back offset into the 90 degree alley back. All 3 of us had some missteps but we figured it out.

Our new instructor is fabulous. Been doing the job for 27 years. He is tough but fair and always has a smile on his face.

Today we found out that we are testing next Wednesday. The instructors talked it over and they felt it was not fair to us to be setup for failure. They want us to succeed. I was a little upset at first, not gonna lie but after I thought about it, it really means they are serious about us as employees and not just numbers to pass a test.

The wife was not happy. She has had to deal with me leaving and her mother's passing. I have thought about going home several times, but I know in the long run it is for the best.

Did 90's again today and offsets. Nailed my 90 again.

Road driving today was a blast. City driving today was amazing and we made the highway. Highway driving was even cooler then I thought it would be.

Off to study pretrip and get some sleep.

Dingo.

Day Friday... I am not even sure where I am anymore... got back in the truck today. Did not have Covid just a nasty cold.

First part of the day my truck mates did their pre test in prep for final testing next Wednesday. They both did really well. The Incab hamstrung them and the pretrip, but the backing was spot on and the road test they did really good.

I am being reassigned to a new truck on Monday with 2 other guys who got sick too. They are planning on having us test out next Friday.

We did some city driving today and I nailed my 90 degree alley back on the first try. I was pretty proud. Still need to work on my pre trip and in cab.

Tomorrow is half day, classroom. Legalizing loads and inspections. Then a friend of mine is taking me to dinner in Green Bay and to see Lambeau Field.

Can't believe I am 1 week away from getting my CDL. I have the same feelings I had 18 years ago when I got my EMT. I can't believe they are going to pay me to drive a big rig. It is the most exhilarating, frightening, fun thing I have done with my clothes on in the last 20 years.

I asked the hotel to change the sheets today and tidy up, new towels and stuff. Didn't happen. Kinda disappointed with that. But oh well.

Anyone coming up for the 10th start date, I'll be studying pretrip in the Jacuzzi Sunday. Stop by and say HI.

Dingo

Day I have no clue...

Still stuck in the hotel room. Covid test was negative thank goodness but waiting on Health and Safety to clear Mr. Until then I can't go back. Fortunately Doordash delivers and the cable is decent here.

Still feel under the weather and have been sleeping alot but really need to get back out and get moving.

Dingo.

Day 6. What a rush!!! Driving a 73 foot vehicle down roads. Who would of thought I would be doing that.

Monday started cold as usual. Pre trip and trailer hook up. We forgot L=landing gear. Forgot to raise them but it was caught by the instructor. We were not admonished, just informed that we might tear them odd in there present position.

Really like our instructor. He is a veteran as are my two truck mates. I am not but my wife is and dad was so the stories make it more homey. Our instructor is patient with great tips and one of his favorite sayings, which I really like is... "you broke it, you fix it" instead of him telling us how to get out of a situation he let's us figure it out. I learn better this way.

We did 45 degree backs and learned offsets. Key for any newbies on that offset. Get it straight out of the chute otherwise it will be tough throughout the backing.

The jacuzzi felt great coming from the cold.

Was going to do a day 7 but... did not sleep last night due to stuffy nose and drainage with a sore throat. Now I am on quarantine until I get results back on a covid test. Test is tomorrow at noon. Wish me luck. However, regardless of the outcome Roehl is going to be there for me and I will finish the course.

Dingo

Day 5 today... half day due to the holiday.

We covered Atlas use and trip planning. Alot more goes into it then just getting in and driving from point A to B.

Lunch at IHOP took forever. On half days you are on your own for lunch.

We are off tomorrow for the holiday. So studying tonight with JJ. Almost done with that and then it is gonna be pounding the pre trip.

On a side note the other 2 guys in my truck(1 being my roommate) are both fire fighters. My Roommate and I are former. The Pierce factory is here in Appleton just down the road. We are gonna try and get. Factory tour next week after class on Friday.

Oh and it being New Year's Eve I think every child in the Fox Valley area is here swimming in the indoor pool and running up and down the halls screaming.

So Roehl is really big on safety as I said before. Company mandate all drivers are to be off the road by 8pm local time. I think that says volumes about the company.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! If you are on the road, be safe and keep the Shiny side up.

We are gonna go to the terminal tomorrow and do some pre trip on our own. But I am gonna go dark till Monday.

Dingo

As for tolls, a good way to avoid 76 in PA and 80 (in Indiana) is taking US-30W from I-71 near Mansfield, and then stick to 294. Probably it is the cheapest way.

Thanks for the tip. I looked it up on Google maps and that is how I think I am going home.

Day 4- Backing

Day 4 started off cold again. Pre trip and simulator in the morning. Simulator was to learn straight line backing. We did really good. No issues at all. Then came serpentine backing... Those poor barrels. We must have run over a dozen of them. A real eye opener.

In cab pre trip before lunch. Box lunch... the sandwiches need more meat but the soup is good.

After lunch we tried live straight backing. It went real smooth. Then across the yard for backing around the trailers. Basically 90 degree backs. Boy was that a interesting time. Very nerve racking, but very exciting too. I got to make 2 laps, 8 turns total. The other 2 guys on my truck each did a lap. We did well over all.

After class a trip to Walmart for shorts for the jacuzzi and pool this weekend.

More time with JJ at the hotel. The modules are informative, but they do take time... oh and that great internet at the hotel on day one. Yeah not so great now. Have not been able to connect at all. Luck for me I can use a hot spot.

Day 3...started o'dark 30 at the truck for pre trip. Hands on. Then went to the simulator. I was not expecting that. This thing is state of the art. My 3 man training crew all did well in the simulator learning g left and right hand turns and the 4 steps.

Back out to the truck and to finish pre trip. We had a fill in instructor today. Our regular instructor is a Certified CDL examiner and today was test day. The test is done right in the yard in the truck you train in.

3 inches of snow on the ground the lot was a sheet of ice. Thank God for those ice cleats. We pick up a trailer and parked it for pre trip on the trailer after lunch.

Came down after lunch and pre tripped the trailer. Good thing we did, the trailer had a broken PSI thingamgig box. Traded out that trailer and reported it to maintenance. Picked up a new trailer and headed 20 minutes across town to an Indiustrial park.

We each took turns on making turns. Left and right. The instructor said we all did really well and were some of the best first time drivers he has seen.

Back to the terminal, dropped the trailer off and post trip on the tractor. Plugged it in, it is supposed to be cold cold tonight. Did some grocery shopping at Walmart and back to the hotel of more studying.

Tomorrow is straight backing. Cannot wait.

A little about Appleton WI. There is a mall, every major store you can think of, Target, Walmart, Sam's and Costco. And restaurants galore. Panda Express, PF Changs, Culver's, Wendy's, Arby's Texas Roadhouse, Applebee's, Famous Dave's, TGIFrifdays... can you tell I am a fat kid? The price of tobacco is outrageous!!! $17.50 for 2 cans of Cope Wintergreen longcut.

Back to JJ... see you tomorrow.

Dingo

Day 2... started the day in the classroom learning The Roehl way and the Safe Seven. 9 people in class. Everyone seems to be grasping it. Afternoon was pre trip in the cold and snow...who's dumb idea was this to do it in December and January?

We were issued ice cleats and safety vests. Roehl is huge on safety, and those cleats were much appreciated.

Shopping after class at Fleet Farm....a Tractor Supply/ Rural King on steroids. Several of the guys came up without cold weather gear.

Back at the hotel( that has heated indoor pool and jacuzzi) to study. The internet at the hotel was hit or miss...thank God for Mobil Hotspot. JJ Keller modules are pretty I formative, but I am a hands on learner and that comes tomorrow.

Dingo