Posted: 7 years, 9 months ago
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Exemployer telling lies to kept me from getting a job
Tracy, could you elaborate?
As a former employer I see no benefit for them by lying about you. What is the situation and how are they spinning it?
My thoughts exactly. I can't see any business person taking the time and effort to lie to keep someone from working, not to mention the chance of the business being sued. There are labor laws that protect against this type of practice.
If this is in fact happening, all one needs to do is call the company and make someone in upper management aware, I can assure you it will stop.
Posted: 7 years, 9 months ago
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Parallel Parking a Tractor-Trailer/Basic Skills Test
How important is the skill of correctly parallel parking a tractor-trailer? What does it prove? It's the only maneuver on my basic skills that I cant seem to get right. Actually, when I am practicing by myself, I have done it correctly a few times. But every time I get tested on it, it's the only one I consistently fail. Straight backing? No problem. Offset? Not a problem.[I have not been tested on the alley dock maneuver, though I have practiced it]. Is this parallel parking only a one time school thing, or is it something that truck drivers in the real world have to do all the time? Well, I just need more practice, that's all. Thanks for any tips you can give me on this most difficult of all backing maneuvers.
Hi Richard- I feel your pain, believe me....I also had no issue with straight back or offset and although I could do parallel about 50% of the time, definitely no consistency. I pleaded for help on this site and received some very good advise - a huge thank you to all who helped!
I ended up breaking down the parallel by markers (hard right when driver's side drive tire hit the line, etc.) and I paid close attention to (and immediately wrote down) mistakes that I made so not to make them next time. I had it down to a science. I passed the parallel the 2nd time around and although it wasn't pretty, it was in the box. I passed!! Now just waiting to take the driving part.
Good luck and let us know how it turns out. Annee
Posted: 7 years, 10 months ago
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I've never driven a stick shift before, will this make training harder for me?
Hi Samuel, I don't think you should worry too much about this, you will get it. I had never drove a manual before and did find it difficult at first - especially down shifting - but once I got the rhythm of double clutching it's become second nature and can be kind of fun. Good luck to you. Annee
Posted: 7 years, 11 months ago
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Getting ready for PSD program with Prime inc.
My journey to Springfield, Mo starts next Saturday where I begin the Prime CDL program. I'm pumped and anxious at the same time. I've gotten the support from my family and am ready to go. I've never been to Missouri before so it'll be an adventure, and I'm all for adventures! It'll be far outside my comfort zone and I don't know what to expect.
It's a definite roll of the dice, but with the nervousness I also feel great about the opportunity. I feel it's time for a new chapter in my life. I'll finally get to go for my CDL and pursue something that's been on the back burner for a long time. I actually feel better about this decision than I have about any other career choice so far. I'm excited to be able to experience and strive for a future in a career that offers me what I want. It all starts in one week.
Driving over the road will feed my wanderlust and will test me. With the challenges I will face out there and the independence I'll get to enjoy, I will grow to be stronger and will get to finally experience a taste of the dream of spreading my wings and roaming the open road. As some of my family has found their home outside of Florida, I believe that mine is out there as well, waiting for me to find it. This Greyhound ticket out of Florida will start my journey to get to see the beauty this country has the offer. It's a tough road ahead and I look forward to it.
Hi Gypsy, I went through the Prime training in MO and I think you will be impressed with the instructors and the entire program. Like someone else said, 1st thing is to make sure you are NEVER late. "Early is on time, on time is late" (a phrase you will probably hear a lot while there). The simulators are great for learning double clutching & parking maneuvers and you will probably be on them every day (unless they've changed the program since I was there). You should also try the biscuits and gravy in the cafeteria, I had those every morning.....so good.
Good luck to you and keep us informed. Annee
Posted: 7 years, 11 months ago
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Clutch Neutral- Clutch Gear......... Clutch Neutral- REV - Clutch Gear
If you have been through Driver Training, you know what that means. If not, It is learning to Double Clutch and Shift an Unsynchronized Truck transmission. I won't get into the mechanical details. Suffice it to say, I felt like an incompetent fool this morning learning this "Dance"! I have driven manual transmission vehicles most of my life. I'm now trying to unlearn 40 years of proper shifting habits (for an automobile that is), that are improper shifting habits for a Semi Tractor. I have read on this site and others, that knowing how to operate a manual transmission in an automobile is a liability and not an asset. In my case this is 100% TRUE. If you have only driven cars with an automatic transmission, this will be easier for you to learn. We practiced this for about 3 1/2 hours today, I only began to get the hang of it in the last 30 minutes or so. Back at it again tomorrow!
Now if I could only get rid of this Ear Worm before I go to bed tonight
I remember learning to double clutch and wondering if I would ever get the rhythm down, downshifting was the worst for me. But I'm here to say I did learn and in fact I find it kind of fun. You will be fine......
Posted: 7 years, 11 months ago
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CDL skills testing requirements
Hi! I'm attending a month long CDL course and am almost finished! I test in a week! Here's my question....one of my fellow classmates took her CDL test this morning and did awesome with pre-trip, and range skills testing, but failed the driving portion. Why does she have to re-take everything and not just the driving portion? I was told it is this way nationally....any thoughts?
Hi Dede, In Illinois you do not have to retake any part of testing that you passed. You do however have to take the tests in order (pre-trip 1st, 2nd skills and 3rd driving).
Posted: 7 years, 11 months ago
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Desperate for help with left offset and left parallel - PLEASE HELP ME!
Annee, here's a real life observation. This won't necessarily help you now, but it's a view over the hill.
There are truck rest areas genuinely designed for trucks to parallel park. (They don't make them like that any more.) What I've seen there is trucks will pull forward into the curb area. No one does a true parallel park job. You may get into a parallel park situation but they are rare.
Thank you Errol, that's a good idea and I plan on doing just that.
Posted: 7 years, 11 months ago
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Desperate for help with left offset and left parallel - PLEASE HELP ME!
Hi all you wonderful helpful truckers here on my favorite trucking website.
I'm scheduled to test in about 10 days and I still can't offset or parallel park. I get the concept and others make it look so easy but once I get in the truck I lose it. I have the first part down but turning and straightening up in the boxes isn't working for me. This is killing my confidence and although I have the pre trip and driving down, I'm beginning to feel kind of stupid. Why can't I get this?
I turn the wheel all the way to the right, count out to 3 and turn the wheel to the left and then straighten out - this part I'm fine with. My problem seems to be getting into the boxes correctly. I have even jackknifed trying to parallel. Are there marking points I should use to know when to turn? Can anyone give me step by step instructions? You guys (and gals) have helped me (even though you don't know it) with so many parts of this process up till now, I'm hoping you can help me again.
Thank you once again for any advice you can offer. Annee
I did it today - not once, but 3 times!!! I want to thank all you guys for your advise - It absolutely helped. This website, and all the information and knowledge shared by all you experienced drivers, has gotten me through this sometimes difficult process. I say this in all seriousness: I don't believe I would have made it through without it. I know I'm not through yet, but I'm very close - so thank you again - you people rock!!!!!! Annee
Posted: 7 years, 11 months ago
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Desperate for help with left offset and left parallel - PLEASE HELP ME!
Annee,, what you are doing is a classic rookie mistake, don't let it frustrate you excessively, we've all had to learn this backing thing and it is tricky to say the least. You are way over-steering. Now, my advice may not be that much help to you because i never liked those formulas they teach at trucking schools, like hold the wheel turned all the way and count to three and then turn it back the other way, or hold it until you see the center of the landing gear! All that stuff was worthless to me, because it was a short-cut "Jack-leg" way to teach folks to be able to pass the test but it did nothing to prepare them for the real world of parking a truck.
Listen, if you can get it down well enough to pass the test, then hooray for you, but after you get on a trainer's truck ask them to let you practice in an almost empty parking lot at a truck stop. I did this a lot when I first had my own truck. I would set aside some time in the middle of the day when the truck stops were almost empty and practice backing in between the lines. The thing that helped me the most was to watch where my tandems (the wheels on the trailer) were rolling. That showed me exactly where the trailer was going because the trailer went where the wheels were going! Learn to "feel" the relationship between the input you are giving at the steering wheel and how those trailer wheels respond to it. Beware... the response from the wheels is sloooow! That is why you are over-steering... you expect the trailer to be doing what you want, and when it doesn't do it just right you just keep on turning that wheel, and then the next thing you know you are jack-knifed in the total wrong direction of what you were trying to accomplish.
Turn the wheel a little and then let that truck roll for about eight feet... watch what is happening by viewing where those wheels are rolling. If you need them to move over a little more then turn the wheel a little bit more and wait as it rolls along. Less is more - try to remember that little saying when you up turning the wheel in reverse.
Thank you Old School, this helped a lot. I had 4 turns with the skills course today and the first 3 turned out good, the last one I kind of messed up. But I did it - Yea!! I appreciate you taking the time to help.
Posted: 7 years, 9 months ago
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New Proud Owner of a CDL A - Yep, I passed!!
Yes, I passed. So happy!! It's been a frustrating and eye opening experience, had some semi-psyco trainers but in the end I found a good school (Advantage Driving in Shorewood, IL) that were stocked with knowledgeable and patient (most of the time...LOL) trainers.
I would also like to thank this website, I referred to it often and found it helpful and informative. I'll continue to check back here often for the next stage of my career, I know I'll need it. Thanks again folks.
Now off to finding that first truck driving job so I can make some money......
Annee