Do It Like Sonny Pruitt

Very entertaining Code Red. Seriously, you can write. Not only do I enjoy working for the Big White Company, but I also love delivering to Walmart as a dedicated driver. Best of both worlds... Good post!

Thank you, I appreciate that!

And, you know, there are several all white carriers, there's Covenant, Marten....

Day 7 - Introduction to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and then Cargo Documentation.

Yes, the day was every bit as exciting as that sounded.

I still don't understand the Bridge Law Rule Thingy. I might have to Google that.

I mentioned last week that several random people had wandered into class, other instructors and former students just in the neighborhood, and they would share their stories and we got to ask them questions. I'll never forget what one of them said;

"Your first year, you won't even know how to spell truck."

That's really stayed with me. It's a good perspective to have. Especially in relation to picking an employer.

I mention that because I will often find myself thinking, "After this school, you'll have a marketable skill. People with Class A CDL licenses are in demand, dammit!" And so I'll go off trying to submit my application to Magic Unicorn Transportation, the small yet lovable company where all the dispatchers know your name, all the loading docks you'll visit only require straight backing, you'll be paid .51 cents a mile right out of school and you'll get 3,000 miles every week, plus all the home time you want. Straight out of school. With zero hours on the clock.

Listen, I know that I'm going to have to eat a **** sandwich when I start, I get it. I'm just making any effort to reduce it from a triple decker to something like a patty melt. And maybe some curly fries.

With that in mind, we had our second recruiter into class today. In keeping with the anonymous theme, we'll call the company Big Blue* Trucking.

Big Blue was totally different than Big White Trucking. It was a man, not a woman, and I'm truthfully quite horrified about the snap decisions I made about the previous recruiter simply because she was a she. Maybe I'm more misogynistic than I though I was.

Anyway, Big Blue recruiter has a big bag of swag for each of us. Brilliant. Big White only had a three-fold brochure and a pen. Seriously.

In the bag were several full color booklets about the company, it's history, mission statement and what they have to offer. Also, there was a printout of the recruiters powerpoint presentation. There were also sheets describing, in detail, their training program, their pay and incentive packages (including signing bonus! Take that Big White!), and all the different opportunities within the company.

The recruiter was forthright and knowledgeable, especially about their trucks. Yes, he was a former driver. Big White's recruiter had previously been in real estate.

In truth, I had no qualms at all with anything the recruiter for Big Blue Trucking had said. He was honest about our place on the totem pole. However, he was also upfront with the fact that their business doesn't really make money if all they do is train new drivers, and it's in the companies best interest to work hard to retain drivers.

Well, it's not Magic Unicorn Trucking, but I really liked what I heard.

We'll see.

Tomorrow is the final exam in the morning, then we head out to the yard to start learning about pre-trip inspections.

It'll be nice to get dirty for a change.

Wish me luck on the final.

____________________________
*please note that blue does not indicate the actual color of their trucks.

Day 8 - Final written exam, then beginning Pre-Trip Inspection.

I passed the final. Total score for the classroom part of the course; 93% = A.

As I said before, it all gets reset next week. Being good in a classroom doesn't automatically translate into real world competency.

And, again, I want to thank Trucking Truth for The High Road Online CDL Training Program. I would never had done so well without it.

After we finished the final and were given our scores, we said goodbye to our classroom instructor and said hello to our driving instructors. The first guy started by saying, "I'm an *******. If you don't like it, **** you." I love trucking already. No, honestly, I really do.

Some random end of week thoughts.

I really dig all my classmates. One guy got laid off from one of the big casinos here in Vegas, he had worked there for 20 years, mostly as a pit boss. He told me, "I'll never put on a suit ever again. I gave all my shirts, ties, slacks, all to Goodwill. If I have to go to a funeral, I have a jacket...."

One guy had been the manager of a chain food store for 8 years. Like me, he's looking forward to being alone for long periods of time. Because customers suck.

One guy is from Eastern Europe. Seems very shady, he drives a big black Mercedes that costs more than many of the houses here in Vegas.

This morning I actually went into a truck stop, a Pilot near the school. It was like this inbetween place on a scale from 7-11 to Walmart. With showers. From what I understand, I'll be spending a lot of time in places like this from now on. It was weird.

Also, I'm still trying to figure out what my CB handle will be.

Lastly, I actually have one phone interview tomorrow. Yes, with Big Blue Trucking. And, after that, I have a call back with yet another company. I'll keep you posted.

Thank you for reading all this, have a great weekend, everyone. I'll be back next week with Week 3.

Day 9 - Pre-trip Inspection

Spent all day around the trucks, beginning to learn about pre-trip inspection. It's nice to get out of the classroom.

I had a bunch of other stuff I wanted to write, but we got some bad news, my wife's father passed away today.

So, I have to keep this short.

I'm so sorry, Code Red. Prayers for you and yours.

I'm so sorry, Code Red. Prayers for you and yours.

Thank you.

Day 10 - 2 Hours of Pre-trip Inspection , then driving.

As I mentioned on my last post, I'm having to make this shorter than I would have liked.

However, I do need to share what happened today. In the morning, we had 2 hours of pre-trip. We'll be going over this every morning until the exam next week. Each time it gets easier, so hopefully I'll have this down soon.

Then, driving.

We are in Las Vegas, and in the north of town there are several large industrial areas with big roads and little traffic. Perfect. The school starts the students out on these streets for shifting practice. I'm in a truck with two other students. I haven't driven a stick since 2009. I'm very nervous.

First student is up, and it all goes wrong. He can't find a gear to save his life. Nothing is working. I'm shocked that the transmission wasn't ground to dust after his time at the wheel. One hour, he went about 3 miles.

I'm up next. For some unknown reason I mutter to myself, "Fake it 'till you make it," and I go for it. Turns out, that was the phrase that pays. I'm getting the gears, double clutching , even downshifted successfully a time or two. We get to the end of this one road and where the instructor told the other student to turn left, I was told to turn right. I did it without thinking about the destination.

He pointed us into town. I was horrified. I spent my time navigating actual streets, with actual traffic. 18 wheels of real mayhem. There were plenty rough spots, and I screwed up a right turn that blocked an intersection for about 30 seconds but felt like a lifetime. Overall, however, no actual damage, no carnage, we all made it back to base camp safely.

Later on, the third student was up, and it all went wrong for him, too. He can't find a gear to save his life. Nothing is working. I'm shocked that the transmission wasn't ground to dust after his time at the wheel. One hour, he went about 5 miles.

I went about 20 miles overall.

On one hand, I hate that the instructor made me go out into traffic with so little practice. Then, on the other hand, I feel like I just won a prizefight. And I can't wait to get back into the ring again.

Fake it 'till you make it, indeed.

Day 9 - Pre-trip Inspection

Spent all day around the trucks, beginning to learn about pre-trip inspection. It's nice to get out of the classroom.

I had a bunch of other stuff I wanted to write, but we got some bad news, my wife's father passed away today.

So, I have to keep this short.

Sorry to hear that CR. Thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. G

And I can't wait to get back into the ring again.

I can honestly say this is how I feel on most days when I shut down. Good luck to you, sounds like you are having a really good start.

Sorry to hear that CR. Thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. G

Thank you for that, I appreciate it.