Comments By Fire Marshal Bill

I use regular Windex and then wipe it with a Clorox disinfectant wipes.

The two compounds keep the bugs from sticking when they dry after a splat and helps beads rain drops away.

Makes cleaning easier. Both are readily available on the road.

Another thing that will help put your mind at ease. Most CDL examiner's have no clue of how to drive a tractor trailer.

Many examiners will understand that you are new to this and trying to make 1000 things that you just learned mere weeks ago work in synch with crazy 4 wheelers driving around you.

Many take those things into account when they are grading you. They are looking to see if you have positive control of the truck and make safe decisions when driving.

Just don't stall out and if you float a gear or two just make sure you move your clutch leg in unison.

Check your speed and watch those mirrors. Wear a baseball cap to help show them you are moving your head as if looking at the mirrors.

Good luck!

I don't have a training thread for my KLLM training.

Classes start every Monday and on Thursday if you have your permit already. Classes are about 15 or so people for 3 weeks. They do a lot to help you and encourage you to pass and get your CDL. They will push you back to a newer class if they think you need additional help. They won't just kick you out if you fail a test. That is if they are confident that you can do it. Some people just stress out at testing. It is not hard at all. Weekends you are on your own. May have to do half day on Saturday sometimes depending on weather. Weekends you will also have to go to a secondary hotel that they have setup for you and then back to the original one on monday. All transport to and from school provided. Food is pretty good too. Breakfast and dinner served monday-Friday and sometimes on work Saturday.

Phase 2 will have you transfered to Lancaster terminal. Hotel provided plus food and transportation. You will do some paperwork there and wait for your trainer. When you get your trainer make sure you feel comfortable with them because if you are not then you will not do so well. The trainer is not your boss nor can they get you fired. If you get into it with them you can request another one. Dont be intimidated by them. My trainer was awesome! Mark Mitchell. He trained me very well and together we probably ate about 200lbs of sunflower seeds. You will be OTR for six weeks. I did 5 because my trainer was confident that I could pass the final evaluation back at Lancaster, TX. I got back on a Friday. They me the weekend off and I did my road test and past on the following Tuesday. Had the option of getting a truck on Wednesday and rolling solo. I took another weekend off and bounced out on Monday.

I pulled loads of various kinds (reefer) till I got to Jackson, MS corporate terminal and picked up a brand new Volvo with only 700 miles on it.

After that I ran like a grey hound.

Not a bad company.

Hope this helps.

Lmao! You guys are nuts!

He saw a squirrel.

Remember this military saying

"Slow is smooth and smooth is fast."

Do everything by the numbers and your will be fine.

Use the TT section on sponsored schools that Bret sent you. They will help alot. Being in OK has alot of advantages too and you are close to Dallas which is a major hub for trucking schools.

Personal experience: KLLM will pay you to attend the academy they have. Not much in during phase 1 training though. Enough to survive on while there. They do provide breakfast and dinner after classes. The rest of the time you are on your own. Phase 2 will get you about $550.00 per week when you are with your trainer. Waiting for a trainer is a pain because of the shear column of classes. You will have to wait. But they will let you wait at your house and still pay you if you don't live too far away. No-go for you. While waiting for a trainer they pay @$73.00 per day. Some people waited for weeks for a trainer. I waited about two weeks. Then off to the races.

Hope this helps.

Sounds like the start of a great career in trucking. The next year solo will be a big learning experience but it will be a blast when you look back and see how far you've come in a year.

You will get ticked off and mad but it's just the trucking life.

Have fun

Get a Volvo if you can. You will not regret it. I drove a Volvo and it was luxurious. I drove and learned on a Freightliner cool truck. I now drive a KW and it is a very stable truck.

But can't beat the Volvo on creature comforts.

Love this topic!

Help out other drivers when it is clear that they are going to hit something.

I've jumped out of my truck like a paratrooper numerous times when I saw someone about to hit something. Bad thing is they were other drivers closer than me that could have helped.

Help each other out! No one cares about us but us.