Testing Out To Go Solo
Topic 24968 | Page 5
Grumpy how is your body holding up?I know in training you dealt with a lot of pain .
I have been at the terminal since Sunday so it isn’t hurting near as bad. Also walking a lot so maybe that is helping.
Just finally got all my stuff in the truck and mostly in a spot I can live with until I get home. My fridge is being shipped to my house so for now I have a styrofoam cooler that should last till Saturday.
My first loaf is 966 miles, but I don’t have to deliver until Monday.
It has been a whirlwind.
As a side note, my second trainer was so good, training asked if they could have my paper logs to use as training material.
I also helped two guys that were here for orientation, they passed all their tests and will be heading out with a trainer.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
I have been so busy, I have barely ben on the forum.
I picked up my first load to get me home from Menasha WI. Went off without a hitch. I had to force my RM GPS to route me to the nearest intersection to force it to follow the company directions. Backed in, got loaded, and hit the road.
Took my 30 at Russell Rd, then fought my way down 294 in rush hour traffic. GPS was routing me down 94, but said 12 mile backup. Turns out 294 may have been worse. For you experienced guys, which is the better route?
On the plus side, I got really good at shifting, after up and downshifting a few hundred times. I accidentally floated a few gears, and since my sciatica is still killing me, decided to give it a shot. Turns out I can float better than I can double clutch , LOL.
Made it to the first rest area inside Ohio with an hour on my clock. I could have made one more rest area, but would have only has 15 minutes left, and I was afraid it might be full, so I stopped and got some rest. 455 miles and 12.5 hrs on duty.
Woke up this morning, and as soon as my 10 was up, pre-tripped and hit the road. Got to the drop lot at 3:30 with 30 minutes left on my 8 hr clock, only to find it full. It is a trailer repair shop, and it was closed, and I will be leaving tomorrow. I parked in front of some crashed trailers, and a flatbed delivering more flatbeds. as long as he isn't leaving before me, I'll be good. Bobtailed home, and did some trip planning, figured out I have to leave tomorrow at 2, so my wife barely saw me. 373 miles, 7.75 hrs on duty
I'll finish that load in Denmark, NY (966 miles total), then deadhead to Solvay NY to pick up a load and deliver it to Coal Center PA, near Pittsburgh. total for the two legs will be 490 miles.
Bobtail:
"Bobtailing" means you are driving a tractor without a trailer attached.
Deadhead:
To drive with an empty trailer. After delivering your load you will deadhead to a shipper to pick up your next load.
Double Clutch:
To engage and then disengage the clutch twice for every gear change.
When double clutching you will push in the clutch, take the gearshift out of gear, release the clutch, press the clutch in again, shift the gearshift into the next gear, then release the clutch.
This is done on standard transmissions which do not have synchronizers in them, like those found in almost all Class A trucks.
Congrats.... I have been solo about 6 weeks so far.
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Grumpy how is your body holding up?I know in training you dealt with a lot of pain .