6/25 – 6/29
Another week finished. I’ll just condense it all down to one post.
The guy that bailed out last Friday came back this Monday and stood around for an hour then bailed again. He won’t be back. Another fellow, an older guy who was a driver some years back had car problems and will reschedule. They will let him return because he was already a good driver. Then a young fellow, after two days of backing, just got worse. He just couldn’t do it. I’ll say right here, this is a short three week course. If you can’t catch on quickly you will be holding back the class and the pressure gets turned up making it harder to learn. I’m sorry for him because he really wanted it bad and would have been a good employee. Everyone says, some are natural and born for truck driving, some can learn and some just won’t ever be able to do it. The class is down to three now.
I was able to get the backing down on the first day. We only did straight backs, ally dock and parallel parking that whole day because of the guy who couldn’t get it. We did the off sets and blind side parallel the next day but to me it’s all the same. Just get used to the reaction time to steering, set it up to get straight and keep your foot off of the clutch.
We did a lot of riding around Georgia again, now with a trailer. We drove lots of narrow twisty highways and some good grades, (going to Alabama to get a tater) which required the jake brake. We also drove in some good rain. I’m still not shifting well. I didn’t think that would be my problem but it is. Greg says I’m thinking about it to much and I’ve learned he knows what he is talking about. Still, he says we are the easiest class he has had in a while and that includes me so I’m sure I’ll be OK.
I go back Monday but we have the 4th off so the week is shortened by one day. Unless I do something stupid, graduation is Friday. Then the following Monday I sign on with Millis and start orientation. I’m not sure why but that takes three days. I asked to be picked up by a trainer on the following Sunday, the 15th. It will be another seven days after that before I get a paid. It's been a long dry spell.
Talking to the drivers that I have met there in Cartersville and from what Greg says there are three options for me. One is to drive dedicated on the Budweiser account. The other two are to drive OTR or regional which is basically the south east. Drivers tell me that the miles are about the same for OTR and regional but OTR has longer runs so you have to hustle a little more with regional. I’m most interested in regional because it’s easier to get home time.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
6/20, 6/21, 6/22
6/20, 6/21, 6/22
I’m home for the weekend so I can catch up for the week.
6/20
We spent the first half the day on Wednesday driving around the 500. We just went around slowly shifting up and down through the low range. I had no problem shifting up but grind them some shifting down, gotta watch those rpm. We spent the afternoon driving around in the country on two lanes. I made a mess of it. I haven’t learned the pattern yet using the range selector and some times forgot what gear I was in. Learning to get the pattern down and to get the feel for the engine and clutch, all while encountering traffic and rolling curving terrain was a lot of sensory input to take in. I understand how I learn though and while I only got 30 minutes in the driver’s seat, I will continue to assimilate the information for hours. The old Freightliner is a bit rough and the springs that center the shifter are shot so finding 2/7 and 3/8 is giving me some trouble. I was surprised how tense I was after 30 minutes driving.
6/21
We spent 7 hour in the class room going over chapter quizzes and watching tapes. It seamed like it was partly for gaining knowledge and partly to see who can stay awake through 7 hours of monotony. Finally we went out and did some coupling and un-coupling. That’s easy, just take care and check everything. BTW, did I say how bad te hotel sucks? Nice lobby but trashy grounds, trashy people around and a pool that looks like an e coli incubation lab.
6/22
Well we spent the whole day bobtailing around the beautiful rolling twisting two lane back roads of Georgia. I know the shift patterns now and can even skip shift but I still having trouble finding 2/7 and 3/8 with that worn out shifter. There sure is a lot going on when you are in coming to a small town with cars lining the sides of the road, signs every where, people crossing streets. I’m still grinding and grinning but it’s getting better. This is gonna get real interesting when there is a trailer back there. Gotta watch those rpm and shifting in the turns . Everyone in the class is doing well but one guy showed up this morning and then disappeared before we left. He said he had an emergency and will be back Monday.
A side bar; when I went up to the lobby of the hotel to get a bowl of stale cereal at 0600 the lady said that I just missed a big black bear walking through the parking lot. I guess he though the place sucks too because he didn’t stick around. I wish I could have seen that though.This week was a blast. Most of the class room stuff is over so we will be in a truck from now on. That’s what I need the most, time in the truck. Greg, our trainer is a lot of fun but that doesn’t mean he is a goof off. He is constantly advising and correcting without adding a lot of pressure. So far, so good.
I’m home for the weekend so I can catch up for the week.
6/20
We spent the first half the day on Wednesday driving around the 500. We just went around slowly shifting up and down through the low range. I had no problem shifting up but grind them some shifting down, gotta watch those rpm. We spent the afternoon driving around in the country on two lanes. I made a mess of it. I haven’t learned the pattern yet using the range selector and some times forgot what gear I was in. Learning to get the pattern down and to get the feel for the engine and clutch, all while encountering traffic and rolling curving terrain was a lot of sensory input to take in. I understand how I learn though and while I only got 30 minutes in the driver’s seat, I will continue to assimilate the information for hours. The old Freightliner is a bit rough and the springs that center the shifter are shot so finding 2/7 and 3/8 is giving me some trouble. I was surprised how tense I was after 30 minutes driving.
6/21
We spent 7 hour in the class room going over chapter quizzes and watching tapes. It seamed like it was partly for gaining knowledge and partly to see who can stay awake through 7 hours of monotony. Finally we went out and did some coupling and un-coupling. That’s easy, just take care and check everything. BTW, did I say how bad te hotel sucks? Nice lobby but trashy grounds, trashy people around and a pool that looks like an e coli incubation lab.
6/22
Well we spent the whole day bobtailing around the beautiful rolling twisting two lane back roads of Georgia. I know the shift patterns now and can even skip shift but I still having trouble finding 2/7 and 3/8 with that worn out shifter. There sure is a lot going on when you are in coming to a small town with cars lining the sides of the road, signs every where, people crossing streets. I’m still grinding and grinning but it’s getting better. This is gonna get real interesting when there is a trailer back there. Gotta watch those rpm and shifting in the turns . Everyone in the class is doing well but one guy showed up this morning and then disappeared before we left. He said he had an emergency and will be back Monday.
A side bar; when I went up to the lobby of the hotel to get a bowl of stale cereal at 0600 the lady said that I just missed a big black bear walking through the parking lot. I guess he though the place sucks too because he didn’t stick around. I wish I could have seen that though.This week was a blast. Most of the class room stuff is over so we will be in a truck from now on. That’s what I need the most, time in the truck. Greg, our trainer is a lot of fun but that doesn’t mean he is a goof off. He is constantly advising and correcting without adding a lot of pressure. So far, so good.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Back in the class room again
Back in the class room again. I feel like sleeping here tonight because the hotel room is so sorry. We got right to it and spent most of the day doing map reading, trip planning and log book exercises. It’s really a lot more difficult than I expected, especially with the crazy hours of service rules. Then we watched films about engines and transmissions. Tomorrow we get to start driving. We got a good rain so Maybe the Millis 500 won’t be so dusty.
Monday, June 18, 2007
It Starts
I’m in Cartersville for the first day training. The hotel they put us in is a dump. I’m in the lobby now because it’s nice but the rooms and the grounds are crap. There is no access point for the internet so I will do this in MS Word and post it later.
First, to add to the pre-class excitement, my oldest daughter informed me just before father’s day that I’m going to be a grandfather for the first time. Wow, my world is changing fast.
We met our instructor, Greg, and he seems to be a good guy. He had to use the first half of the day making sure that we had all of our papers in order, and collecting the balance of the $500 and laying out the weeks plan. We had seven students, one more student than he expected but one guy only had a class B permit so he went home. The instruction finally began covering industry overview, hours of service and log books. We ended the day with the assignment to go through the manual and complete all of the week one quizzes by Thursday.
One thing I can’t understand is that we don’t get to keep the manuals. Why is that?
First, to add to the pre-class excitement, my oldest daughter informed me just before father’s day that I’m going to be a grandfather for the first time. Wow, my world is changing fast.
We met our instructor, Greg, and he seems to be a good guy. He had to use the first half of the day making sure that we had all of our papers in order, and collecting the balance of the $500 and laying out the weeks plan. We had seven students, one more student than he expected but one guy only had a class B permit so he went home. The instruction finally began covering industry overview, hours of service and log books. We ended the day with the assignment to go through the manual and complete all of the week one quizzes by Thursday.
One thing I can’t understand is that we don’t get to keep the manuals. Why is that?
Monday, June 11, 2007
VBob Starts Training
Well, I start training on the 18th. After the sorting of companies process, I will start training at the Millis Training Institute in Cartersville GA on June 18. I went last Wed. and took the test for the GA. CDL permit. I passed but didn't do as well as I wanted to. Why can't they just test you to see if you read and learned the information rather than playing games with the questions? (At least they don't try to through in Latin words like the board of realtors does with their tests).
I sold off my last listing and have had time on my hands to get ready. Been making lists, checking lists etc. I decided to go to the gym and play a lot of golf to buff up a bit. Monday the 7th I noticed a little stiffness in my lower back. Well, one week later all I could do is lay on my back. This has never happened to me before. I went to a chiropractor this morning for the first time in my life. I never believed in chiropractors but this guy started twisting my legs, back and neck and it sounded like Rocky Balboa breaking ribs. All of a sudden, no pain. I go back in two days for more of that.Also in two days I go for my DOT physical. I have been monitoring my blood pressure for days. I am surprised that it has been a little on the high side but still better that 140/90 but not much. After having my bones cracked it is even better than the last few days. I hope that nerves don't screw me up on the day of the physical.
I know this is a boring journal, talking about 'getting ready to get ready' but next Monday I'll be in Cartersville and then I will really be 'getting ready'.
I sold off my last listing and have had time on my hands to get ready. Been making lists, checking lists etc. I decided to go to the gym and play a lot of golf to buff up a bit. Monday the 7th I noticed a little stiffness in my lower back. Well, one week later all I could do is lay on my back. This has never happened to me before. I went to a chiropractor this morning for the first time in my life. I never believed in chiropractors but this guy started twisting my legs, back and neck and it sounded like Rocky Balboa breaking ribs. All of a sudden, no pain. I go back in two days for more of that.Also in two days I go for my DOT physical. I have been monitoring my blood pressure for days. I am surprised that it has been a little on the high side but still better that 140/90 but not much. After having my bones cracked it is even better than the last few days. I hope that nerves don't screw me up on the day of the physical.
I know this is a boring journal, talking about 'getting ready to get ready' but next Monday I'll be in Cartersville and then I will really be 'getting ready'.
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