Started feeder (CDL) school this week. Wow was it intense. Before we start we have to get a CDL permit, drug test, background test, and fill out an application to transfer jobs. I'll be kind of a tweener package car and feeder driver. Package driver and cover vacations for feeder drivers in my building.

Day 1 Just book work and safety stuff. A lot of this is covered in package cars and I serve on the safety committee in my center, so it wasn't too bad. Reviewed for day 2 test.

Day 2 Test, more book work and review for day 3 test. Afternoon got a chance to drive. Did a pre-trip and then instructor drove up north of Denver and then pulled off I-25 and I got to drive. There is a long frontage road that runs from Brighton to Loveland. Working on shifting. Got fairly good at upshifting, but down shifting was bad. Stopped at Johnson's Corner truck stop for dinner and then I drove back to Denver.

Day 3. Test, book work, and review for day 4 test. Pre-trip work, hook up a set of doubles, and drove out to a quiet industrial area. Spent 2-3 hours work on shifting, and turning with a set of doubles. Came back to center for a brief break and then a couple of hours of driving down Colfax avenue (busy 4 lane road that runs through Denver) during rush hour. I was shot by the end of the day. I was really questioning if I could do this. Even talked with my wife about going back to paclage cars and dropping out of feeder school. She talked me into going back for one more day. Glad I did. Had a hard time with everything and nothing seem to come together that day.

Day 4. Test, book work, and review for day 3 test. Mountain driving. Instructor drove up to Eisenhower tunnel and then gave me the truck and I drove back. Down I70 into Denver about 6% grade for 6 miles. Intense trip. They also set it up so you come back into Denver at rush hour. Lots of traffic. Got back fine and then we did a little backing. For whatever the reason everything started coming together. Up shifting lots better, but finally started to get the hang of downshifting. Still have work to do, but big improvement.

Day 5. Test. no book work. pre-trip test and road test. Did well and passed both. This was a UPS test not a CDL test. I finished early that day. Our hub where the training is done has trainees from all over Colorado and Wyoming, so they let you go early so you can get home for the weekend.

Next week will be more practice and major work on backing. Then I'll take the CDL driving test. I have a great instrutor who has a good balance of building you up when you get down and being tough, but fair when you screw up. He's been with UPS for several years and use to be a CDL examiner at one time.

I've heard the wash out rate for feeder school is around 50% for non-CDL holding drivers. Not that the company washes most of them out they just quit. Realize its not for them. The last feeder driver from our center that went to school had a class of 4 and 2 dropped out the first week. I can see why. The school is set up to really stress you out. I didn't really catch on to that unitl Thursday. When we came back down the mountain and hit rush hour; I made the comment that it was bad enough to come down the mountain, but now I have to deal with rush hour. My instructor said "you think that was by accident." Like I said Thursday everything came together. Shifting starting coming and I figured out that they were trying to stress us out. They know all the shifting, city driving, mountain driving, rush hour driving, tests, book work, studying late, pre-tripping, backing, road test, etc all tossed so fast at you is an overall stress test to see if you can handle the job. Everyone who drives for a living knows how stressful it can be at times. Once I realized all of this I started to relax a little and things got better. Because they move so fast the stuff you work on the previous day sort of comes together the next day. You never get comfortable. I have to say now that its the weekend and I can look back to last week it was very rewarding week. I learned so much and I'm looking forward to next week,

I was fine during school and with my driver trainer but during my first week solo I felt the same way. I was a basket case. Looking back I think my driver/trainer could have done more to prepare me. The shifting smoothly will take a long time to master. Especially for you having to drive a different truck all the time. Don't worry about it. You'll be refining your skills the whole first year, perfectly normal. You'll be alright. Go slow and take your time. I'm sure you know accidents happen when you rush, and we all know how big brown frowns on accidents. I cant stress enough, patience, take your time and following distance. When you rush you will make mistakes that end up costing you even more time. You're paid by the hour so just chill and enjoy the ride!:thumbsup:

That's what I keep hearing is that the first year will really smooth out the rough spots in your driving. Take it slow and double and triple check everything.

Is this your UPS trainer?



:smokin::smokin::smokin::smokin:

Kranky Shhhh! We dont talk about everything. The Fedex drivers are already jealous enough!:rofl:

Dang, what can brown do for you.

Brown67, I thought you were already feedering. :lol:

Apparently, I was thinking of another clown.

i have seen the buster brown girls before!!! had 6 or 7 of them saved on my phone at one point in time. you know they really don't work there right. remember floored....yeah, she was hot and really did drive for us. you see, we get the real thing here at fxg...y'all have to pay models to dress up in them brown clown costumes,lol. glad everything is going good brown. i run with quite a few brown guys and they seem happy and make damn good green. the stress goes away, and then it is just routine. that is my advice, get in agood routine. when you hook up..if you do hook sets, do it the SAME way EVERYTIME. this way you are more sure if you forgot something, like safety chains. also driving at night will be the hardest thing to adjust to for ya, get ina routine on your sleep as well, it sucks going to bed when you really wanna be awake, but it gets easier..or at least it gets routine.

hey brown, can u ask someone why in the hell is all of ups trucks de baged??