Drivingschool

[johnday]

This seemed like the spot, so here goes.
I started truckdriving training school today. Yep, you read that right. As of the 1st of Sept, i'm ridding myself of being someones boy of 28 years. I felt it got to point that you weren't even trusted with a little $30K pickup. I'm now the same person, and anyone of the 3 companies I'm looking at, either give you a top of the line Frieghtliner or Peterbilt, plus the trailer, plus the cargo, and actually entrust you with it with less than 3 month's experience. Something wrong with the picture of my former tenure.
Anyway, enough whining. We spent this morning watching videos on what is on the Temporary Instruction Permit test. Then we got our DOT physicals. Then after lunch, we took practice tests for the permit. So far, so good. Out of 120 questions, I missed 6. The first 2 weeks are spent in class, then you move to the yard for handling practice. That's backing up, straight and into an alley. Daily pretrip inspections, and a couple other things. Then the fourth and final week, you're on the road for 40 hours, take your state CDL class A written and roadtest, then I are a truckdriver. I've been talking to Schnieder, TMC [flatbeds], and Maverick[straight flatbeds and covered wagons] TMC and Maverick I can get regional. That means hometime on the weekends, and home some nights.

See, I haven't lost interest in FF, just really cranking between things.

 

[Melensdad]

Hey John, I wondered why you have been so quite lately.

Now we know.

One of my best friends from college had parents who were long haul drivers for United Van Lines. They loved the lifestyle. As a husband & wife driving team, with college age & adult children they had very little reason to keep a house (but they did have a small home) and got to see the country while doing their job.

 

[Doc]

Congrats John. You know what you want and your going after it. Good for you. Best of luck with the school and everything beyond.

Doc

 

[Mith]

John, pretty darn good in the test if you ask me
Good job, and good luck!

 

[bczoom]

Sounds great John!!!

Out of curiosity, can I ask what it costs to attend these classes to get a CDL?

I've been pondering getting one for awhile. Not planning on driving an 18-wheeler but could use it for driving dump trucks and such.

 

[BoneheadNW]

John, sounds great. Now you need a laptop so that you can tune in to FF at the truck stops. You can be our man on the road!
Bone

 

[DaveNay]

That's great John! We'll have to get you all gussied up with mobile internet and a nice laptop so you can stay connected to FF while on the road!

Also, don't forget to schedule your routes so that all of us here in the midwest can take you out to dinner when you are in our areas.

 

[DaveNay]

I've been pondering getting one for awhile. Not planning on driving an 18-wheeler but could use it for driving dump trucks and such.

Brian, I also thought about getting a CDL just to have it "in case", but keep in mind the B.A.C. rules are zero tolerance. I was told this includes while driving a passenger vehicle, if you are stopped with only a single drink on your breath, it can affect your CDL.

This is what I was told, I have no direct experience, and it may vary from state to state.

 

[XeVfTEUtaAqJHTqq]

Wait a second! Are we sure we want John behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler? I mean one nice looking heard of sheep and we are looking at a big traffic accident!


I have no doubt John will pass the test since I doubt there's a psychological analysis component!

John, how was the physical? Did you have to drink a gallon of coffee and sit in a chair for three hours? Or do they see how far you can throw a yellow juice bottle while driving 55 mph?

C'mon guys we can't let him off that easily.

 

[BoneheadNW]

Also, don't forget to schedule your routes so that all of us here in the midwest can take you out to dinner when you are in our areas.

That includes us here in the northwest. Maybe you could stop and visit Mith too, er.....nix that idea.
Bone

 

[DaveNay]

C'mon guys we can't let him off that easily.

Ah, breaker one-nine, this heres the rubber duck. you gotta copy on me, pig pen, cmon? ah, yeah, 10-4, pig pen, fer shure, fer shure. by golly, its clean clear to flag town, cmon. yeah, that
Big 10-4 there, pig pen, yeah, we definitely got the front door, good buddy. mercy sakes alive, looks like we got us a convoy...

Was the dark of the moon on the sixth of june
In a kenworth pullin logs
Cab-over pete with a reefer on
And a jimmy haulin hogs
We is headin for bear on i-one-oh
bout a mile outta shaky town
I says, pig pen, this heres the rubber duck.
And Im about to put the hammer down.

cause we got a little convoy
Rockin through the night.
Yeah, we got a little convoy,
Aint she a beautiful sight?
Come on and join our convoy
Aint nothin gonna get in our way.
We gonna roll this truckin convoy
cross the u-s-a.
Convoy!

Ah, breaker, pig pen, this heres the duck. and, you wanna back off them hogs? yeah, 10-4, bout five mile or so. ten, roger. them hogs is gettin in-tense up here.

By the time we got into tulsa town,
We had eighty-five trucks in all.
But theys a roadblock up on the cloverleaf,
And them bears was wall-to-wall.
Yeah, them smokies is thick as bugs on a bumper;
They even had a bear in the air!
I says, callin all trucks, this heres the duck.
We about to go a-huntin bear.

cause we got a great big convoy
Rockin through the night.
Yeah, we got a great big convoy,
Aint she a beautiful sight?
Come on and join our convoy
Aint nothin gonna get in our way.
We gonna roll this truckin convoy
cross the u-s-a.
Convoy!

Ah, you wanna give me a 10-9 on that, pig pen? negatory, pig pen; youre still too close. yeah, them hogs is startin to close up my sinuses. mercy sakes, you better back off another ten.

Well, we rolled up interstate 44
Like a rocket sled on rails.
We tore up all of our swindle sheets,
And left em settin on the scales.
By the time we hit that chi-town,
Them bears was a-gettin smart:
Theyd brought up some reinforcements
From the illinoise national guard.
Theres armored cars, and tanks, and jeeps,
And rigs of evry size.
Yeah, them chicken coops was fulla bears
And choppers filled the skies.
Well, we shot the line and we went for broke
With a thousand screamin trucks
An eleven long-haired friends a jesus
In a chartreuse micra-bus.

Ah, rubber duck to sodbuster, come over. yeah, 10-4, sodbuster? lissen, you wanna put that micra-bus right behind that suicide jockey? yeah, hes haulin dynamite, and he needs all the help he can get.

Well, we laid a strip for the jersey shore
And prepared to cross the line
I could see the bridge was lined with bears
But I didnt have a dog-goned dime.
I says, pig pen, this heres the rubber duck.
We just aint a-gonna pay no toll.
So we crashed the gate doing ninety-eight
I says let them truckers roll, 10-4.

cause we got a mighty convoy
Rockin through the night.
Yeah, we got a mighty convoy,
Aint she a beautiful sight?
Come on and join our convoy
Aint nothin gonna get in our way.
We gonna roll this truckin convoy
cross the u-s-a.

Convoy! ah, 10-4, pig pen, whats your twenty?
Convoy! omaha? well, they oughta know what to do with them hogs out there fer shure. well, mercy
Convoy! sakes, good buddy, we gonna back on outta here, so keep the bugs off your glass and the bears off your...
Convoy! tail. well catch you on the flip-flop. this heres the rubber duck on the side.
Convoy! we gone. bye,bye.

 

[johnday]

Sounds great John!!!

Out of curiosity, can I ask what it costs to attend these classes to get a CDL?

I've been pondering getting one for awhile. Not planning on driving an 18-wheeler but could use it for driving dump trucks and such.

Brian, the class I'm taking is for class A CDL. It's 160 hours, and does qualify you for Class B, or straight trucks. It cost me $4200, but it's something I've been looking at for many years. The dump trucks, I'm not sure what the great State of Pennslyvania requires. The best bet would be to call your Sec of State office to find out. Or even call call a driving school. When I go in tommorow I'll try to find out what it is for Michigan, Penn is probably close to, if not the same. I can say, in Mich. You can drive any vehicle if it's gross is less than 26,001 pounds, unless it's commercial. That's how I've been getting by with the SuperDude and flatbed. Combined the weight is only 20,800 on that. I think you may be able to get a dump and rate it for 26000 or less, and you may not need anything.

 

[johnday]

10,000 comedians out of work, and you guys are still practicing.
Thanks for the support guys, and I especially like the idea of "Dinners Across the USA"

Yup, I plan on getting a laptop for my use, to keep up with you guys, and emails.
I WILL have to contain myself around sheep farms, I think they make drugs for that.

Today, we spent all day going thru more testing, 8 solid hours worth. Go back in tommorow until 1100 for more practice tests. Then we go the Sec of State office to write for our Temporary Instructional Permits, so we can start with some hands on. There's a lot about these machines I wasn't aware of, especially the airbrake systems. But once you go on break and take a look, it makes much more sense.
2 days down, and I still like it.

Dave, where the crap did you dig "Convoy" up from, man it's been 30 years since I saw that one!!
Thanks again guys

 

[johnday]

PB, the phsical was real easy. Jan just helped me study for it for about an hour Sunday. And you're right, it WAS a good thing there was no physicatric thing there. They were safe on that one!

 

[OhioTC18]

John,
Glad to see you're liking it so far.

 

[johnday]

Thanks Jerry!!

 

[XeVfTEUtaAqJHTqq]

PB, the phsical was real easy. Jan just helped me study for it for about an hour Sunday. And you're right, it WAS a good thing there was no physicatric thing there. They were safe on that one!

Sounds like you are having fun. I've always wanted to drive a big rig but doubt I'll ever get to.

Good luck!

PB

 

[BoneheadNW]

PB, when John heads to our area, we will have to all get together for a celebration.

John, maybe you could get yourself one of those sheepskin covers for your seatbelt. That could help you get through the cravings (or make it worse).
Bone

 

[XeVfTEUtaAqJHTqq]

PB, when John heads to our area, we will have to all get together for a celebration.

John, maybe you could get yourself one of those sheepskin covers for your seatbelt. That could help you get through the cravings (or make it worse).
Bone

Yup, the first NW forumsforums meeting! Sounds like fun!

 

[johnday]

If I get to Washington, we'll make it happen somehow.

Well, I'm at least a partial success! I passed my exam for the chaufers part of the license, then passed the exam for the Temporary Instruction Permit for Class A. I missed 6 questions out of 95. But the ones I missed, I mismarked. Woe is me, alas. Now I can go out in the yard next week and wreak destruction.

We had a guy from Stevens Transport there today. It's sorta funny how everyone of these trucking companies is the best in everything. Stevens pulls reefers in all 48 plus Canada. It didn't sound bad at all, as in too good. But I must admit, I did pick up a few things. 100% no touch loads, 95% drop and hook. Looks like there, is all I have to do aim the truck down the road.

Wasn't, or isn't someone here a driver? Seems I remember someone, but can't recall.

 

[OhioTC18]

Great job John

 

[LarryRB]

I was an owner operator a month short of 18 years.. Most schools are good as far as classroom and basic manuevers in a rig.,. I haven't seen one yet, that teaches basic business practices in owning and operating or just operating for another owner.,.. New England tractor trailer in Enfiled CT, I was a part time instructor there.. I had the only rig with two seats.. In other words,, I would take out one person at a time,, almost all of them screwed up big time because they were put in a cab over sleeper, bunk removed and replaced with large seat so they took at least four people at a time..... They were extreme nervous and embarrassed at their skills in front of other students. Anyway, I'd spend 2 to 3 hours per person and take 3 people each day.. When they returned to campus,, they did allright whether 1 person or 4 in that cab over,. The owner of the school came out on a Saturday and told me to only allow one hour tops, for each student.. He wanted turn over of people.... Money, money, and more money..... I walked away and never returned. Luckily., I would see 3 of those students in past years, all asking why I walked away.. All 3 were forced to take 3 road tests, all claim they did the same thing over and over,,, on the third try, they all passed... Again, a money game.. At least with this one driving school.

 

[johnday]

Larry, are you still driving?

 

[Cityboy]

Hey John...Have fun trucking and try not to hit anybody with a Trucker Bomb!

http://media.bonnint.net/slc/16/1615/161561.jpg?filter=ksl/story_big

Tonya Papanikolas Reporting
Littering is taking on a disgusting meaning across some of the state's highways. The Department of Transportation says truckers and other drivers are throwing out what they refer to as "Trucker Bombs" on the side of the roads.
It's costing taxpayers and creating dangers for those who have to clean it up. These "trucker bombs" are often filled with human waste. Drivers are dropping them off in Parleys Canyon, along US 6 and I-80 out near Wendover.
UDOT says it costs 2 to 3 million dollars to clean up the garbage every year. That's taxpayer money that could be going to fix potholes or make the roads safer.
If you pulled off the freeway coming down Parleys Canyon, you might notice a lot of garbage on the side of the road.
Nile Easton, UDOT Spokesman: "Right now we've only gone about a week between cleaning up, and it's already piling up."
And what's piling up isn't just empty bags and tossed out candy wrappers.
Nile Easton: "Our crews are really fed up this summer with having to clean up, I hate to say it, but urine bottles."
UDOT says its maintenance crews pick up over 20-thousand urine bottles a year from the state's roads. And that's not all they're cleaning.
Nile Easton: "Right now we've been finding a lot of ziploc bags full of urine, feces, drug paraphernalia, used needles, blood."
The Salt Lake Public Utilities office says they've been concerned about the waste for years because it's relatively close to streams that feed into Little Dell Reservoir. From there, water is treated to become drinking water.
Jeff Snelling, SL Public Utilities Watershed Manager: "There's bacteria and stuff that can be introduced with those type of things being put in our watershed."
The office says, so far they have seen no evidence of waste getting into the water, but that could change if the problem isn't dealt with.
Jeff Snelling: "We would ask the public and the trucking community to do what they can to help discourage these practices."
Nile Easton: "It's illegal, it's disgusting. And you know, it's a safety hazard."
UDOT is putting up fliers at rest areas telling drivers to dispose of their waste properly and letting people know where the rest stops are in the state.

 

[HGM]

I've had some dealings with Reliable Carriers, enclosed vehicle transport, and these guys/gals seem to have it made and love their jobs. I've met a couple that hasnt even been home in 6-8mo, as they live together seeing the country in the truck(HUGE sleeper, tractor alone must have been 30' long)..Sounded like a cool retirement job.. Anyhow, in case you'd like to look, I believe their based out of Michgan..

 

[johnday]

Ah geez CB, ya gotta do something for fun. It'll just be a "little" bottle!!

 

[Ice Queen]

Hey Johnday, good luck with the driving. I have held a Class one heavy goods licence for over 20 years - enabling me to drive a big rig, as you call it. We call it an artic. short for articulated lorry. My daughter has recently passed her class two, which means she can drive lorries, but with no trailer. She is about to take her class one, but she won't tell me when! I will keep you posted when I know her results. See which one of you gets the licence first!! It will be great, mother and daughter both licenced to drive 'big rigs'!

 

[johnday]

Ice, thanks! Hope she does well. I take my license exam Aug 11. I'm now in my 2nd week, and having a time beyond belief.
Today, we practiced straight line backing, and forward stop. I started this morning in a Freightliner, then went to Kenworth T-600 this afternoon. I had no problem with backing down at all. The forward stop, it took me 1 try to get that down. You have to stop with the front bumper within a 15" space. Once I got down where I needed to stop, I didn't miss the mark any more.
I am a little concerned about the alley dock. These 48' trailers turn pretty slow. But, I WILL suceed!

I've seen some of the UK's artic trucks first hand, and on some pretty narrow roads. You guys have some neat trucks.

 

[Ice Queen]

Johnday, I will be thinking of you on August 11th, I don't know when Zoe, my daughter does her exam, all I know it is soon. Just thought you might be interested to know that my late partner was a truck driver and drove abnormal loads. He drove a Mack ultraliner and I was mate with him. I have attached a painting I did of the lorry and one of the loads I was on with him, I did it from a photo that I took. It was my first acrylic, the only problem with it is, everyone thinks it is a photo!!

 

[Trakternut]

These 48' trailers turn pretty slow. But, I WILL suceed!
Johnday, just wait until you have to do the same manuvers with a 53-footer!!!