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Arnold's School Journal Male, 32 years young
Introduction
My name is Arnold. I've wanted to be a truck driver ever since I was a little boy. I remember taking trips to W. Virginia and seeing all the big rigs on the road, all the while my dad had T. McCall's "Convoy" playing in the tape deck. I also remember hearing "6 Days on the Road" a lot too. After various management jobs with different companies and a stint rebuilding transmissions, I came to my current dead end job, stocking groceries at a local Bi-Lo. This job came about after nearly breaking off my foot with a tranny out of a Ford F350 4x4. My disability rating prevents me from picking up anything over 200#'s. Most trannys weigh at least that much.
Any way, I missed the big pay checks, and started looking at other job options, and trucking came up. Long haul is what I want to do. But I didn't know how my wife would feel about it. I kind of casually mentioned it and she asked how much could you make? I showed her the numbers. She approved on one condition, I must call EVERY night, and NO lot lizards! Since I love my wife, this was an easy compromise to accept. I'll be starting my training in about a week, wish me luck!
First Week.
The first day at school was basically filling out more paperwork for the first 4-5 hours. It took this long because the instructors could only see one at a time, although there is only eleven of us, afterwards we all went to lunch. When we got back it was time to start cramming, and I mean CRAMMING, all that CDL info into our brains. After school ended at 5:00,I checked into the hotel and went to sleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow.
The second day was more of the same, cramming for the CDL test. Some of us also needed to see the doctor for our DOT physicals. Passed my physical and drug screen with no problem. I learned a lot and could see some students struggling to keep up. Myself and other students tried to help those having trouble keeping up.
Third day; time to take the CDL permit test! We all drove 45 minutes(!) to the place we would be taking the test. The school chose this location because they aren't computerized yet. The test is still on paper. Giving you the chance to change your answers if needed. I just took it and turned it in after making sure I answered all the questions. Some did change some answers, but ended up changing right answers to wrong ones, and failing the exam. One student failed the eye test and couldn't even take the test. Out of eleven, only two of us passed. I was one of the two, thankfully.
Fourth day; I grossly underestimated my living funds for this week, had to borrow 10 dollars from a secretary at school so I could eat and put some gas in my Mustang. I've been calling my wife every night and she was aware of my financial woes, Western Unioned me 50 bucks. Myself and the others (a couple of guys already had CDL's) that passed, had to sit through more CDL review. I thought this was a waste of my time, and I should be on the "field" learning some straight backing. But I understand the instructors want us to stick together as a class. Friday, last day of the week; FINALLY get to pre-trip and drive a truck. While the others went to take their CDL test again. I got to drive the "Terminator" an old c.o.e Pete. Straight backing was pretty easy for me to learn, pulling around and setting up for a straight back, now that's a completely different monster all together. But I soon got the hang of it and moved on to the 90*, or blind backing. This was a little harder, but I did it on the second try. The instructor told me most students don't get this till the second week. After doing this a few times, my tooth ache finally got to me and I asked to leave early. My tooth had been hurting all week, and I had been taking Motrins like they were candy. I thought I could drive home in time to catch a dentist. I found one Saturday, and all he did was give me some antibiotics and told me to come back in a week. Guess it absessed. It still hurts like the dickens, but I'll "grin and bear it" next week. Until next week then.
Disaster!!
This should be my 3rd week of training, but there was some kind of thing with the finance companies that sent EVERYONE home last week! From what I've been hearing, a lot of training centers are shutting down temporarily because of this. So I've spent the past week looking for other alternatives. I quit my job to pursue this venture, so I had to do something, and quick! I saw an ad in last Sunday's paper for CR England. I went to see the recruiter and asked him a lot of questions (Thanks Newbie Truck Driver for the help!). I'll be going to their training facility in Spartanburg SC on the 10th.After about two weeks there, I'll be assigned a trainer for 25,000 miles (about 4-6 weeks) and then, if I pass that, I'll be sent to Salt Lake City, Utah for advanced training. This is where they assign me my own truck. I won't be able to update this for some time, but I'll be keeping a written journal, and will update from that when I can. Wish me luck guy's and gal's, see you when I can. Oh, BTW, I can't wait to bring my truck home, it'll bug the crap out of one of my snobby neighbors, the one that's always calling the cops because my dogs bark. Isn't that what they're supposed to do? Later.
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