The Big Day Has Arrived...
Topic 7869 | Page 1
Good luck and go for it. You will be amazed how quickly 8 weeks is.
Keep us posted on your progress and good luck!!
Man, they've been keeping me busy. This is day 2 of my 3rd week. First week was pretty much all classroom... videos, log books, trip planning. Second week we concentrated on the pre-trip inspection , I tested out on that last Thursday morning scoring 100%! Started backing after that and will probably test out on that this Thursday morning. 90 degree alley dock is starting to click, straight line, offset and parallel parking driver's side good to go and tomorrow I get to work on blind side parallel. They say it's actually easier so I guess I will find out tomorrow. If it is, I will definitely be testing out backing Thursday morning. That will only leave the road test and the miles they require (1000) for graduation. They are saying I may be done in 6 weeks rather than 8 at the rate I'm progressing! It's really flying by! This site certainly has been a big help too!!!
Pre-trip Inspection:
A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.
Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.
Instructors are still talking about me doing the skills test (backing) tomorrow. Yesterday I felt good about doing it, but not so sure about it after today. Yesterday I was a backing demon, today I couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time. Guess I will wait and see how things feel to me tomorrow morning.
Well, I decided to do my backing skills this afternoon. Aced it! One less thing to worry about now, whew!
Awesome! I'm at TDI in Sanford now. Approaching the end of my 1st week. I've come close to acing most of the tests, nothing less then a 93. :) We take all the paper finals tomorrow morning and get into the trucks tomorrow afternoon. :)
Thanks J. Snow! Glad to hear that you're doing well too with your training. I've been getting to run around the range here bobtailing to work on shifting in between all of the backing practice. I'd get frustrated at times with a particular backing exercise and would go do some laps to get my mind back on task. We will be getting out on the highway next week. Looking forward to that. Hope things continue to go well for you down in Sanford. Enjoy!
Bobtail:
"Bobtailing" means you are driving a tractor without a trailer attached.
Bout done with week 4. I am on track to finish after 6 weeks still instead of 8 weeks. Talked to H. O. Wolding recruiter today that came in to talk to the class and I am seriously considering them. I have logged 365 miles (in 2 days) on the road for the class and it's been a blast. Day 2 I was much more relaxed and things went very well. I just have to remember to not pull up to close to other vehicles when stopping for the intersections.
Bout done with week 4. I am on track to finish after 6 weeks still instead of 8 weeks. Talked to H. O. Wolding recruiter today that came in to talk to the class and I am seriously considering them. I have logged 365 miles (in 2 days) on the road for the class and it's been a blast. Day 2 I was much more relaxed and things went very well. I just have to remember to not pull up to close to other vehicles when stopping for the intersections.
I know , you have to be able to see the tires of the vehicle in front of you, but even still it is just a good habit to give more space and then you can change gears especially if you are just clutching from forth to fifth to get started. I do the same at stop signs or when turning left onto another street and have to stop for traffic to pass. It gives you more time to gear. Under bridges when making a U-turn so you can see the traffic coming that is making a left and again you have time to gear before making your turn while concentrating on not hitting that curb. Great to hear you are enjoying it.
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I joined this site awhile back when I was kicking around the idea of becoming a trucker once I retired. Well, the big day has arrived! Today was my last day of my current profession and I start school tomorrow to get my CDL to start my new career in trucking. This site has been a great help with providing me information as well as preparing me for school. The High Road training is second to none! I will be attending Bradford Union Vo-Tech in Starke, FL for the next 8 weeks and I am really looking forward to it. Had a friend of mine that just went through TDI in Sanford, FL which was only 3 weeks, but cost twice as much. I'm feeling better about having 8 weeks under my belt before heading down the highway, but maybe that's just me. Stay safe out there drivers and looking forward to getting out there with y'all!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.