GAME: Name 2 Awesome Things That Happened Today

1) My next victim, I mean trainee, will be testing out shortly. He is doing great and is really excited to come on the road with me. He said his CDL instructor was shocked he was so "talkative" during the driving portion. That is because I told him to say aloud everything he sees and does while driving the exam. "65 tons weight limit sign.....13ft 8in clearance...white car in right mirror....bike coming on side... slowing for railroad and looking both ways before proceeding" etc.

instructor said he did excellent. and it calmed him. it was cool to help someone.

2) i backed into a spot at a truck stop and didn't even need to pull forward to straighten. when i got out of the truck, a driver walking by asked, "Please tell me you are single? I just fell in love. Beautiful and can handle a rig like that? Lets get married." I never thought I would be able to back like that...but look at me now.

Any of you with doubts can be rest assured, I sucked at backing and so will you. I learned to conquer it, and so can you.

Now everyone else, big or small, post two positive things that happened today.

"Please tell me you are single? I just fell in love. Beautiful and can handle a rig like that? Lets get married."

Some guys know how to melt a girls heart. I need to step up my game

1. Couple days off to spend with family 2. Got to SLEEP!

Turned out 659 miles today... ate at a great Chinese buffet tonight.

I know I'm not a driver or even a lowly training worm yet, but I've got a couple things, if i may.

1) I called in sick and finalized my plans. I'm quitting my job, taking my permit test this week, taking next week to finish some things up and off to Georgia April 7th. Roehl or bust!

2) (and I'm torn on this one) Either: A) I scored 100% on a bunch of the High Road chapters. Woooo! I'm starting to feel confident! or B) I got to play a video game (Diablo 3, nerds) with my 4 year old. She's not going to be the next youtuber... but she was a better 2nd player than the dog! for a 4 year old, that's WINNING! Really, though. We had fun and it was great.

Woke up at way to early-thirty. Just west of Donner pass and made my way down for the first time in 3 yearsish and first time ever as a tanker. I gotta say that with a good load of oil in the back it was much better than my trip into Nevada on I-40 -us93 with Glycerin.

Just got back after a nice sunset walk

And Rainy... You totally stole this from The Bobby Bones show... "Tell me something good!"

That is because I told him to say aloud everything he sees and does while driving the exam. "65 tons weight limit sign.....13ft 8in clearance...white car in right mirror....bike coming on side... slowing for railroad and looking both ways before proceeding" etc.

We were REQUIRED to do that exact same thing at the Swift Academy in Phoenix 3 years ago. Including shifting. 3rd gear, clutch, neutral, clutch, 4th gear, etc. I found it extremely helpful. Glad to hear you are teaching that technique. They called it "Commentary Driving".

I clocked a 3500 mile paycheck this week, squeezing the last seven hundred miles in a mere half an hour before our payroll cutoff

And I've gotten to hang out with two friends on the west coast this week, and maybe a third tomorrow.

Rainy, I'm gonna play your game, but first a few comments. You didn't say you did any G.O.A.Ls during that backing procedure. If you did, please say so. If not tell us why. Also, I might admire your backing skills too, but if I ever said the same thing the other guy said to a female driver, with my luck, I'd end up in lechery jail recovering from pepper spray and a good old beating.

Awesome thing #1: I got a clean bill of health on my eyes and prescription glasses, regular and sunglasses. I should be cleared to go back to driving before the end of the week. Now I can see Rainy backing up better and get out of her way.

Awesome thing #2: See awesome thing #1.

My Fleet Manager pre planned me thru Sunday. Received a nice phone call from a friend this afternoon. Life is good.