Profile For Grumpy Old Man

Thanks everyone.

My first “load” was To Milwaukee and back to pick up another driver for orientation. He is a member here. I believe he said his name here is Sgt Army.

Lol

Or he is confused. I don’t see anyone here with that name

I picked him up in a company car by the way. Not a truck.

Thanks everyone.

My first “load” was To Milwaukee and back to pick up another driver for orientation. He is a member here. I believe he said his name here is Sgt Army.

Lol

My eyes are more dilated than 3 hits of LSD at a Grateful Dead show.

Rick

Lol, just noticed this.

Congratulations!

I never tire of seeing you new guys make this announcement of success. It's a great pleasure to share advice with you along the way and watch you progress and develop. Again, Congratulations!

It is the help and advice I got here that prepared me to be successful.

Thanks guys.

One of the first turns is a left and you have to go between two islands, and cut into the right turn lane for opposing traffic to clear a traffic light pole on the center island. I missed the islands on both sides by about an inch.

Yesterday I had to do a 90 degree back between two trailers with limited space in front. It is the one Patrick and I explained the pace counting method elsewhere.

They had to move it because the yard flooded and that test was solid ice. They swear it is the same distance but I think the space in front was about a foot shorter I failed it yesterday. They let me practice a few times this morning and I nailed it.

I have not posted anything until I was sure I passed.

I passed my road test and skills test with Wolding so as of Thursday I will officially be a driver rather than a trainer. Hopefully I get a decent truck.

Even though Wding is 4 weeks out, you might be able to work out more home time after that week. They are pretty flexible.

When I decided to leave trucking and go back home to work at a law firm again, my reasons were valid. In some ways they still are. However, after being home for a few months, talking to drivers that I trust, especially the ones that know me personally, and working in an area of law that bores me to tears, I am wondering if I left too soon. Did I not try hard enough? No, I still don’t like the idea of being away from home a month at a time. Yes, the struggle to find a place to park at night after getting tied up at a shipper or receiver will still be there. Yes, I will still need to learn how to run a truck effectively as solo instead of as team as I was trained. No, I don’t want to drive team. But, I miss driving. The arguments in my head whether to stay where I am or go back to trucking are constant, with the ‘go back to trucking’ side pulling out in front.

I have not made a decision yet about this. I guess I’m just posting to say that final decisions may not always be final.

See if Wolding is hiring in your area. They are very good about home time. I just talked to a guy who works Monday-Thursday.

It is definitely worth a call.

tel:800-945-9090

I just checked. In Charleston WV all they have is OTR which would be 4 weeks on the road. Sorry

When I decided to leave trucking and go back home to work at a law firm again, my reasons were valid. In some ways they still are. However, after being home for a few months, talking to drivers that I trust, especially the ones that know me personally, and working in an area of law that bores me to tears, I am wondering if I left too soon. Did I not try hard enough? No, I still don’t like the idea of being away from home a month at a time. Yes, the struggle to find a place to park at night after getting tied up at a shipper or receiver will still be there. Yes, I will still need to learn how to run a truck effectively as solo instead of as team as I was trained. No, I don’t want to drive team. But, I miss driving. The arguments in my head whether to stay where I am or go back to trucking are constant, with the ‘go back to trucking’ side pulling out in front.

I have not made a decision yet about this. I guess I’m just posting to say that final decisions may not always be final.

See if Wolding is hiring in your area. They are very good about home time. I just talked to a guy who works Monday-Thursday.

It is definitely worth a call.

tel:800-945-9090

Bruce, I agree with OS.

It's not your eyes, otherwise you'd never have passed the eye tests administered during the DOT medical exam. Practice and repetition will cure that which ails you.

I’m not so sure. All three times (maybe more) that I have had an exam I’ve been told I have 20/20 vision. I even went to an ophthalmologist and they said I have a slight astigmatism but didn’t really need glasses. I got them anyway to correct the astigmatism.

My trainer wears glasses ( corrected to 20/30) and he could read signs 15 seconds before I could. Glasses helped a few seconds but not much, so I am going to go back again.

Urine test covers 30 days. Hair test will cover whatever hair you have. Generally 90 days as most people’s hair grows 1/2” per month.

My best advice is stop using and return the card to the state, let your hair grow for 30 days and then cut it off as short as possible or shave, let it grow for 90 days or an inch and a half. You should be good. Then never use it again because you will eventually get caught.

After you parallel park about 400 times you will have it down pat. :)

And fighting wind can tire you quickly.

As you have said to me a few times, you’ve got this!

Can’t wait to see you back here fully recovered.

Congratulations

By the way, Octavio, do you know what they call the guy/gal who graduates at the bottom of his/her med school class? Doctor.

Same with a CDL. When you do pass, you will have the same license as the rest of us.

I must have missed that. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

I start in 3rd when light or empty, I only start in 4th when bobtailing.

I agree with everyone else about the clutch, dont get too down on yourself I stalled the other day on flat ground at a light. I forgot to flip the switch down and tried to take off in 7th needless to say it didnt work.

That selector switch has bitten me a few times, too, lol. Especially when down shifting. I have gone from 6th to 10th a couple times. The truck definitely made her displeasure known!

I feel so much better to know I’m not alone. Lol

@grumpyoldman yea definitely not a 13 foot trailer my bad haha its a little bit more than that its not one of those 53 feet trailers like about half of a 53 haha and yea I mean my shifting is ok and I just have problems stalling out at 4 I just didn't feel confident about my driving when i went to go test probably another reason I failed and stalled out ..

@bruce and definitely 3rd gear sounds better to start off for a beginner I always had a problem stalling out even at stops from 4th gear will try 3rd gear for sure now but will also practice feeling for the clutch a bit more

Just don’t let the clutch out too fast, and don’t apply fuel before the clutch is out.

It is nothing like a car, the truck will start to move then you add fuel.

Garmin dash cam. Just say “ok garmin”, then “save picture (or video)”

Works great.