Hi Everyone! I've Missed You All SO Much!
Topic 6750 | Page 1
Glad to hear you are doing so well and holding up when the bad things happen. Keep us up to date.... Lover reading about your adventure.
Hey!! Glad to hear you're doing well!!
Keep up the good work. 
My trainers have been awesome. They've been making/letting me do everything so I'm actually learning, this time! Woo-HOO!
-mountain girl
WOW! You go girl!!! Sounds crazy hard but also exciting. I'm super happy for you. I leave with my trainer next week and I can't wait. Stay safe out there. Good job!!!! 
WOW! You go girl!!! Sounds crazy hard but also exciting. I'm super happy for you. I leave with my trainer next week and I can't wait. Stay safe out there. Good job!!!!
-photogirl
Thanks! You stay safe out there too, Photogirl! Just remember to relax. As soon as I stiffen up, I start scratching gears. Relax and you'll learn it. Stay safe. Have fun!
-mountain girl
Congrats.
WOW! You go girl!!! Sounds crazy hard but also exciting. I'm super happy for you. I leave with my trainer next week and I can't wait. Stay safe out there. Good job!!!!
-photogirl
Thanks! You stay safe out there too, Photogirl! Just remember to relax. As soon as I stiffen up, I start scratching gears. Relax and you'll learn it. Stay safe. Have fun!
-mountain girl
Thanks!!! Relaxing is what got me through my CDL road test.. it works lol... I will most def some fun! The cold is whats gonna get me lol
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Right on, Photogirl.
Thanks Trucktographer. Fi!
-mountain girl
Way to go MG! Keep up the great work!!
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
This topic has the following tags:
Life On The Road Truck Driving Lifestyle Truck Driving Stories
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
Well, I'm still in training but I'm honestly having a blast!!!! You know, I was pretty sure I'd like the work but I am surprised to find out I actually love the work.
What an adventure!I've been fired and re-hired on my first day (do to a paperwork mishap that human resources fumbled on but the terminal manager fixed right away and backed my tail like a seasoned leader) I've driven in snow, ice, up and down I-70, through Eisenhower Tunnel in snow storms; I've chained up, I've backed up to alleys under wooden awnings (and not broken them); I've driven over mountain passes in the ice and snow, I've driven to Wamsutter, WY and back in a blizzard, at night; driven over Elk Mountain and Sherman hill in a blizzard; I've pulled as much as 30 tons in the same; I've broken down; I've spun my wheels in a parking lot and then used my differentials to get out of it; I'm floating gears; using my jake brake; yes, I've been in an accident where a suburban spun out and crashed into my trailer on a mountain pass (a non-preventable accident); I've been given a company commendation for holding my lane during the accident; I've received a company commendation for passing the Level III inspection that followed the accident; I've been on linehaul for the past few days; I'm seeing the Colorado/Wyoming countryside; I've had to use my airhorn; I've frozen my fingers hooking and dropping sets; two nights ago, it was -33'F driving back to the terminal; I've driven up to and delivered at Henderson Mine; I've asked my linehaul trainer to let me drive over Loveland pass in the snow - so we're gonna' do that, too; I've unhooked a pallet jack from the inside of the trailer and had the handle bounce back into my skull and nearly knock me out (that was a real air-head moment & no, I did NOT report it); I've refused a load before leaving the yard, because it was 1,000 lbs over, even though we tried to make it shift in the yard by accelerating and stopping hard; I've learned so much from these trainers that I could spend weeks typing it all out and Brett would run out of storage space on this site ...
There have been some really hard days but I don't remember them. Who cares? Tough days are tough days.
I have already grown more independent, now that I have my own paycheck once a week.
Everyone, I am diggin' life and lovin' the work.
-mountain girl
Floating Gears:
An expression used to describe someone who is shifting gears without using the clutch at all. Drivers are taught to "Double Clutch" or press and release the clutch twice for each gear shift. If you're floating gears it means you're simply shifting without using the clutch at all.
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.
Linehaul:
Linehaul drivers will normally run loads from terminal to terminal for LTL (Less than Truckload) companies.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning them to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.