Dean Of Mack's CDL Training Diary

Sounds like things are going great! I was down by you this morning, those roads sucked! It was terrible until I got into Macomb, then trash again until I got up by the quad cities for my backhaul.

That's quite a coincidence Rob T. I live in Macomb and travel to Quincy for truck driver training. Route 336 from Macomb to Carthage (going West) wasn't bad at 5 am, but 336 from Carthage to Quincy (going South) was terrible. I got a call at 5:45 am that class was canceled so I turned around and went back to Macomb.

Sounds like things are going great! I was down by you this morning, those roads sucked! It was terrible until I got into Macomb, then trash again until I got up by the quad cities for my backhaul.

That's quite a coincidence Rob T. I live in Macomb and travel to Quincy for truck driver training. Route 336 from Macomb to Carthage (going West) wasn't bad at 5 am, but 336 from Carthage to Quincy (going South) was terrible. I got a call at 5:45 am that class was canceled so I turned around and went back to Macomb.

It seems like a decent place to live I like how isolated it is. I don't make it down that way too often but I just so happened to today. I drive for PDI, a division of Hy-Vee. I believe I've only been to Quincy once and Macomb 3 times in the last year. I try to avoid stores that take me down alot of 2 lane I'm all about the interstate.

Sounds like things are going great! I was down by you this morning, those roads sucked! It was terrible until I got into Macomb, then trash again until I got up by the quad cities for my backhaul.

That's quite a coincidence Rob T. I live in Macomb and travel to Quincy for truck driver training. Route 336 from Macomb to Carthage (going West) wasn't bad at 5 am, but 336 from Carthage to Quincy (going South) was terrible. I got a call at 5:45 am that class was canceled so I turned around and went back to Macomb.

It seems like a decent place to live I like how isolated it is. I don't make it down that way too often but I just so happened to today. I drive for PDI, a division of Hy-Vee. I believe I've only been to Quincy once and Macomb 3 times in the last year. I try to avoid stores that take me down alot of 2 lane I'm all about the interstate.

Yeah, it's a nice small town. Big enough for necessities - small enough to feel like home. I like our Hy-Vee. Always friendly people - the "helpful smile in every aisle." The two lanes can be a pain - it takes me at least 1.5 hours to browse my favorite places - Bass Pro, Cabela's, and Red Wing Shoes.

Week #6 of 8 complete! Almost to the finish line. If I get over my frustration with offset backing. It looks so simple, but to me it's difficult.

This week was the last week with classroom. Three recruiters came in and gave their spiel. Gully Transportation, Dot Foods, and LSSD were here. LSSD is a hauler in Pittsfield, IL who has transfer contracts with Dot Foods and hauls cattle to Kansas City. I didn't form an opinion of any of them yet, as I was dealing with stress caused by losing what gear I'm in if a conversation pops up while driving and dealing with offsets. I am doing better with downshifting. I just have to remember what high gear I'm in.

Next Monday is a range day for me. Half the class will be on the road and half will be on the range. I need to brush upon offsets and spend a good portion of the day on parallel parking. Tuesday is a road day. I'm supposed to test for my CDL Wednesday, but I might put it off until Friday. I'm having a very hard time spotting the middle cone in the convex mirror on the right side (passenger) offset. Other than that I think I'm ready.

Hey, Dean..... it'll be my turn to walk in these moccasins before too long so I'm glad for the benefit of your journal. This process does seem a bit intense at points. My two cents is to remind you of what you already know ..... that practice is part of the process that works to build automatic responses into motor memory and this can be trusted.

Lol, I expect to be reminding myself of that quite a lot based on what I'm learning here.

Week #6 of 8 complete! Almost to the finish line. If I get over my frustration with offset backing. It looks so simple, but to me it's difficult.

..... I was dealing with stress caused by losing what gear I'm in if a conversation pops up while driving and dealing with offsets. I am doing better with downshifting.....

..... I need to brush upon offsets and spend a good portion of the day on parallel parking..... I'm having a very hard time spotting the middle cone in the convex mirror on the right side (passenger) offset. Other than that I think I'm ready.

Week #6 of 8 complete! Almost to the finish line. If I get over my frustration with offset backing. It looks so simple, but to me it's difficult.

This week was the last week with classroom. Three recruiters came in and gave their spiel. Gully Transportation, Dot Foods, and LSSD were here. LSSD is a hauler in Pittsfield, IL who has transfer contracts with Dot Foods and hauls cattle to Kansas City. I didn't form an opinion of any of them yet, as I was dealing with stress caused by losing what gear I'm in if a conversation pops up while driving and dealing with offsets. I am doing better with downshifting. I just have to remember what high gear I'm in.

Next Monday is a range day for me. Half the class will be on the road and half will be on the range. I need to brush upon offsets and spend a good portion of the day on parallel parking. Tuesday is a road day. I'm supposed to test for my CDL Wednesday, but I might put it off until Friday. I'm having a very hard time spotting the middle cone in the convex mirror on the right side (passenger) offset. Other than that I think I'm ready.

Seems like you are coming along nicely, Dean. Personally, I'd fill out apps on here before going with smaller companies like LSSD, even though they are nearby. Not really bull haulers per se, but they pull the grain and such for same. Might be something to look at with some experience under your belt, however! (53 power units / 40 drivers, be careful with the smaller guys just starting out!)

Kudos all the same; still following!

Best wishes,

Anne :)

Seems like you are coming along nicely, Dean. Personally, I'd fill out apps on here before going with smaller companies like LSSD, even though they are nearby. Not really bull haulers per se, but they pull the grain and such for same. Might be something to look at with some experience under your belt, however! (53 power units / 40 drivers, be careful with the smaller guys just starting out!)

Kudos all the same; still following!

Best wishes,

Anne :)

Thanks Anne! I appreciate your comments.

Well this is week #8 of 8! Almost to the finish line! Apologies for no Week #7 update. I conquered my troubles with offsets and worked on my troubles with blind side parallel. We also have to take a final test at the school which is more comprehensive than the state CDL test.

I go for my CDL tomorrow morning, Tuesday March 3rd. I think I've got it licked, so long as they don't switch trucks on me... There is an 84% first time fail rate in Illinois. I want to be in the 16% who pass the first time. I saw two classmates fail the pre-trip. Bummer. We only have an hour, so odds are that I can get the pre-trip and skills test done the first day. I may have to come back next week to take the on the road part. That would give my veteran's knees a chance to rest - the double clutching and getting in and out of the cab for days on end is taking a toll.

Wish me luck! I just hope I can relax enough to get a good night's sleep.

DEan

Wish me luck! I just hope I can relax enough to get a good night's sleep.

Good luck for that first go-round, Dean! Hopefully you're getting great rest now (I'm a few time zones behind you) and won't see this until after the fact. Rooting for ya!

Good luck tomorrow, Dean!

Remember your training, take your time, talk a lot with the evaluator, and don't overthink it.

Hope your test went well today, Dean......