Saturday, June 18
I hope that wasn't the easy part.
In any case, I graduated from truck driver training yesterday. I will rehash the events of this past week once I spend a little time catching up on my rest and relaxation. I also need to prepare for the next step of the process, but I have at least a week until I need to really think about anything. That's a very welcome change. I can't wait to do mostly nothing at all for the next seven days.
It's really great to be home finally. It's also really great to have a job - or it will be once I start working and (more importantly) get paid.
In the meantime, I'll upload a photo of my first official trucker hat that I received yesterday for graduating and had signed by all of my various range and road instructors. Enjoy!
It's really great to be home finally. It's also really great to have a job - or it will be once I start working and (more importantly) get paid.
In the meantime, I'll upload a photo of my first official trucker hat that I received yesterday for graduating and had signed by all of my various range and road instructors. Enjoy!
Friday, June 10
Testing: 1, 2, 3.
I don't want to talk about this week, but I will anyway. I've been testing all week with the DOT. Actually, no. I've been testing all week with a subcontracted entity testing on behalf of the DOT. Having passed all my skills tests last week, I made the testing list for Monday. I was #6. #5 and I were on-hold testers, meaning we might not test that day at all and we were not to report to the testing site until told to do so. We were basically just supposed to wait and see what time #4 returned.
#4 returned at 2:45 pm. At that time we asked the instructor in charge of the backing maneuver range we were assigned to if they would be testing anyone else that day. He said they closed at 4pm and they never scheduled a test unless there was at least 2 hours to conduct it in. #5 was more concerned than I. I knew I wasn't going to be tested that day.
Half of an hour later, the lead instructor exited his trailer. This guy never leaves the trailer for any reason except to drive up to the classroom or go to lunch. He started heading toward his vehicle and then he spotted #5 and me. He then came over to us and proceeded to read us the riot act.
''Why didn't you go over and test? I've been looking for you everywhere and I couldn't find either of you? Do you have to be told to do everything? I could have sent someone else over to test if you weren't going over there!''
Several things to address here. First, everything I've done since starting this process has been the direct result of being told to do whatever it might be: pee in a cup, take this written exam, go on break, leave for lunch, drive this truck forward around town, drive this truck backwards on this range. If at any time I'm not where I'm supposed to be and doing whatever I'm supposed to be doing, I can be considered absent/tardy. Two of those and I'm expelled. So, I am always where ever I'm supposed to be and doing whatever I'm supposed to be getting done. Secondly, if you're looking for me and you're not looking for me in the place that I'm assigned to be and haven't moved from except to perform my backing manuevers when it's my turn, to pee, and for lunch, you aren't really looking for me. You won't find me in a filing cabinet or hiding behind your desk. You will, however, see me if you look out of your window - on my designated range for 8 out of the 9 hours of that particular day - in direct view of that office window. Lastly, this failure of communication is entirely your job to rectify and since you are the entire problem, perhaps you should simply fire yourself for being complete incompetent.
I said none of these things. Someone in the crowd that had gathered mentioned the fact that I hadn't moved from the same spot for more than 10 minutes all day. But he was hearing it. Instead, he went on to say:
''Both of you are going to sit in that trailer all day tomorrow where I can keep my eyes on you until I decide to send you over to test.''
I really, really don't appreciate getting shit on for something that wasn't my fault in the first place. But I really, really, really don't appreciate being treated like a child. This situation will be addressed. I garauntee that. I won't bother bringing it up to the president of this location, either. I'll jump a few rungs on the ladder before I file my official complaint.
Needless to say, I didn't sit in that trailer the next day but I didn't pass my test either. I pointed out on the backing manuevers. I was definitely nervous. I requalifed on the range that same day and made it back on the testing list for Wednesday. Except no one bothered to tell me until it was too late again. 2:30pm my range instructor asked me if I had tested yet. I was last on the list but had no idea and they had already stopped testing for the day.
Thursday I was first to test. I passed my backing manuevers but I took a turn too wide and the test was over. My tester didn't like the turn and refused to continue testing. I thought I was home free, but I was mistaken.
Today I tested again. It was a miserable day from the start. Some of the roads were already flooded out before I even arrived at the school. Then they did attendance and I found out I would e testing in that mess. I was not happy about it, but I went for it anyway. Anything for a chance to be done and gone. I did much better than I expected. All that additional practice on the range with my backing manuevers certainly paid off. I know how to correct any problems I might run into now which comes in very handy with the unfamiliar testing trucks. I made it out on the road and about halfway through the course I missed a gear. I tried everything and all of them just hoping to get it back into any gear and then correct myself after. I just couldn't get it back in gear and ended up coasting more than 50 feet for an automatic fail. Everything before and after that was perfect, especially after since I was pissed off and had complete rageful control of the truck. My tester gave me some pointers about how to better recover from that situation and added that he had no doubt I would have no trouble passing on Monday. I guess we'll see.
If I'm being optimistic, I have to say that I'm actually surprised that I was anywhere near ready to test this week and that my rapid progress up to this point - even my increasing success on each official test - has been surprising. If I'm being honest, I was ready to leave this place three or four weeks ago and I'm not looking forward to another weekend in this shithole. I do feel that Monday will be my day to pass this damn thing. Unfortunately, best case scenario will be me having to wait for the BMV to reopen on Tuesday.
Like I said, didn't really want to talk about this week, but I have and I'll just have to make it happen on Monday. Please, let it happen. I'm ready to go home.
#4 returned at 2:45 pm. At that time we asked the instructor in charge of the backing maneuver range we were assigned to if they would be testing anyone else that day. He said they closed at 4pm and they never scheduled a test unless there was at least 2 hours to conduct it in. #5 was more concerned than I. I knew I wasn't going to be tested that day.
Half of an hour later, the lead instructor exited his trailer. This guy never leaves the trailer for any reason except to drive up to the classroom or go to lunch. He started heading toward his vehicle and then he spotted #5 and me. He then came over to us and proceeded to read us the riot act.
''Why didn't you go over and test? I've been looking for you everywhere and I couldn't find either of you? Do you have to be told to do everything? I could have sent someone else over to test if you weren't going over there!''
Several things to address here. First, everything I've done since starting this process has been the direct result of being told to do whatever it might be: pee in a cup, take this written exam, go on break, leave for lunch, drive this truck forward around town, drive this truck backwards on this range. If at any time I'm not where I'm supposed to be and doing whatever I'm supposed to be doing, I can be considered absent/tardy. Two of those and I'm expelled. So, I am always where ever I'm supposed to be and doing whatever I'm supposed to be getting done. Secondly, if you're looking for me and you're not looking for me in the place that I'm assigned to be and haven't moved from except to perform my backing manuevers when it's my turn, to pee, and for lunch, you aren't really looking for me. You won't find me in a filing cabinet or hiding behind your desk. You will, however, see me if you look out of your window - on my designated range for 8 out of the 9 hours of that particular day - in direct view of that office window. Lastly, this failure of communication is entirely your job to rectify and since you are the entire problem, perhaps you should simply fire yourself for being complete incompetent.
I said none of these things. Someone in the crowd that had gathered mentioned the fact that I hadn't moved from the same spot for more than 10 minutes all day. But he was hearing it. Instead, he went on to say:
''Both of you are going to sit in that trailer all day tomorrow where I can keep my eyes on you until I decide to send you over to test.''
I really, really don't appreciate getting shit on for something that wasn't my fault in the first place. But I really, really, really don't appreciate being treated like a child. This situation will be addressed. I garauntee that. I won't bother bringing it up to the president of this location, either. I'll jump a few rungs on the ladder before I file my official complaint.
Needless to say, I didn't sit in that trailer the next day but I didn't pass my test either. I pointed out on the backing manuevers. I was definitely nervous. I requalifed on the range that same day and made it back on the testing list for Wednesday. Except no one bothered to tell me until it was too late again. 2:30pm my range instructor asked me if I had tested yet. I was last on the list but had no idea and they had already stopped testing for the day.
Thursday I was first to test. I passed my backing manuevers but I took a turn too wide and the test was over. My tester didn't like the turn and refused to continue testing. I thought I was home free, but I was mistaken.
Today I tested again. It was a miserable day from the start. Some of the roads were already flooded out before I even arrived at the school. Then they did attendance and I found out I would e testing in that mess. I was not happy about it, but I went for it anyway. Anything for a chance to be done and gone. I did much better than I expected. All that additional practice on the range with my backing manuevers certainly paid off. I know how to correct any problems I might run into now which comes in very handy with the unfamiliar testing trucks. I made it out on the road and about halfway through the course I missed a gear. I tried everything and all of them just hoping to get it back into any gear and then correct myself after. I just couldn't get it back in gear and ended up coasting more than 50 feet for an automatic fail. Everything before and after that was perfect, especially after since I was pissed off and had complete rageful control of the truck. My tester gave me some pointers about how to better recover from that situation and added that he had no doubt I would have no trouble passing on Monday. I guess we'll see.
If I'm being optimistic, I have to say that I'm actually surprised that I was anywhere near ready to test this week and that my rapid progress up to this point - even my increasing success on each official test - has been surprising. If I'm being honest, I was ready to leave this place three or four weeks ago and I'm not looking forward to another weekend in this shithole. I do feel that Monday will be my day to pass this damn thing. Unfortunately, best case scenario will be me having to wait for the BMV to reopen on Tuesday.
Like I said, didn't really want to talk about this week, but I have and I'll just have to make it happen on Monday. Please, let it happen. I'm ready to go home.
Saturday, June 4
Shocks and surprises.
Of course, the moment I decide to bitch about something, the situation naturally resolves itself. The very next morning after my last post, every single instructor spent the first hour of the day with a lucky student who had signed up to take the pre-trip inspection test. Even more surprising than that, I passed mine.
''Well, you know this inside and out.''
''I guess so.''
''You only missed your water pump which is actually gear driven on this truck, not belt driven.''
''Oh. Well. I'm not mechanical at all. I honestly can't tell the difference.''
''Go ahead and point it out. I'll show you how to tell the difference.''
''I don't know what any of this stuff is, honestly.''
''So, what? You just memorized all four pages of the inspection verbatim?''
''Yep, I did exactly that.''
The instructor pointed out each part to me after that. I obviously knew all the required information, but he wanted me to be able to associate that knowledge with the actual parts and pieces. I did, too, but I still honestly can't tell the difference between a belt driven and gear driven component. There's belts all over the damn place in there. Hoses and wires, too. As long as nothing is smoking, leaking, or sparking, I'll drive it. Besides, it's only one point and I'll take it. I can miss up to 10 before I fail, so I don't care.
Which means as of Thursday I've been ready to ''go over the fence'' and officially test with the DOT. The testing site is just on the other side of a chain link fence from our practice range. So when someone's ready to test, they say they're ''going over the fence''. It makes me conjure up ellaborate prison break fantasies. As with the pre-trip inspection hold-up, there are several people waiting to be scheduled for their official test. We've lost alot of time already with the daily tornado warnings/watches and holiday weekends, so it might be a few days until there's any real progress through that long, long waiting list. In the meantime, I get daily practice on the range with my backing manuevers and on the road running the same course through town and over the highway that I'll be following during the official test. The only bad part is the school being closed over the weekend. Today and tomorrow I'll just be hanging out in my motel room and waiting for Monday to come. After that it shouldn't be too long before I have a test date. Monday would be the absolute earliest and Wednesday would be the absolute latest I would expect to get tested. I'm fairly confident at this point that I shouldn't have any trouble passing.
This time last week, that was a different story entirely. I came into last week having still not passed any skills tests (except for the 4 point brake inspection which is meaningless if not coupled with a successful pre-trip inspection) and knew I'd have to pass at least one or face possible expulsion from the school. Monday was a holiday so it was only 1/2 day, there was only one instructor on duty for the five or six of us that actually showed up, and it was all just practice and no qualifications. But Tuesday I passed both my range and road tests and Thursday I aced my pre-trip inspection. This went from being a completely miserable, stressful week to being a shocking, reassuring one. I got everything done that I needed and I'm brimming with confidence now. Again, this time last week was a different story entirely.
In another somewhat random series of events, I might actually know who my co-pilot is going to be for the six months of team driving directly following the six weeks of over-the-road training with a company driver trainer. Of course this individual is still in the early stages of the application process and will be at least a month behind me in the training process, which means I'll probably be able to drive solo after my six week training is over while I wait for him to join me. That means a better paycheck for me while I wait which I won't mind at all. But if it all works out, I won't have to worry about being teamed up with some douche for half a year. That's what is most exciting for me. Knowing that I'll have a tolerable teammate coming will make those six weeks with my driver trainer fly by. I will share the identity of that person when it becomes more of a certainty. One absolute certainty that I can share is the identity of this person will surprise everyone. It certainly surprised me.
''Well, you know this inside and out.''
''I guess so.''
''You only missed your water pump which is actually gear driven on this truck, not belt driven.''
''Oh. Well. I'm not mechanical at all. I honestly can't tell the difference.''
''Go ahead and point it out. I'll show you how to tell the difference.''
''I don't know what any of this stuff is, honestly.''
''So, what? You just memorized all four pages of the inspection verbatim?''
''Yep, I did exactly that.''
The instructor pointed out each part to me after that. I obviously knew all the required information, but he wanted me to be able to associate that knowledge with the actual parts and pieces. I did, too, but I still honestly can't tell the difference between a belt driven and gear driven component. There's belts all over the damn place in there. Hoses and wires, too. As long as nothing is smoking, leaking, or sparking, I'll drive it. Besides, it's only one point and I'll take it. I can miss up to 10 before I fail, so I don't care.
Which means as of Thursday I've been ready to ''go over the fence'' and officially test with the DOT. The testing site is just on the other side of a chain link fence from our practice range. So when someone's ready to test, they say they're ''going over the fence''. It makes me conjure up ellaborate prison break fantasies. As with the pre-trip inspection hold-up, there are several people waiting to be scheduled for their official test. We've lost alot of time already with the daily tornado warnings/watches and holiday weekends, so it might be a few days until there's any real progress through that long, long waiting list. In the meantime, I get daily practice on the range with my backing manuevers and on the road running the same course through town and over the highway that I'll be following during the official test. The only bad part is the school being closed over the weekend. Today and tomorrow I'll just be hanging out in my motel room and waiting for Monday to come. After that it shouldn't be too long before I have a test date. Monday would be the absolute earliest and Wednesday would be the absolute latest I would expect to get tested. I'm fairly confident at this point that I shouldn't have any trouble passing.
This time last week, that was a different story entirely. I came into last week having still not passed any skills tests (except for the 4 point brake inspection which is meaningless if not coupled with a successful pre-trip inspection) and knew I'd have to pass at least one or face possible expulsion from the school. Monday was a holiday so it was only 1/2 day, there was only one instructor on duty for the five or six of us that actually showed up, and it was all just practice and no qualifications. But Tuesday I passed both my range and road tests and Thursday I aced my pre-trip inspection. This went from being a completely miserable, stressful week to being a shocking, reassuring one. I got everything done that I needed and I'm brimming with confidence now. Again, this time last week was a different story entirely.
In another somewhat random series of events, I might actually know who my co-pilot is going to be for the six months of team driving directly following the six weeks of over-the-road training with a company driver trainer. Of course this individual is still in the early stages of the application process and will be at least a month behind me in the training process, which means I'll probably be able to drive solo after my six week training is over while I wait for him to join me. That means a better paycheck for me while I wait which I won't mind at all. But if it all works out, I won't have to worry about being teamed up with some douche for half a year. That's what is most exciting for me. Knowing that I'll have a tolerable teammate coming will make those six weeks with my driver trainer fly by. I will share the identity of that person when it becomes more of a certainty. One absolute certainty that I can share is the identity of this person will surprise everyone. It certainly surprised me.
Wednesday, June 1
I rock outloud. Recognize.
Tuesday was the best day I've had since starting my adventure. After driving on the road for a week with varying success, I finally passed my road test. This afforded me the unexpected pleasure of driving on the highway today. Unspeakably awesome.
After passing my road test on Tuesday and returning from lunch, I also managed to pass backing manuevers twice. I was already ecstatic having passed one skill test and passing a second just rocked my world.
Like I said, Tuesday was the best day.
I passed my 4 point brake test on Friday and again every day since. This test is administered at the end of every road test and pre-trip inspection. So, tons of practice on that and I'll never forget how to do those.
That means I've passed three out of the four skills tests required to be sent to take the official CDL test with the state. Well, sort of. I still need to pass both the road test and backing manuevers with the final instructor for final qualification. Shouldn't be a problem after passing both on Tuesday and again today. Practice, practice, practice.
I still haven't tested on my 400 point pre-trip inspection. The sign-up list for that is insane. The pre-trip inspections take about an hour to perform and, unlike the other skills tests, there really aren't any designated instructors that test students for those. It's just whoever whenever and be lucky enough to get it done. Far more aggravating than that system of testing is the pre-trip inspection itself. There are 100 separate parts to identify and each of those has about four or five things to check. The wording of what to check for on each part must be verbatim. Here's my problem: similar parts utilize different verbage.
Example:
Part X
-Not bent, broken, or missing.
Part Y
-Not cracked, damaged, or broken.
Part Z
-Not cracked, bent, or broken.
All of these parts are pieces of the same operating system and the other things to check on each part are completely identical. Why the symantics?! I don't know and it seems completely ridiculous to me. The only way I can compensate is by using all of the buzzwords.
Not cracked, damaged, bent, broken, or missing.
Yeah. Apparently you only lose points for what you omit, you don't lose any points for checking something needlessly. So... I'll check for every buzzword possible. It's assinine, but I'll manage it. I will jump through whatever hoop necessary to get this done and get out of here.
I'm actually alot closer than I thought I would be right now. I'm legitimately surprised by my progress. I'm not surprised by how much I love driving these beasts. I didn't fully experience that until this morning on the highway. All I can say is:
Oh. My.
After passing my road test on Tuesday and returning from lunch, I also managed to pass backing manuevers twice. I was already ecstatic having passed one skill test and passing a second just rocked my world.
Like I said, Tuesday was the best day.
I passed my 4 point brake test on Friday and again every day since. This test is administered at the end of every road test and pre-trip inspection. So, tons of practice on that and I'll never forget how to do those.
That means I've passed three out of the four skills tests required to be sent to take the official CDL test with the state. Well, sort of. I still need to pass both the road test and backing manuevers with the final instructor for final qualification. Shouldn't be a problem after passing both on Tuesday and again today. Practice, practice, practice.
I still haven't tested on my 400 point pre-trip inspection. The sign-up list for that is insane. The pre-trip inspections take about an hour to perform and, unlike the other skills tests, there really aren't any designated instructors that test students for those. It's just whoever whenever and be lucky enough to get it done. Far more aggravating than that system of testing is the pre-trip inspection itself. There are 100 separate parts to identify and each of those has about four or five things to check. The wording of what to check for on each part must be verbatim. Here's my problem: similar parts utilize different verbage.
Example:
Part X
-Not bent, broken, or missing.
Part Y
-Not cracked, damaged, or broken.
Part Z
-Not cracked, bent, or broken.
All of these parts are pieces of the same operating system and the other things to check on each part are completely identical. Why the symantics?! I don't know and it seems completely ridiculous to me. The only way I can compensate is by using all of the buzzwords.
Not cracked, damaged, bent, broken, or missing.
Yeah. Apparently you only lose points for what you omit, you don't lose any points for checking something needlessly. So... I'll check for every buzzword possible. It's assinine, but I'll manage it. I will jump through whatever hoop necessary to get this done and get out of here.
I'm actually alot closer than I thought I would be right now. I'm legitimately surprised by my progress. I'm not surprised by how much I love driving these beasts. I didn't fully experience that until this morning on the highway. All I can say is:
Oh. My.
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