Oooh, ooh, BIG relief! I felt a little tense today, wondering if Randy passed his pre-trip inspection test. But he called at lunch and he aced it and was "cool as a cucumber" besides! Then he took a well-deserved power nap. He's been doing so well up to this point that I hardly even feel nervous about his road test tomorrow. Hey, wait a minute! Now that I said that, I better start worrying, cuz I don't want to jinx him! ;) He is wavering between confident and doubtful. He sees so many current CDL holders still struggling, he's seen so many people fail, he sees people he started with falling behind, and he's still hearing alarming rumors. I must have talked to him for 2 hours today, he called 3 times.
I'm sooo looking forward to him having some down time and finally he is supposed to get the day off on Monday (Labor Day-school employees won't be there). I am so fascinated by the trucking industry but, after so many months of research and now these past couple weeks of talking about practically nothing else...even I am getting a little burnt out on the subject, so Monday will be nice. I miss my "normal" husband, the one who isn't hyped-up every minute of the day, the one who makes me laugh until I can barely breathe.
- Randy had a little trouble with downshifting but thinks he's ready for the test tomorrow. He didn't get much time to practice because a guy who's having real problems took up the entire afternoon in the truck. They also briefly went over the Qualcomm and trip planning/atlas skills.
-The worst snorer roommate has switched rooms, but there's still plenty of rumblin' going on. A lot of them have cute nicknames for each other...they call Randy "the professor" because he wears reading glasses sometimes. And those glasses make him look so smart! :)
- The woman who was crying and shaking back on the first day in the trucks was sent home, along with more people, including a bunch of experienced ones...they are dropping like flies out there.
- He heard today that there used to be a driving simulator, but the students trashed and destroyed it. I thought they could only do that to "real" trucks, but I was wrong.
- An instructor told him that he has personally witnessed people get so nervous that they throw up, pass out or even have a heart attack! What a job that must be!
- They all get excited when they see any pretty office ladies walk through, because they are surrounded by "truck driver-looking" people all day. And I think it kind of smells like a locker room there now. Well that doesn't sound very appealing, does it?
- One guy is getting some flack for sucking his thumb, while making sucking noises and with his finger up his nose. What???!!! That surprised me, but we all have issues, so we shouldn't judge. No snarky comments please, I heard he's a nice guy.
- A Muslim roommate (one of the new guys) left the school. I just don't see how it would work to operate on the school (or driving) schedule and stop to pray at certain times, etc. Maybe it's possible, I don't know. No racist/hateful comments please!
That's it for day 11.
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.
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
by rbradyjohnsen
Well, I spoke to Randy for nearly an hour last night about his first full day at truck driving school, and it was a 12-hour marathon starting at 7 am.
by rbradyjohnsen
Well, it's been one week since Randy left for CDL training, and what a week it's been. It went by fast for him, it felt more like a month to me.
by rbradyjohnsen
We're into the second week of trucking school and things are still moving along very quickly! They are getting ready for their driving test very soon.
by rbradyjohnsen
As hard as you think becoming a truck driver will be, it's even harder. I've lost ten pounds from the stress of CDL training in the past few weeks.
by rbradyjohnsen
Ten days into CDL training and the fast pace continues. They are driving more, but the quizzes and the pressure of their CDL training continues.
by rbradyjohnsen
Randy took his driving test at CDL school today and called me with the results. I was up all night emailing unemployment records for his company.
by rbradyjohnsen
Truck driving school is filled with anxiety and tension. Passing his road test has Randy feeling quite relieved and anxious to begin road training.
by rbradyjohnsen
Truck driver training is always filled with a lot of pressure and uncertainty. That is what has made his accomplishments so special.
by rbradyjohnsen
Almost three weeks into truck driving school and this CDL training is high pressure and intense. It's difficult, and there's a lot to deal with.
by rbradyjohnsen
This is what I've learned from the perspective I've gained as my husband went through the classroom training in truck driving school.
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