Comments By Ohioman1972

So after 7 days training, I was given a truck. I feel good that they had that much faith in me. No accidents. But I’m learning that the camaraderie of Truckers isn't what I thought it would be, or at least not as I understood it as a kid... Been looking for places to shut down at hour 9/12 instead of the lady hour... Truck stops and rest areas don't seem to have rhyme or reason on what time they fill up and I already got a 3 minute violation...

So much to learn!

But I want to be proficient as possible in shifting with the time I have

It's quite possible you are as proficient as possible. Give yourself a break man! Your post says you're on "Day 2 of training." Nobody shifts a big rig smoothly during their first few weeks. Lighten up - there's way more important things to be proficient at than shifting gears.

I get that. It’s getting better. If I get into a standard it’ll come to me.

Backing is getting better. I feel very comfortable in regular driving conditions on the highway. And that’s a lot better than while in school!

Today a loader yelled at the trainer who was spotting me while backing up to a metal forklift ramp. He didn’t have time to wait while I was being trained lol I cant wait to have a handful of stories to tell.

Day 2 of training. For the first week I am training with a local dry van driver/trainer. He said I am progressing "ahead of schedule" and he used the term "impressed". I really needed to hear that after all the negatives. Now - reality check. I still struggle on downshifts. Upshifts a little - but I'm learning to float. Downshifts I tend to hammer the accelerator and miss the gear, and slow way down til I get the bailout gear or coast to a stop at a red light. I backed into a tight dock, and a tight space at a busy rest stop, hauled an empty trailer in high wind with nothing hit, and jammed 17 gears. I have the rest of the week to work on shifting, then I'm going to a flatbed. Likely an automatic. As most of the tractors are automatic in this leased fleet.

But I want to be proficient as possible in shifting with the time I have

Ok... today was my last day at Lowe’s. I will be in Orientation starting Wednesday at Sewell Motor Express out of Wilmington, OH. My Little brother got His CDL in March of this year and they’ve already bumped him up to $0.51 a mile and he’s a trainer. But he’s naturally good at anything to do with vehicles. So I know what to expect. He’s almost always home by Saturday morning. Sometimes takes his reset on the road But not often.

As of Tuesday, I now have a Class A CDL with all endorsements! I’ve applied at 3 places. It was down to 2, but someone in my class told me about a local position that seems really good. Home daily, Monday through Friday, 10 hours a day, great insurance... and paying about the same as the other two regional jobs with not-as-good insurance.

Thanks again guys and gals. Really excited to take the test.

Ok.... I took the school’s test and got a 97 on maneuvers. Nicked a cone on the lane change... but the alley dock I got. Still need to make sure I have a good supply of pull ups on my state test in case I get blind side parallel... don’t have that one mastered yet. Need some practice on downshifting and right turns, narrow ones I still get really close to or hit the curbs.

All good points. I had just made an assumption that there were a few carriers that allowed it.

First day of classroom time yesterday. I'm surprised to see I was one of the few that already had the temps in hand. So the first week will be refresher course for me. Happy about that! Still anxious to get out there and get hands on...

I have been researching. I'm not asking opinions on carrying a firearm, nor asking about the legality. I'm fairly well versed on the areas in which I can and can't carry. But what I have found is that most major carriers prohibit drivers from carrying a firearm. Are there any large carriers that do allow it? My searches have come up empty so far.