Comments By Scott L. aka Lawdog

Jim -

The best decision(s) you will ever make is the "safe decision(s)", I've had my CDL now for just over 6 months. The company I am driving for had my orientation in Denver and deadheaded from there to St George. Low & behold I was routed on I70 over Vail and they were getting a good snowfall. Didn't have to chain-up until halfway-up the mountain. Though I learned about chaining in CDL skewl and also during orientation, I asked another driver to help me out and he did. We only put one set on my drives and took less than 15 mins. I was issued cables and the driver loaned me a spare set of his chains, followed him up the pass, removed his chains and I gave him $20 bucks. It was a great experience, I didn't let fear overcome me, took it nice and slow and "followed the leader."

Recently I've experienced a great deal of weather driving loads between UT-NV-ID. This last storm, I only made it about 58 mi north of ST George and stopped because the weax was grossly unsafe to drive in. The school I earned my CDL from I feel prepared me for driving in rough weather, but I know that when it is unsafe to drive I will pull into a safe area and let my dispatch know.

Nothing, absolutely nothing is more important that the life of a driver and the lives of others out on the road. I saw so many semis and 4-wheeler skid-outs and crashes in the last month that SAFETY is my #1 goal.

Be safe dude!/scott

Here is something to consider... The GPS calculates your time by the actual speed limit posted in the areas. So if you are going by the time on your GPS and you seem to be loosing time consider that you can't run the speed limit and your time will be a little different.

Unless you can set "max speed" on your GPS device, such as one I use. I have mine set at 53mph and it's ETA is almost spot-on....except of course when I'm driving thru LA. It has been within 15min +/- of my actual arrival. My GPS has live traffic update.

I drive an automatic, and when I had questions about how the manual shifting worked a few weeks ago, a guy in the shop at one of our terminals told me it was disabled. That's part of what worries me. I won't be able to hold the truck in a certain gear going downhill.

Okay. Even so, follow the same steps I suggested. Go slow and if need be use your four ways to warn others behind you.

I drove thru first snow in Montana a couple weeks ago, and yeah it was pretty freaky for me. I turned my radio down, CB up a little (to hear the conditions ahead), rolled down my window a little and slowed down some. I realized I was tightening grip on steering wheel and just loosed grip a little and took some deep breaths and relaxed some. Was going around curves and up & down grades and when I got passed it realized how difficult it really wasn't. Didn't have worry much about traffic, just keep in mind when you are going about 10 or more mph below speed limit, reduced visibility, traffic slowing, and/or worsening road conditions put on your hazards.

Check out Schneider.

~scott

I recently took 40K pallets of talc from Southern Montana to Oregon, via Helena (had to get some work done on my truck and light replaced on trailer). After I got out of the shop I checked the load, glad I did. The last two pallets had shifted enough that our yard workers moved the pallets where they were supposed too. I used three straps, two cross-ways and one on the bottom-across, when I got to the receiver and opened my doors the pallets didn't shift an inch. The receiver even said they haven't seen a good secure job like that in while.

My new (and still new) practice is, that if the load isn't already sealed, I'll strap the load down and if it is a live unload I'll put my straps on then put the shipper's seal on. If it is a drop, I'll put one of our seals on after I secure the load, and when I get to the drop I'll take our seal off and put the receiver's on, drop the load and leave.

^scott

p.s. securing load reminds me of securing for sea in my Navy dayz.

As Kurt said: G.O.A.L. even if you have to get out after every maneuver, remember it takes ~10ft for your trailer to completely react to your steering maneuvers. I found that when I was doing my alley dock, if I kept my rear-driverside-trailer within one shoe length of the cone and front of trailer within 10-15deg angle (~1 o'clock), then counter-steer and chase-push the trailer I made it in everytime....I would always do a pullup to straighten out no matter how it was in the "box"....the drivers on here will tell ya in the real-world good setup, GOAL and pull-ups are the keys.

^scott

So I was wondering what tests do I need to take to get my class A I have a class B with air brakes, but now I need a class A.

General Knowledge Air Brakes Combination

These are the only three you need for basic CDL A.

^scott

Also sounds like you are in too high of a gear. Is it an 8 or 10 speed? Try starting out in 1 gear lower.

When I first started, our instructor had us from a complete stop to start in 3rd and also in 2nd (with a loaded trailer). I too would stall it while in 3rd but every single time would be good in 2nd. Then a couple weeks later I tried the exercise again and was able to from a complete stop in 3rd but it took more finesse of my R's to go.

^scott

They do 3rd Party testing here also. Just got a call about an hour ago, got to do my pre-employment drug screen and start orientation next week

Good Luck to you also!

^scott

Good afternoon,

I know a lot of you may have already seen this type of question posted often but wanted to ask a few specifics and get some advice about my situation. So I'm looking to get into the trucking business and want to do OTR specifically tanker if possible. I don't have any experience as far as driving tractor trailer but I have 2 years experience having a CDL B driving para-transit for the state of Delaware from 07-09. I now live in NC and have been eyeing JCC trucking school in Smithfield as they only cost $1100 not that bad from what I've been seeing otherwise, only problem is I would have to leave my current job and be without income during the 2 months of training, or do I go to a student driver company and if so which one would one suggests? Its pretty hard from what I've bee reading to not pick a pretty crappy one. Please guys any input is welcomed thanks a mill in advanced. Also some other things to note is this

1. I already have my CDL A permit 2. I already have my DOT physical card good until May 2018 3. I am single no one living with me 4. I WANT to do OTR and don't mind being out as long as im paid fairly for.

Dude I checked their website and they have night classes/training: http://www.johnstoncc.edu/programs/transportation-systems/truck-driver-training/schedule.aspx

That should help you to stay employed whilst going thru school? Granted it a month longer but gives you more time to prepare for the career and life change.

^scott