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Great Update. I look forward to your post tomorrow.

You and me both!

?? Rolling. My instructor turns to me and says "we did evaluations and looking at your performance, you aren't making the progress we need to see. I'm going up to bat for you, so you might be doing some training with a different instructor, but it's possible that they'll decide to send you home. I'll let you know when I find out more." So then we headed to the backing range. Up until this news, my backing had been pretty good. Not Monday. Switch to the flatbed and awful news really threw me off. Sigh. Instructor told me to calm down and not worry about backing.

45 minutes later my instructor tells me I'll be driving with "Bob" that afternoon. I meet Bob after lunch. Bob tells me to bobtail the yard a few laps. I do my usual deep clutching and grinding. He pulls me over and asks if I know the mechanics of the transmission. No. I understand the non-synchronized aspect, but not fully. He explained that the clutch brake operates more like a disc brake than an on/off switch. Then he told me that I should glue my heel to the floor and not move my knee. Clutch with your ankle instead.

Armed with this new knowledge and some confidence, I started understanding what was happening and driving much more smoothly. We hooked to a trailer and did a few laps. Much better!!! We went out on the road and did a few laps around the block. I felt much more comfortable! Bob didn't say much, and brought me back into the yard. Pulled next to the instructors area. Bob got out and my instructor came out a few minutes later. Instructor asked if I had my paperwork and access card. At this point I was sure I was going home. He says "don't worry. Bob said I need to take a ride with you."

We get on the road, take a trip around town and head back to the yard. Pull in to the instructor area, and shut down. Instructor looks at me and says "Do you feel better?" yes... "Good. I'm really proud of the leaps and bounds you've made today. If you drive like that for your pre-cdl test i'm sure you'll pass." WOOO!!!

TUESDAY pre-cdl testing. Oh Lord. Long story short, I got 0 points on my pre-trip, 10 points backing (still rusty on flatbed...), and 5 points on the drive. But I hit a curb. Auto-fail... Oh well, I still drove the thing really really well!!! So what I won't test early: still making progress!

WEDNESDAY Pretrip and roll to the backing range. Instructor says "Kevin and you are testing friday." Wait, what? "You scored a five on the drive. You had a whoopsy. You're testing friday." Aced backing that day. My 90's were sexy. WOOOOOOOOooooooooo...!

That catches us up to today. I have gone from worst in the class, might be sent packing, stressed out, and driving poorly to top 4 in our class, testing early, confident, and happy!

We did a pre-cdl test today with our instructor. I got 11 but the truck was cold and I was nervous. Still passing! Still testing Friday!

I'd like to state a personal opinion now. I know that some who read this might be considering which company to choose. This is my opinion of Roehl Transport thus far.

I made the right choice. Small class size and good instructors make for a more personal experience. The fact that they didn't throw me out when they could have, they recognized my willingness and attempts to improve, and they did all they could to ensure my success makes me think very highly of Roehl. I'm so grateful that I'm with this company. I feel like they went above and beyond for me.

I would recommend Roehl to anyone who is looking for good training and small classes.

EllieMae, where will you be training and what is your start date. I think you'll enjoy your time in training. Drinks are not provided with lunch, but the coffee flows freely. Do NOT be nervous about driving a manual transmission!!! I had 20 years driving a manual transmission and it was OBVIOUSLY difficult to break the habits. You'll pick it up in the first week and be smooth shifting by week 2. Stay confident! They shove 25 lbs of info into a 5 lb sack the first week. Concentrate on the J.J. Keller book your first week. 33 chapters. Try to finish 5 chapters each night. It's easy enough. I'll give you the advice my trainer gave me, "get out of your own head! You got this." :)

Have a great day, y'all! Encourage someone today. You never know who needs it. I know I have and I'm thankful for the encouragement I've gotten.

Ok folks, it's been a VERY long, emotional week. Sorry for not posting up sooner, but 3rd week has been a roller coaster.

So Monday morning we started hauling a flatbed trailer. Split axle and unloaded they back "differently" than a dry van. So we pre-trip and back into the trailer. Finish the pre-trip and get ro

Monday was amazing. A MAZ ING. TOTES AMAZEBALLS. ZOMG, HOLY COW, A M A Z I N G.

It's 2:45 and I can't sleep, but I think we're going to do CDL pre-testing today (Tuesday). Update tonight.

I'm still here, folks! Stay tuned.

Don't forget to drink your Ovaltine.

Saturday we covered the atlas. I'm old enough that we didn't have a gps or smart phone on road trips. I still like an atlas. The trucker's atlas is a bit different and much more useful.

Mondays, am I right? Today I'm going to drive the rig better than I ever have. I know I can do this. I know I can put everything I have into this and do better than I have been. I can concentrate. I can focus. And I can get my CDL.

Go get em today, guys!

Today i got a few things ironed out.

Our truck has three students in it. We are all pretty damn good at backing. I drove today and my instructor asked me to do a really thorough self evaluation. This helped! I am running the RPMs too high and my lane usage needs improvement. I'm pretty good otherwise.

The fix for this is taking me out to areas which require these things to be done properly. Basically, I'm going to get tossed in the deep end and let's swim or get out of the pool. I love a challenge. :)

I'm still here. No one is giving up. No one is dropping out. No one is accepting defeat. I have proven again and again that I am capable of amazing things when I put my mind to them. I will not succumb to a transmission. If I can survive the past 39 years, I can do this.

Thanks for all the support and encouragement. It's difficult to keep my spirits up when I'm going through trying times. I appreciate all you who are reading this and helping me.

Have a GREAT weekend!

What would an OTR driver who is religious and never misses Mass be called?

A Roamin' Catholic?

Today, my instructor let me drive 20 miles on the interstate. That. Was. Great. It allowed me to regain some confidence and remember why I'm here. He drove back and spent the whole time highlighting how to handle situations he noticed I was struggling with. It helped a lot. It remeinded me that I can still do this and that I still want to.

Gotta get the pre-trip down pat. I'm close. Little more in-cab. Little more trailer.

Thanks, TT Gang.

By the way, dress warm. The weather is all over the place up here.

One guy dropped out and we have had some silly drama. As a 39 year old, it all seems childish. C'est la vie. I hope that this isn't the future of trucking. Of course, I'm not doing so hot either...

Maybe the peanut gallery is talking while you are driving and distracting you?

You need to breathe and think. you can do this. i did.

I think this is my issue. I need it to be quiet and I need feedback. Im not really getting either. Today I have a few things I need to do. I'm going to talk to my instructor about feedback and expectations. I'm going to talk to the guys in my truck about not talking.

Today

Rough. Had a bad day. Shifting is all wrong. Finished my drive strong. Instructor informed me that I am no longer allowed to drive on the street until I can get better at shifting. I'm in pretty low spirits today. I'm afraid this is the beginning if the end. I understand what to do. I know the science, but when I get on the road, it all goes out the window. I just can't seem to get it to click. Maybe I'm overthinking, or not listening. Maybe I just need to relax and let this settle in. I dunno.