Cdl School, 2nd week.
 

Cdl School, 2nd week.

Monday: More work on the simulators, just practicing shifting.

Tuesday: First time out on the range. We started doing pre-trip inspections and took a tour of what we will learn on the skill range. Straight back, 45 degree back, 90 degree back, blindside back. etc.etc. We also learned how to couple and uncouple the truck and trailer.

Wednesday: First time we got to drive the trucks today. It was my turn to do the pre-trip; I was finished in about 30 minutes. Instructors were shocked I was so quick; they didn’t know I had my class b license, so I know the pre-trip inside and out. There are a few things they added themselves (for the course) but for the most part I got 95% of everything. Then after the pre-trip I got to drive around the college. There are some small roads around the skill range. (More like the size of a small sidewalk.) I was surprised how well I did shifting. Not a lot of grinding, if I missed a gear I was able to give it some gas and get her back in gear quickly. They were pretty impressed that I got shifting down that quick. We also drove around with the trailer, taking turns wide, and did pretty good on that part also. After my drive around I went on the skill range and we started on straight line backing. Were using day cabs for the skill range and 30 foot trailers. Those little trailers move quickly. I did ok for the most part, still room to improve there. When we got ready to leave I got back into the big tractor, and back the trailer into the yard, and nice and straight in-between the lines. One thing I noticed, the big 48 foot trailer backs a heck of a lot easier than those little 30 footers.

Thursday: Much of the same thing as Wednesday, except I was the recorder for the pre-trip. That’s were I make down on the paper the student got, what he missed etc. etc. Did my drive around the campus, did good, and worked on my backing some more. Still room to improve there. After that we went back to the class room to watch some videos.

Friday: Worked on my backing some more. Having a little bit of a hard time today. I think I was kind of rushing myself a little. I was either over compensating for the trailer swaying one way, or catching it too late. Still have time to work on it. Went on to the big truck for the drive around the campus. My up shifting is awesome. I can downshift pretty well, but for some reason I was having a hard time getting back into 3rd. I was up shifting at 1700, which was going great, down shifting at 1000, bump the rpms to 1500 and she will slide into gear, until I try to go from 4th to 3rd. I don’t know what I am missing there. I did the same thing, let them drop to 1000, bump to 1500 and then they would grind. I think since the speed is so slow I might not have to bump the rpm so high, but I couldn’t figure it out in the time I had. All other parts of the drive were great, including handing the turns and off tracking of the trailer. The instructors are very pleased on how well I am doing though.

Can’t wait for week #3 to start. I think it is either this week or the week after we get to hit the real roads!! Watch out Virginia!!!


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Congratulation Madlux, seem like everything rollin pretty good for you in school. Hopefully i'll see out there on the road soon. We are on pretrip right now and it is rollin pretty good, i caught on too it real quick now i ready to move on to the range and on the road. But Good luck Madlux take care man.