July 6, 2001

Apologies to everyone for not getting this journal going earlier. I lost the web address....received another one and lost it too. I will make the most perfect truck driver.....for I am always lost!

My first week in driving school was busy...a lot of homework....but I enjoyed it. It consisted of the instructor reading the truck manual to me...I was the only student! He wasted more time fiddling with the overhead projector and fighting to get the stencils out of his binder...the holes were not lined up properly....man oh man...this was going to be a long course. I learned a lot that first week...but the most important thing I learned was to contain my laughter...you see my instructor was a BIG guy...I do mean BIG! He was forever dropping things on the floor and would have to bend over to retrieve whatever it was he dropped......well....his pants would come down and you could see the crack in his butt......I went home everyday with a pain in my side.....from trying not to laugh. Basically the first week was classroom only and because I had been to 2 other professional driving schools (but did not finish them) the classroom work was pretty stale for me.......thank goodness for the butt crack...or I might have died from boredom!!!

Now the second week...gets more interesting. In cab training......pre-trip inspections.....air brakes. Now here was something I could finally get into big time.....except...my instructor thought I was there to look at the underneath of the truck more than anything else......I spent more time under that freakin truck than in it......pull on this...poke at that....all great for him...he was standing beside the truck giving the orders and poor old LadyT (that's me) was crawling around in the mud under the truck. Forgot to tell you it was cold...rainy and windy for the whole length of the course. I would go home at night either with my hair all matted from the mud...or if it hadn't rained that day...then I would have gravel in my hair. I think the instructor was pushing me.....just to see how much I would take....well.....in front of him...man...LadyT was gung ho......but the minute I was out of sight of the school the tears flowed like there was no end to them....I will honestly say...there was not 1 day during the remaining weeks that I didn't say...to he** with this...I am not going back tomorrow.....but I did.....I figured the next day couldn't get any worse...but each day I was wrong...they did get worse. Well if I had bad days...I am sure my instructor will remember this one....of course...once again I was under the truck...checking to see if the brakes were in adjustment.....the instructor was in the cab...well that air dryer thingy purged directly over my face......I came out from under that truck like grease lightning.....my heart was pumping.....I let go a few.....OK......a lot of very unlady like words.....but I never did have to go back crawling under the freakin truck again.

The school that I went to in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada was a new school with ties to a large trucking company......LadyT had the distinction of being their very first student...in my books....first guinea pig!! The training truck was a 96 Pete....15 speed......to get that sucker to shift...LadyT almost had to get on her knees and pray. The truck had sat unused for 2 yrs but the safety had been renewed on it...more likely rubber stamped if you know what I mean. Not only was it next to impossible to shift....air leaked from the spring parking brake valve.....we had no clearance lights on the trailer.....a horrible vibration in the right front wheel (took 13 weights and an alignment to correct).....a hole in left brake hose......drive tires were next to no tread.......windshield wiper arm felt off driving down the highway during a heavy rain......wires dangled in the cab from a CB that had been removed.......we had no safety triangles........the fire extinguisher rolled up under my feet....its bracket was broken....many other things that didn't work or fell off.

We mostly did highway driving.....because I had this terrible fear of city driving.....and after my run in with the air purger....I think my instructor was afraid of me......so whenever he said today we ARE driving in the city.......I would give him a look....and he would say...and then again maybe NOT!!!!. I loved highway driving. Well the week ended....I went home cried all weekend.......I wasn't learning anything...he** I still couldn't even shift and there was only one week left before my road test.

Third week........I slowly dragged myself off to school....my heart was heavy.....I felt stupid. I get to school......the instructor was on the phone trying to arrange for another instructor for the day...apparently he was being moved from being an instructor to the logistics dept and he had a special interview that day......so eventually a nice old guy comes over from the main building....my new instructor for the day.......well we get in the truck.......I don't know if my Irish stubborn streak came through or if I froze....but there was no way in he** LadyT was going out driving...I felt betrayed...throwing this new instructor at me.......SO....we sat in the truck......when I get really upset...I don't talk.....I just look straight ahead.......but he was so nice....he said it was ok....I said......I quit......he said...ok.....so we sat a bit longer.....he said .....well let me drive for a bit.....then if you feel better maybe you can try.......he drove about half an hour.......stopped on the shoulder of the highway......well ok I said....but the first time I screw up....that's it....no more. That was one of my best driving days so far. My problem was that I couldn't shift.....but the other instructor just let it go......so this old guy (I will love him forever) taught me how to shift.....how not to be afraid of the brake. I even drove the truck back into the city to the school compound and backed it into its spot.......something I would never try before. I went home feeling better that day....but I still wasn't going back the next day.....no freakin way!!!!!

Of course I did go back....but what the he**........my first instructor was there and ANOTHER new instructor..........BUT....this new instructor was one from one of my previous schools. Well by now....LadyT's panic mode was in full alarm.......we get in the truck...which had been parked in a tight spot that would require me to back it up blindside......yeah right...as if that was going to happen...not in this lifetime it wasn't!!!! So...there we sat......LadyT staring straight ahead......not talking....when I get really angry I bite my lip......well I was at the point of drawing blood.......Irish tempers can get really mean. Well......my new instructor ( I will love him for ever too) .......talked soft and low...telling me that I could do it and that he was right there and he wouldn't let hit anything when I backed up....lets just put it in reverse....good...now lets just try a tiny bit...see you can do it. I always think of that moment as being a jumper getting talked down off a ledge........he was so sly! I drove out of the city...to the highway......spent all day on the highway...then back to the city through heavy traffic......he never stopped talking......all day he talked quietly...calmly and never once showed any emotion over little mistakes....man....I figured they should bottle this guy and sell him to the highest bidder! The rest of the week...I drove in heavy city traffic....never once on the highway......clutch...shift...brake........all day........I ached all over....I could barely walk when I got out of the truck.........and so it went everyday like that. At night I had leg cramps so bad...I couldn't sleep....my tears were not from failure now...they were from pain........heavy duty pain. I had the backing down pat.......thanks to this magician of an instructor......I felt I could whupp the world!!!

Test day #1...........Pre-trip...air brake excellent......just about cleaned a fence leaving the test center....then obstructed traffic leaving the parking lot.......lost a gear (automatic fail). It wasn't because I didn't know what to do.....but I was SO nervous......ok...another day.

The instructor called for another test appt........next day 10 am........oh man......I was still shaking from the last one.

Test day # 2......Pre-trip.....air brake excellent.......stalled the truck doing the brake stop check......took too much of a lane before making a turn........lost the same freakin gear......at the same intersection as the day before (automatic fail)........back to the test center......that's it, I can't take this anymore. I drove for the rest of the day ...practicing shifting and lane changes...tears in my eyes.......the instructor talking in his cool calm way....all day.......man this guy.....doesn't know when to stop....but it was calming.

Test day # 3.....Pre-trip....air brake excellent.........backed in between the cones, best ever!! Did the pull out but drove too far out from the cones......the tester literally yelled at me to get out and have a look....he ranted a bit.....I asked him if I failed because of it...he said no...lets go.........I ripped open my door to get back in......thinking.....you $&^$%%$.......you aren't going to get the best of LadyT.......my nervousness disappeared.............replaced by pure Irish temper..........I PASSED!!!!!!!!

So...hey.....now I figured.....the hard part was behind me....oh yeah....right........NO!!!

I have been out of school for almost 2 months........I had a call from a company.....passed the written test...passed the road test...passed the drug test...told to report for orientation the next day......within an hour I got a phone call.......that the trainer I was going to be assigned to needed to take personal time off.

I had another interview (arranged over the phone)...went down to do the tests like asked...get there and they say...sorry for wasting your time our only female trainer doesn't want to train any longer.

I have sent out numerous resumes..........I live sort of in a bible belt area....where all good women stay home and bake cookies.......so I am sure my lack of finding employment is because I am female and I am 50 yrs old.

But things are looking up......Yanke has me on their list for a trainer for the fall......and I am working with a recruiter from Schneider National on relocating to Ontario to go to their training school.

The job will happen......just a matter of time!!

Would I do over again?..........Oh man...you betcha......in a heartbeat....because I am

LadyT....to know me.........is to love me

July 16, 2001

Well....I have been out of school exactly 2 months to the day.....LadyT got an O/O trainer today. The company is out of Winnipeg, Manitoba....my starting date is the end of July. The truck is a 97 Pete (big front)......I love those trucks.

I'll let you know how I make out.......I mean how my training progresses.....now LadyT...behave yourself!! I worked so very hard getting through school...had a terrible time finding a job...but now it is all coming together for me.........I am happy.