Comments By Mousemaker

Finished first day of orientation with May Trucking Co. Wooo hooo! I passed the driving/backing test. It wasn't pretty backing, but I got it in the hole eventually and didn't knock over any cones. Official hire date isn't until Thursday, but there shouldn't be anything in my way now. I'll be pulling Reefer to 48 states.

Since you started out with a description of the trainer and the truck interior instead of beginning with the safety condition, it seems to me that it is your priority concern, and the tires are just an excuse. You only have to be with the trainer a limited amount of time, so humble yourself and make the best of the situation. As a thankyou for your training, you can clean out the trash. This may sound demeaning, but if you are the one bothered by it then you are the one to do something about it. You can't do anything about your trainers cleanliness, but set the example of making sure you have time to get your shower. While waiting around for you, the trainer might just take one too (but don't suggest it). I know it's easy for me to say, I haven't been out with a trainer yet. But hopefully by saying it I will be able to remember and follow my own advice when my time comes.

I just graduated from a private driving school, United States Truck Driving School in Wheatridge, Colorado. I was looking at going to work for JBS carriers out of Greeley CO. But found out they don't do reimbursement, but instead pay the private school directly for your training then you go work for them. So, it sounds like the compromise you are looking for, a private school with no money up front. The Private school is three weeks, so if you could find a way to lodge and eat then you'd be set.

Hi Jackie H. The school I just graduated from documented that I got 52 hours of driving practice time. It was actually less than that because of waiting for my turn with other students and rounding up to the hour. That is to give you the basic principles of handling a tractor trailer enough to pass the state license test. If you don't pass the first time, the school should let you come back the next week and practice more and retake the test. Our school did the State test themselves (have to have an instructor who is certified examiner). Then you take your paperwork to DMV and get your learners permit converted to a CDL-A, with endorsements if you have them.

After you have your CDL a company will send you out on the road making deliveries with a trainer. Different companies have different lengths of time with the trainer. Some vary between 4 to 8 weeks, some are until your trainer says you are ready, some are however long it takes to get a certain number of hours actually driving. Then you usually come back and take another test for the company before you are assigned your own truck.

That is what I have learned so far, I hope it helps you.

What's a "center pivot"????

When you fly over the plains states, you look out the window and see the farmland is circles instead of squares. That is center pivot irrigation. It's like a huge self propeled sprinkler that rolls around.

I heard a story about a pilot that came on the intercom and told the passengers that those circles were made by the farmer putting a stake in the field and tying a long rope to the team of plow horses. As they walked, the rope wrapped around the stake and they circled in to the center. Bogus!

Born in Kansas

Yay! I passed my driving exam and graduated with 95.6% GPA. Currently sitting at DMV for my CDL

if there is no shelter get in a ditch.

This is right. Ditch or depression below the average ground level. Flat, so the wind can't get underneath you, face down with your hands covering the back of your head and neck to protect from debries. Away from the truck so it doesn't fall over onto you.

Today on my 10th day, we went driving in the mountains, I-70 west of Denver. I've got to learn this well. Since Denver will my my home terminal, I will be doing alot of this.

Last week Monday, I started private CDL school at U.S. Truck Driving School in Wheatridge, CO. The first 4 days was book work and written tests on which I had a cumulative 98.3% score (thanks to High Road Training Program). The 5th and 6th days we learned pretrip inspection and drove around the yard practicing shifting in the low range. Today, beginning my second week of Truck driving school, the instructor drove us to Aurora CO, where we drove around in an industrial park with lots of right and left turns and rail road crossings. This is our third day in the truck and our first day out of the yard. We practiced up and down shifting and not hitting the curb on corners. At the end of my first turn driving, the instructor had me drive to Wendy's for lunch. In the afternoon, we practiced more in the industrial park then did a straight line backing. I did it perfectly and didn't get crooked or hit the curb. Then another student drove us out of the insdustrial park and on many city roads back towards the school. The instructor had him pull over and give me a turn, he told me to "pull ahead and take a left up there where the I-70 on ramp sign is." (this is at 5:00pm) I drove the semi truck at 55mph on I-70 from I-225 to Wadsworth Blvd exit. Then back to the school where I BACKED the trailer between two other trucks, (with instructor coaching) and dropped the trailer (put down the landing gear and unhooked from the fifth wheel) and went and parked the tractor. We then went in to do our log books and evaluations. The instructor said I was the star of the class. :D

A May recruiter came to my school and talked to me today (and brought brownies). They sound really good. I will be interested to hear how it goes with you. Are you western 11 or 48?