[Lilac7779]

Hi, new here.

Dh's job is being phased-out after 25 years with his company. He wants to be a trucker and he wants me to team with him. I have tried studying the driver's manual he brought home. I got as far as the pre-test inspection and I am just overwhelmed. I am not mechanically minded.

Did any of you ladies find all this information hard to absorb? Any feedback would be appreciated. TIA

[4roses]

have no fear - Your Normal - at first it was like Latin to me ... I found if I'd take a few steps at a time and tried to see them in my head it helped. If there's anyway possible you could use someones tractor&trailer for a while you could walk through each step of the pretrip and see it ..... it will stick in your mind better. Or go to a dealers that sales big trucks - and look at the different steps. ... Just hang in there you will get it. The more we stress and get upset because we aren't getting it fast enough ... the longer it takes remember it all. :wink:

[Lilac7779]

Thank you, for4roses. Everything you said makes perfect sense. I guess I expect to learn it all overnight, and that ovbiously ain't gonna happen. I appreciate you advice.

[Lilac7779]

For4roses, I really appreciated that you took the time to answer my question. I just wanted to tell you, I am in school now and yesterday I passed the tests and got my driver's permit.

I know what a castle nut and a cotters pin is. Wow! Did my first pre-trip inspection. Thanks again for the encouragement.

[cclarke1268]

Don't know if they allow guys to post in here so this can be deleted.

Mechanical knowledge of your rig is something that will come to you in time, my wife does not drive but has been in the truck and around them enough that she now knows quite a bit about them now, after you work around them enough you will be able to tell when something isn't right, even if you don't know how it works or what your lookin at does, but that being said there is alot of fellas out here that aren't mechanicly inclined either. You will hear them calling things, thingys, and such. I promise it will come to you in time, you won't have to be the mechanic, you will just need to check your rig out to make sure its safe, and you will look at the same things every day so it'll come to ya. B T W good luck to you and your DH.

[ladydrifter]

Jus 2 cents worth make a habit of lookin under truck when walkin up to it check for puddles on the ground and then figure a system,IM right handed so I go right side rear then left side and front.