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Speed2u's School Journal Male, 40 years
Introduction Hi readers, My name is Jeff and I live in Florida. My background has been in the Welding Industry. From welder to small business owner I have covered many aspects of the trade. In the past few years I've explored some other career paths, graduated college (only took 8 yrs).......lol and became a licensed Real Estate Agent. None of these career options seemed to take me in the direction I wanted to go. I've always wanted to expand from my little sheltered world. I always knew trucking was an option, but had never given it serious consideration. I began my research about 3 months ago. Lots of information, many many websites I will share as they come to mind. My goals for trucking are simple 1. Travel 2. Income 3. Look for the next opportunity. In short, I've always been afraid of waking up and being 65 and have never been anywhere or done anything.
May 27, 2001
Monday and yes it is a holiday, good preparation for road life. Just to back up a little, left Florida on Saturday because I didn’t want to rush. Stopped in South Carolina for the night. Funny how when you’re sitting home the thought of travel and driving seems very exciting. Reality check, checked in a motel, strange city, don’t know anyone, don’t even know where the Wal-Mart is …………lol. Sunday arrive at motel in Charlotte about 3 pm; have to make sure I don’t miss the race. I’m still trying to figure out how to see the races while on the road. Unload everything for the 11-day training program.
Let me go through that quickly, 11 days straight training, 3 days off, back for 2 more weeks of training with weekends off. Take CDL test last day. Go out with trainer for 2 weeks, take a company skills test. Truck assigned. If I didn’t mention before I choose Schneider National after 2 months of good research. I know I’ll have to share my room, so I also await the arrival of my roommate, hoping that I get someone compatible. Which as it turns out I did. Since I’m writing a few days behind, I can tell you not all were as luck. We talk about our backgrounds, how we got to this place in time. Decided on space arrangements, after all we will be here for 11 days.
Ok, now were in school, 7 am and everyone sitting in the class taking a survey of each other. At this point were all good little students, our personalities still unknown. Fill out paper work; big companies generate lots of this stuff. The instructor is a man named Berry, good fellow, sets the class ground rules right away, which sets the expectation level. Books are passed out, I’d say it’s the Schneider bible, good info, covers everything from equipment checks to sick time. Class is lots of information, things you will need to know and just a get settled in day. Did have an open book quiz at the end of the day. Overall it was a good day.
May 28, 2002
Tuesday starts with meeting our instructor, and the students that will be in our group, It’s suppose to be 3 students to 1 instructor. I again get lucky. Only Mike and myself. We are both from Florida so that’s just another positive as I see it. Our instructor is George, he wastes no time getting started, you can tell he’s a good instructor. To make a long story short, George had just come off vacation and while he was gone the sold his training truck. So he was upset but never let it affect his attitude toward us. We start out with just the tractor, pulled out and went to a small industrial area. There we became accustomed to shifting, braking, using the mirrors and turning radius. After much grinding and sudden stops we started to get the feel for the tractor.
After lunch we went and hooked up a trailer…….now I was surprised at this because we had all of 4 hrs experience at this point. Well I found that the trailer actually helped smooth things out. Seems the weight makes the tractor work smoother. All the trailers had about 26,000 pounds in them. So at the industrial park we did all right hand turns, which are the hardest because it’s is your blind side. Left is considered your sight side. The goal here is to control your right side so no cars cut inside of you during your turn. We both picked up the skills very quickly. The day ended around 5:30. Guess I should mention the bus picks us up at 6:15 am and 6:00 pm so the days are pretty much 12 hours. Homework is not to bad, for me it’s required no more then an hour each night
May 29, 2002
Wednesday started with a pre –trip demo, this is a required check of all your equipment both on the tractor and trailer. At which we headed out on the surface streets. The driving today consisted of varied street conditions, from narrow two lane roads to divided highways. Traffic situations and different types of turns. This can be a very stressful time. There are points when you make a mistake and everything you learned goes out the window. You can’t find the gears, stall the truck, or a number of things can happen. At this stage one can begin to second guess if they’re capable of being a driver. Not to worry the feeling is normal and will soon pass. Driving was about 75 miles each for today. I might mention since day 1 we have been keeping a logbook, even as a student we have to meet the DOT requirement for current logbook. It is pretty easy to do but it’s a habit skill, you have to learn to always keep it current. The day ended with backing in the yard and uncoupling the trailer. Also learned today that for the next 2 days we come in at 3am to meet the night driving requirement………..:0(
May 30, 2002
Thursday morning and I mean early………….night driving……..there is a few more skills involved but over all it’s pretty easy, watch the mirror looking for the rear marker lights. The basic trip consisted of about 5 right hand turns and 5 left. They were all a different type of turn also, since the idea is to make you recognize what type of maneuver is required for that intersection. Day light driving was more of the same, at this point your are becoming less nervous when something goes wrong. I make a mistake but my time to recover is much quicker now. Also as I learn more I can focus on the area I’m weak in.
Today we picked up a 3rd person, which means now our driving time is reduced 1/3. Can’t say were to thrilled with that, but that’s just life. At the school all the talk is about how everyone is doing. Were all starting to know each other a little more and talk among ourselves. Should mention that the lunch is provided each day, however it’s a box lunch and consist of a sandwich, salad, fruit or cake and a drink. To be honest I’m sick of them already. Since food is sort of second right now I’ll keep eating them. Should mention that breakfast is the hotel continental variety.
May 31, 2002
Friday much like Thursday, same 3am deal. Some day driving and then into the backing yard for some practice in straight line and 45 degree backing. Our instructor gives us the goals, how to achieve them and what to look for in each maneuver. This is not real hard once you now how to set up the unit, what the reaction will be for each move you make on the wheel. Straight line backing requires little from the driver; hardest thing is to keep from doing anything. Need almost no input to be successful. 45 degree backing is not bad if you set up good. We were all able to made the back with no more then one pull up.
June 1, 2002
Saturday is changed, was suppose to be full day, but there is a company picnic so it’s only half day. Not to fear our ½ day Sunday is now a full day. Today was all classroom and live demos. Learned about proper lifting, yes you will lift, unload and perhaps even load a trailer someday. Had a short test on the material, and then off to learn how to enter and exit a trailer. Inside we did some proper lifting and carrying of boxes and pallets. Next came a demo of raising a cab on a cab over tractor, how to enter and exit this unit. All designed to allow you to work safely. We then learned how to slide the fifth wheel plate and tandems on the trailer, this is important to weight distribution. The last thing for the day was operation of a powered pallet jack. We made required safe operation of the unit, which is a pre inspection check of the unit, controls and safety features. Then move a loaded pallet from point A to B in a safe manner. After completing this you are issued a card, which allows you to operate the lift at a receivers dock, if they allow it. Took a much needed nap, study some material and tonight will go for some R&R. Just wouldn’t be right to be in North Carolina and not take in a local Stock Car race, so it’s off to Concord Motor sports Park.
June 2, 2002 Sunday and it’s a full day due to the company picnic yesterday. 1/2 day class and the other half in the backing yard. A word about the class portion of the program. The material is presented in a very clear step by step manner. It does require one to pay attention, but there is no reason to feel lost or behind. Testing material is covered in detail and if you do have a problem with any concepts the instructors are available for extra help. In addition the driving instructors are trained on the class material and can also answer any questions. Tests up to this point have been open book, no excuse not to pass them. Not sure about the final yet…..but should not be a problem. Over in the backing yard we work on 45 degree and straight line backing, slow maneuvers which is pulling through 2 parked trailers, backing through them and then exiting the area. It’s set in such a manner that you have limited space to complete the moves. My guess is on the road this will be a common practice since most docks are of limited room. Homework for the evening was trip planning. Sounds pretty simple…..point A to B. Well it is until you add the factors of route miles, log book time, fuel and rest stops, low clearance, ect. All factors have to be taken in to consideration when planning each trip. Not to worry because they have flow charts and forms that guide you through each step. All that being said…..were starting to get run down a little. It’s amazing how drained you get from the mental stress. The bright side is each day my driving improves and I’m closer to completing this phase. June 3, 2002 Monday has come and gone. Pretty good day, half class, half driving. There is usually a test each day that covers the material taught. Hate to admit this but I blew my perfect test scores, one of the tests today I scored a 95. While it’s not the end of the world I was upset with myself, remember all open book, no excuse for missing a question. Driving is getting much better, gear selection improving, timing on when and what gear is something that comes with time and practice. Almost get a feel for what your truck will and will not do. As each skill gets better you can shift your focus to other areas. There is a big difference in driving a tractor trailer. Turns alone require you to decided what type of intersection, how much room you need, where other cars are, how they affect your turn. There is a lot to think about when your driving. Thankfully my instructor is great, he’s been great to learn from, very straight forward and honest. You screw up and he looks over and says “ now what you going to do.” That works great for me cause I need to figured out what to do and not depend on him to bail me out. Well that’s it for today.
June 4, 2002
Tuesday and I’m on night shift, not my favorite schedule, but hey I can do anything for 11 days. Class was good, homework not to bad, getting into tri planning more, learned about cargo, what were responsible for, the papers needed for shipment, theft prevention, all the things related to your safe transport of the freight. After isn’t that the primary purpose of the business. Funny we get focused on driving and forget our job is to transport goods safely. Driving went well, mistake ratio is declining rapidly. I’m still wore out by the time I exit the truck……..lol. Just a few more days then we get some much needed R&R. I’ve got about a 600 mile ride home so my 3 days off isn’t going to seem very long. I should mention not everyone makes it through school, we have lost about 5 people. Some just can’t grasp either the driving part or the school part. Both are needed to be successful, don’t do any good to be a driver but can’t find your way to the receiver, or be good on paper but hit everything in sight……lol. For me it’s been harder in the truck then the class. My driving is ok, although I would like it to be better, perhaps more then is realistic. Anyhow can’t be successful if you never try.
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