Day 11 and weekend #2

Just as I expected, we were on the hill today practicing shifting and parallel parking in anticipation of the DMV road test on Tuesday.  I didn't drive hardly at all because there are people that need to practice a lot more than I do.  I also finally had my First of what is supposed to be several interviews today.  I wouldn't really call it an interview since the person just looks through your paperwork to make sure you're legit and then signs off on it.

Time is really picking up its pace now.  We are starting our Third week on Monday, but it feels like we just got here a few days ago.  The new class will be arriving tomorrow, and the First weekers are now going into their Second week filled with DMV visits and studying. The graduating class is off to meet their new roommates for the next 5 weeks, and the cycle will continue.

I've been sick for over a week now...mainly due to the fact that I have no idea what meds I am and am not allowed to take.  Nobody seems to know either.  I am feeling better, but it is one of those lingering sicknesses that just doesn't want to go away.  At least I have one day of good rest that maybe I can kick it before we hit the road again.  Monday, we are supposed to be going over the DMV road test by actually taking a truck out there and practicing it.  I have also heard that we are going into downtown Dallas...I guess we'll find out then.  I'm excited to get this final week going so that I can start working (and getting paid!)  I hope everybody enjoys their weekend!!

Days 9 and 10

Sorry for not writing every single day, but things are starting to get rather hectic around here.  We only have a week left, and we are going to take our driving test on Tuesday.  That gives us a day and a half of school time to finish preparing for it.

Yesterday we were on the city streets practicing our turns and coping with the 4 wheelers.  Our instructor was very nervous and kept intervening instead of letting us get the feel of it ourselves.  It was quite an uneventful time.

Today, we were on the highway.  It was a much better experience as our instructor was much more calm and just let us drive.  Our truck broke down today.  One of the other students stalled the truck, and it wouldn't turn over after that.  After several unsuccessful attempts of trying to get it started, we started to smell burning electrical wiring.  Luckily, we broke down across the street from a Chicken Express...awesome food, and not nearly as greasy (or expensive) as Popeye's or KFC.  There was a big snafu with how we were going to get picked up.  Since there are 4 students to a truck and a training truck will only hold 6 people including the instructor,  It was either going to take 2 separate trucks or a shuttle to come get us.  Anyways...to make a long story short, our instructor told us to go eat as we were going to be waiting for the shuttle bus to come get us.  About 5 minutes after we start eating, the other 2 trucks show up to get us!  The lead instructor got ticked off at our instructor...some choice words were said, and our instructor quit right then and there.  We got back to the yard and grabbed another truck to finish they day on.  Here's me driving

Tomorrow is a half day, and we will be back out on the hill.  Since both the day and night class will be there, I don't expect to get much drive time...if any...in tomorrow.  Until then...

Days 7 and 8

The last 2 days were basically carbon copies of each other.  First, we did our parallel parking.  After that, they hooked us up to trailers and let us drive around the course for the rest of the evening.  Here is a completely unedited video of my driving around the course.  It will give you a good idea of what to expect.  Sorry about the low light conditions, but it was obviously nighttime.  Also, don't pay attention to the bantering...lol!

In my opinion, I think that it is better to train at night.  You can't see everything at night.  For example: you can't see your whole trailer, so you have to rely on the clearance lamps to know where your trailer is when making turns.  So if you learn how to do it at night, you should nail it during the day!

Wednesday marked our 4th day of driving the trucks, and most everybody has the shifting nailed.  The instructors all keep saying that we are one of the best classes that they've had in a while...now whether that is true or not is a different story!  Of course we have our couple of "super truckers" that know everything there is to know about the operation of a class 8 commercial motor vehicle...even though they don't have a cdl, and they are going to a truck driving school just like me.  The worst one is a 24 year old from Tennessee.  Last night, our instructor asked the class who was the best shifter.  Well, guess who was the only one who promptly raised their hand.  He was informed that he was being cocky.  Well...enough about that.

We lost another guy a couple of days ago.  Nobody knows the entire story, but he said it had to do with some speeding ticket he got in 2006.  We all think he lied on his application.  The moral of this story is DON'T LIE!  It's not worth your money or time to come this far only to get the boot because of a silly lie on your application.

Today, we are going to hit the streets of Dallas.  It should be an interesting time, but I think we will all do just fine.

Day 6

Monday was all drive time.  We started off learning parallel parking.  I like that we did parallel parking First.  A lot of cdl training schools will teach you straight line backing, then 45° backing, and then parallel parking.  By doing parallel parking First, you are learning straight line backing and 45° backing at the same time!  After parallel parking, we did laps around the hill to fine-tune our up-shifting and downshifting.  I spent another day at the DMV finishing up the tests, but now I'm finished with everything but the driving portion.

I wanted to tell you all about the hotel.  Where we are staying is called the Crosslands Economy Suites.  It's an Extended Stay Hotel, so you get the basic "extended stay" amenities such as: a coffee pot, silverware and dinnerware, cups, a microwave, mini fridge, and stove.  If you're lucky, you'll get pots and pans, and maybe even a toaster!  If you're super duper lucky like me, you'll get a big room with queen size beds instead of the tiny rooms with single beds.  I would definitely suggest bringing your own towels as towels here are few and far between.  They never have any towels to give us...basically because people steal them. On one hand, I don't blame them for not replacing things that people steal, but at the same time, I shouldn't be punished for somebody else's wrongdoing.  Also with the hotel, management basically treats you like crap...even though you are, in essence, paying for the room.  This morning, the hotel manager just comes walking into our room to "see if it was still occupied."  No knock, no "Hey, I'm about to come into your room!"  Nothing...and then he got pissy with us when we jumped on him.  I just keep reminding myself that I only have another week and a half.

I will take video of the hill today along with posting up some pictures of the Steven's yard and whatnot.