Comments By FreakTrain

Congratulations Grumpy!

Day 4

Today was a lot like yesterday, started the school day with pretrip inspection on the school's four trucks and trailers. Getting better at it each time, the homework assignments help you to get it all memorized. After pretrip was completed, we were once again split into groups, my group worked on straight backing and both sight-side and blind-side offset for most of the day. A few students went to the DMV for their CDL exam, the other groups worked on parallel parking and the 90 degree alley dock. The instructors here are awesome, they really go out of their way to help you, as long as you show a good honest effort. They want you to succeed! We had a past graduate from TDDA three years ago stop by briefly, he's been with CFI since day one: "I love it there, the've taken real good care of me."

Time to finish tonight's homework, and thanks for reading!

Day 3

Starting the morning with everyone outside doing pretrip on the school's trucks and trailers. The instructors then split us into groups, my group did straight backing for most of the morning. I've got it down pretty good now. Had our lunch break, after lunch it was back to the lot for more backing. The instructors demonstrated and then walked us through the offset back. We spent the rest of the day taking turns with the offset back, with the instructor there to help us if we needed. Lots of fun doing all this on a frozen gravel lot! It's been bitter cold here, good thing we could all fit in the truck. Anyway, back at the motel, working on my homework for pretrip. It's been a long day, but absolutely worth it.

Congratulations Cynthia! I'm actually training to be a CFI driver. So far they've been great to deal with, and everyone I've met at the company really seems to love working for them.

As Tractor Man and Turtle said, Big Scott is the man you need to talk to about all things CFI. He's been a big help for me.

Day 2

Went out on the range this morning, did slow laps around the lot practicing double-clutching and upshifts/downshifts for an hour and a half. Much to my surprise, I was chosen to drive bobtail on the road afterwards. Ended up fulfilling a long-time "bucket list" item, as we were driving on the old Route 66! Never expected to do it in a truck! Anyway, after getting back to the school, we had our lunch break, then I spent the rest of the day doing straight backing and in-cab pretrip.

Back at the motel now, time to do my homework!

Thanks for reading!

Day 1

Out in front of the motel at 6:30am to catch the van to school (about a 20 minute ride). After arriving, we got settled into the classroom and did paperwork. The students that didn't have their CLP went out to get a DOT physical and urine test, and got materials to study for the permit (they're testing tomorrow). The ones that had all three before coming to school watched a video covering pretrip inspection in the meantime. After the other students got back, we watched videos on health and safety, took an hour break for lunch, and then another video and discussion on HOS and logbooks. We also went over map reading, and had a quiz about the day's topics. At the end of the day (6pm) we headed back to the motel, and I had about an hour or so of homework on pretrip.

I've been told that I'll be on the range for most of the day tomorrow.

That's all for today, folks. Thanks for reading.

Thanks, Big Scott. Enjoy your vacation!

Bet you're glad to have your truck all to yourself again! Stay safe out there.

Best of luck to you, Grumpy, and many miles of safe travels.

Technology IS great... it allows you to screw up twice as bad, in only half the time!