I drove for the first time today!

[Rookie McRookerson]

What a day! I'm in my second week of driving school and did my first drive today. They took us down to the Port of Tacoma, where we wouldn't hurt anything! It reminded me of when I took golf lessons. Only about a million things you have to remember and do all correctly!

I guess I did all right. At the end of the days driving, (3 students in the truck) the instructor asked me if I wanted to drive back to the school on I-5. At first I said no. Then I thought, if he thinks I did well enough to put me on the freeway through downtown Tacoma, I better take him up on his offer.

I got us back safely! As we were pulling into the yard he told me how to enter and get lined up to put the trailer into a hole where they park it.

What a rush!!! I got to experience way more types of driving in my first drive than I expected to get in the whole second week.

I have to tell you, downshifting is a B#*%h! I know I'll get it. Its just frustrating to have it come so hard.

I am exhausted. I feel like I drove 500 miles!

[uglymutt]

pratice pratice pratice, your doing great, shifting will come to ya, just take your time and be careful and always remember to look in your mirrors aand everything will come to ya, your doing great...

[Roadhog]

Congrats DRIVER!
Now imagine getting Paid to do that... :shock: ...serious...they Pay You!
.........................
Here are some Yogi Berra quotes to help you along...

"You got to be very careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there."

"You can observe a lot just by watchin'."

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

"This is like deja vu all over again."

"I made a wrong mistake."

"I didn't really say everything I said."

"Yeah, but we're making great time!" -- In reply to "Hey Yogi, I think we're lost."

"It ain't the heat; it's the humility."
................................
and some more of the same...but different...

[mack fan]

good to hear but did you say you had 2 other students with you that kind of sucks. but any ways you will get the down shifting part when i started i spent 3 lessions just going through the shift pattern but i had no manual exp. i also did no in class all my trainning was hands on in the truck and when done cost me $3500 very good price but will have to go back to school for a few lessons almost been a year with out much driving no one woul hire me it is fun except test day

[evertruckerr]

That first drive is damn scary isn't it :shock:

Congrats :!:

Good job on the drive back. I-5 though Tacoma area can be some nerve racking driving even for experienced drivers. They sure like narrow lanes up there.

By the way, while you are driving around the port area keep an eye out for little hide away spots to park in your future. Parking in the Seattle area is almost impossible to come by unless you know the area well.

Have a great time.

[NWRally]

CDS?

I was there a few years back.

So... is Dave or Tom or Wes or Penny your coach? Lee?

All good people (even when they're yellin' at ya! :wink: )

Good luck.

[glasman2]

To cool Rick!
Pretty neat he let you drive back
Hoping my first driving experience will be as good as yours.
Oh, by the way, talked to Rob today for about 1 1/2 hours
The only bad thing he could think of was small shower towels at the terminals
and you had to bring your own wash cloth LOL I'll PM you tomorrow about all the good stuff he said.

[mike3fan]

Is anyone else a little concerned that they are letting students on thier very first time driving to run on the interstate in a major city?

Not saying you could not do it Rook,but come on that is just asking for trouble.

[glasman2]

Is anyone else a little concerned that they are letting students on thier very first time driving to run on the interstate in a major city?

Not saying you could not do it Rook,but come on that is just asking for trouble.

I would say that depends on the person/student. Rick is not a kid. He's what 50? Personally I don't think I'll have a problem ( not saying it's the same ) cause I have a class A motor-home 102" wide by 37' long. It takes up close to the same space as a cmv, and almost takes as long to stop them suckers.

Freaking baby boomers and their toys

[choperbob]

cool. it just gets better. practice makes better. after year and a half I still can't believe that I am getting paid this much for having all these new challanges and fun. everyday something comes up that requires me to use my poor brain to solve. this proffession is hard , but, is a good way of life. glad you are enjoying driving so far, I hope you continue to. best of luck to you my friend 8) 8)

[ssoutlaw]

Is anyone else a little concerned that they are letting students on thier very first time driving to run on the interstate in a major city?

Not saying you could not do it Rook,but come on that is just asking for trouble.

I don't think so, he is older and the trainer thought he could handle it. He could have chickened out and said no to driving back, but took the bull by the horns and accomplished what he set out to do. Good job!
This is how a lot of us OLDER drivers learned. If a trainee is aware of his surroundings and shows some common sense, why hold them back. I, myself don't think this can be done with the new drivers we are getting today. Some people just stand out, and pick up things faster than others. Remember this is not a hard JOB...lol

[mike3fan]

yes I agree it should be on a student by student basis,I know some could indeed be trusted,I didn't know of the particular posters situation just stating my uninformed opinion......again

[Rookie McRookerson]

CDS?

I was there a few years back.

So... is Dave or Tom or Wes or Penny your coach? Lee?

All good people (even when they're yellin' at ya! :wink: )

Good luck.

Dave, Wes, and Lee are still there. Tom and Penny may be evening instructors. I don't know the names. My instructor is Jim. He's got 30 years driving experience. He's pretty cool, except for his stinky cigars!!

I appreciate all the positive comments. I did notice a lot of trucks parked waiting for loads. In fact, I was impressed with how friendly they were. We had 4 different drivers come up and talk with us. One of them even showed me his new Kenworth with an experimental CAT automatic transmission. Nice truck!! We also had a number of other truckers honk at us as we were driving. They were former CDS drivers.

[glasman2]

Check your PMs Rick, sorry might be a little long.

[yoopr]

Congrats and keep up the good work.
I used to pick up loads at Sea/Tac occasionally

[ssoutlaw]

yes I agree it should be on a student by student basis,I know some could indeed be trusted,I didn't know of the particular posters situation just stating my uninformed opinion......again

Its cool Mike, as long as we agree to disagree its all good

Is anyone else a little concerned that they are letting students on thier very first time driving to run on the interstate in a major city?

Not saying you could not do it Rook,but come on that is just asking for trouble.

There is no better learning experience than putting ones feet to the fire. 8)

[steve_trucker2006]

they pay to do that where?? i want to know where i can get paid