Comments By Lemmy_Lives

I also meant to say Hell's Canyon, not Hell's Kitchen. Two totally different locations...stupid auto-correct.

Lemmy goes downhill:

Yesterday I drove through Hell's Kitchen in Idaho hauling 78,000 pounds of freight.

Lemmy, your freight limit is about 42,000 pounds. That plus your truck can weigh up to 80,000.

We know what you meant, though! Just drop the "freight" part unless you have a permit to say that.

Oops! Yep, you caught me... I meant total weight.

I'm definitely getting my time in on mountain driving. Yesterday I drove through Hell's Kitchen in Idaho hauling 78,000 pounds of freight. Needless to say the pucker factor was pretty high, especially when people decided to park half on the shoulder half on the road, on a curve, with another truck coming from the opposite direction. Not a fun time but I got through it.

I know which turn you're talking about. Been there done that. Lol

My best advice to you is DO NOT let the tester pressure you into turning before you're ready, because they will try. Just explain that you can't safely make the turn without using the opposite turning lane and you'll be fine.

Good luck!

Nothing too exciting today, but I did drive through Cabbage Pass (again) on the way to our first of 3 stops.

One thing that was pretty funny was I was walking back to the truck through the Love's parking lot and a driver was attempting to back up. He was having a hard time of it (he was blind siding it for some reason) but he had it. Suddenly he threw it in gear and lurched forward and started cussing and yelling at me and another guy for not helping guide him in. I was thinking about it but like I said it looked like he had it. The other guy just told him, "if you can't drive, you can't drive". I don't agree with that but if the guy needed help he could've asked. All he had to do was straighten up and back straight in. I was just waiting for him to finish because I didn't want to walk in front of him. I guess he thought we were mocking him or something. Oh well...

Well today I almost screwed up. We were pulling into a truck stop in Yakima which turned out to be full. As we were headed to the exit from the truck stop a truck was parking right on the side of it (not a good idea). I went to pull out and thought I was supposed to turn right but I was supposed to turn left. I got flustered but I was already committed to my right hand turn. Suddenly my mentor pulled the brakes on me...my trailer almost hit the guy parking in the exit. He pulled me from the seat so he could get us out of there. He was upset for a while but he calmed down and explained why he was upset and what I did wrong (not watching my trailer). Ordinarily I do watch it but I got panicked in all the chaos. Not an excuse but it is what it is. I definitely learned a few lessons today though...make sure you know where you're going, and WATCH THE TRAILER.

Delivered my first load today to the Costco DC in Sumner WA. My mentor had me back into the dock...there was plenty of pull-up room, but man that space looked small with a truck sitting on both sides of my lane. My mentor is slowly giving me less and less backing instruction so I can figure out what works for me...he basically just watches to make sure I'm not going to hit anything (which I almost did...darn drive wheels lol). I'm slowly getting the hang of it I think.

Next load is going to Idaho after a pickup 15 miles away. Unfortunately since we were on the move this morning, we won't have time to pick up and get down the road. The load won't be ready until 7pm, so here we sit...

I forgot to mention one of the mountain passes I took was Cabbage. Slow and steady, that's all I can say.

Thanks everybody. I've been getting a taste of mountain driving the last couple of days...not a fan. Lol

I actually spoke to Flatie the other day. She's going to orientation with Maverick this week, I believe.

Looks like you're set up for a great learning experience with a great mentor!

Good luck, Lemmy_Lives!

Thanks Errol! When I make it down Memphis way I'll be sure to see if you're in town so we can catch up!