Comments By Highway 44

Graduation is today—Tuesday, July 19, 2016. The past 8 weeks have been an experience like no other. The bonds and relationships built with classmates very much unexpected, but not unwelcome. We made it. The remaining 10 student drivers (of an initial class size of 13) have earned a CDL.

The truck driving training program began on Monday, May 23, 2016. It is 8 weeks, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at the local community college. The curriculum focuses on developing backing and driving abilities through classroom, simulator lab, driving range and roadway driving experiences. A typical day is designed as classroom (8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.), lunch (11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.), and driving (12 p.m.-4:30 p.m.).

The classroom curriculum covered the following subjects by lecture, homework assignments, quizzes and exams:

o CDL permit preparation (3 days of prep. for DMV CDL permit exams)

o CDL log book (FMCSA hours of service regulations)

o CSA (FMCSA’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program)

o Basic control(s) & shifting

o Vehicle systems

o Inspections (pre-trip, en route, post-trip, and air brakes test)

o Backing & docking

o Coupling & uncoupling

o Sliding 5th wheels & tandems

o Preventive maintenance

o Space & speed management

o Night driving & other extreme driving conditions

o Skid control

o Road hazard awareness

o Railroad crossing

o Emergency maneuvers

o Accident procedures

o Handling cargo

o Cargo documents & paperwork

o Transportation technology (GPS, Qualcomm, e-logs etc.)

o Trip planning & transportation security

o Driver health

o Special rigs (doubles, triples, reefer, flatbed etc.)

o Hazardous materials

The driving range and road driving application of knowledge and skills includes:

o 90 degree backing & alley docking maneuvers

o Offset (left & right side) backing maneuvers

o Straight line backing maneuvers

o City & rural driving

o Night driving

o Skid pad driving exercises

The CDL skills test was July 13th, 14th and 15th. (My test was on the 13th of July.) The test: 1) Pre-trip vehicle inspection, 2) Backing maneuvers (straight line, 90 degree and offset [right & left]), and 3) Road test. The past 8 weeks have been challenging, stressful and fatigued, yet very spirited and satisfying. This entire experience and its rewards will always be remembered.

Drive safe and friendly, my friends.

-Highway44

Another thing,

I’d also like to extend a very special thank you to all that make the time to respond and help a fellow community member. As of this writing they are:

• Dutch

• Errol V.

• Jim J

• Joseph D.

• Old School

• Robert B. (The Dragon) yes, I breathe fire and other sideshow tricks

• Steve L.

Again, receiving the insight of each of your personal experiences with managing sleep cycles is pure gold. Cheers!

Happy driving and god bless, my friends.

Errol V.,

Thank you very much. Receiving insight from seasoned drivers such as you gives clear perspective of the realities of the sleep cycle of a truck driver. No, unfortunately, I have not traveled to Europe or Asia. Although, I have known and met many frequent international travelers and know of their experiences with jet lag.

Good show on the trivia bit!

*Trivia for the day: bookkeeper: the only word on the English language with three consecutive double letters!

How did you come up with it?

Happy driving and god bless, my friends.

Hello Everybody,

It is very fortunate to have found this on-line community. I am here because of one particular personal reservation of the lifestyle of the truck driver, and want to pick your collective brains. But first, a briefing of my current condition; a 30-something who has reached his proverbial fork-in-the-road; the decision is to stay my current career path (bookkeeping) or continue pursuing a career in the truck diving industry?

Currently, I am a student of a community college truck driving program. The program is 8 weeks, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The community college is on spring break, thus is the program. As of the spring break, 2 of 8 program weeks have been completed. It will resume on April 4, 2016. I see this as a window of opportunity to re-evaluate my direction.

The career path of bookkeeping satisfies my brain/mind. It allows an introvert such as me to thrive in a structured, autonomous work environment. It allows me to use strengths such as analysis, concentration/focus and mathematics. I could continue forward and be content in this choice of career. The conflict is in my heart/soul. It craves the satisfaction of more than the typical vacation travel in my current lifestyle. The notion of hitting-the-road by driving a truck while being paid to do it is an attractive proposition. The roadblock is the irregular sleep cycle of a truck driver and the day-to-day fluctuations of the 24/7/365 nature of the industry. I sense this may interrupt the ability to consistently achieve daily balance in rest, which I deem essential to my overall wellness. Thus, O.T.R. driving is not in consideration. Local driving is not in consideration because it is logically opposite of my primary motivation to travel by truck driving. Could regional driving be the compromise? Or, is truck driving not a good fit, especially considering a balanced rest cycle is most important to me?

Happy driving and god bless, my friends.