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Sunday, November 14, 2004
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Ever consider driving a big rig? If so, you too could be a professional truck driver in as little as 30-60 days (let us now pause for a few solemn moments of silence for the experienced truckers out there who are rolling their eyes and are commenting none to favorably on that last statement). Obviously, it takes years to become a truly experienced over-the-road truck driver. However, you can be on the road with a big rig sooner than you might think provided that you are inclined towards a nomadic lifestyle, aren't afraid to steer up to 80,000 lbs across America (and even Canada), and be away from your loved ones for up to one week or more at-a-time (there's much more but I'll stop there; why spoil the fun and surprises!)
Ever since I was a kid growing up, I've wanted to drive a semi-tractor trailer truck. I loved playing with trucks in the dirt, sandbox, and concrete ledges of the house where I grew up. I recall my brother and I playing a game on one trip of the annual 2-week family vacation. Each of us chose one national transportation carrier (or more) and we counted how many times we saw a trailer with the carrier's name on it (I think the primary contestants were Yellow Freight Lines and Consolidated Freight Lines). I forget who won, but it certainly helped pass the time.
In the early 80's I got the chance to pursue my dream and drove straight-truck (2-axle) and semi-tractor trailer truck (5-axle) for roughly 250,000 miles over a 4-5 years. However, I drove locally which meant I was home most every day I drove. Then I moved on to other things. 20-years later, I'm back at it only this time I'm driving interstate rather than local. I like it (with the big exception of being away from the family). It's certainly a change of pace from what most people experience in their day-to-day jobs. At any rate, here's my story on being trained to drive the big rigs. Enjoy!
Day #0 Day #9 Day #15 Day #22
Day #1 Day #10 Day #16 Day #23
Day #2 Day #11 Day #17 Day #24
Day #3 Day #12 Day #18 Day #25
Day #4 Day #13 Day #19
Day #5 Day #14 Day #20-21
Day #6-8
Life on the Road -- The Early Sessions (Days #26+)
8:53:11 AM
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The day has arrived. I bade farewell to my wife and kids and hit the road around 7:15PM. It's raining. I have a chance to put my mind in part for the 3-hour and forty-five minute drive to Marshfield, WI from Milwaukee, WI. Nice ride – less than forty miles of two-lane highway. Had a worship tune that our church played this morning going through my head for the first two hours – wish I could remember the name of it – I'm drawing a blank right now. Heidi called and we chatted a bit. She placed an order for one of our home business partners as well as an order for our customers. After making sure I would stay awake for the rest of the journey, we said our goodbyes. Just before entering Marshfield, I saw a shooting star! (I now know why they call it "Marshfield" – lots of marshes and fields) It was a bit foggy after the rain. I arrived shortly after midnight at Roehl's Driver Headquarters. According to the directions, I was to find my apartment key outside door #3 in a mailbox. Hmm…the "G" building (where we would meet first thing tomorrow morning) had a door #3 except it was a garage door and had a trailer parked in it. No sign of a mailbox either. After circling building "G" twice, I decided the key would be located at one of the other numerous buildings around. Ah, I spied a building in the distance that looked like administration. Sure enough, the key was outside door #3 in the mailbox.
From there it was 5-minutes to the apartment. However, I circled the block a few times trying to find the exact location (the directions were somewhat challenging if you didn't keep track of which was North, South, etc.). Then I realized I was on the wrong side of the street. That's a sure sign that I'm getting tired! I found the apartment in no time at all and lugged my belongings into the apartment (it was better than what I expected) and parked the car a few blocks away per the directions.
Well, unpacked now (rats – I forgot my belt and I need a belt! I'll have to get one tomorrow) and hitting the hay (yawn). 6:00 AM will be here soon enough. I've set two alarms just to make sure I'm there at Roehl's facility at 7:00 AM.
8:52:25 AM
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I woke up around 5:00 AM. Mother Nature called. I answered. Then I dozed off again until the appointed hour. (Definition of annoying: 2 alarm clocks by different manufacturers "encouraging" you to wake up!) I jumped into the shower after taking OPC-3 and ORAC (Note to self: be prepared to dodge either scalding or ice-cold water when someone elsewhere in the hotel flushes the toilet while taking a shower). After a delicious cup of MochaTonix, I'm out the door towards the car.
I arrive at RDTC (Roehl Driving Transport Center) shortly before class begins. There are 4 students total in my class. That's a switch. I remember back in 1980 when I took a 3-week tractor-training course where we had between 15-20 students. Back then there was a plenteous supply of truckers to meet the nation's transportation needs. Today, however, there is roughly one driver for every 12 loads needing delivery (per my training instructor). Because of rising/fluctuating fuel prices, many carriers over the last 2 years have gone belly-up due to a lack of financial planning and management.
Mr. R, our training instructor, is a down-to-earth and likeable guy who prepares people to drive the big rigs (Thought your job was tough?!). By the way, all names (besides mine) used in this adventure are fictitious. This prevents embarrassment, preserves dignity, and also avoids lawsuits (*grin*). Mr. R has years of experience – both in truck driving and training wannabe tractor-trailer drivers. He is still sane (at least as far as we can tell!)
Mr. B will be turning 25-years old this Thursday. He's married with a very small child and lives in western Wisconsin. He likes Mountain Dew (a lot), smokes, and much prefers hands-on training as opposed to classroom training (don't we all!). The reason he is getting into trucking is that it is possible to make good money and it sure beats a factory job such as welding.
Mr. J (late 40's??) has recent experience driving a straight truck for a national freight delivery company. He's married and recently had a new arrival – a puppy – their 3rd pooch (the first two are no longer). Mr. J is located approximately 30-miles away and gets to go home every night! Mr. J's comment on walking around the tractors in the yard later in the day went something like "I never drove something this big." (Like public speaking, people would rather die than think about driving an 18-wheeler). Actually, Mr. J. is looking forward to learning how to drive a tractor/trailer combination.
Ms. J (not related to Mr. J) hails from Michigan. Her fiancée has been driving tractor-trailer trucks for roughly 2-years. Their plan is to drive "team" across the country (share driving duties) and sock away the $$ for retirement. All she needs to do is learn how to drive stick and double-clutch. Piece-a-cake – right?!
First things first: all the necessary paper work is signed (tuition, housing, licensing fees, etc.), we're all given a physical (for most of us that includes DETHAC (Drop 'Em, Turn Head And Cough), and then pee into a cup for the drug test (Note to self: For my next DOT physical exam in two years, avoiding voiding until after receiving the cup).
After all of the formalities were out of the way, Mr. R explained how the next 4-weeks of training would take place. Then it was lunch. We each went our own separate ways (I hightailed it get a belt for my pants!) The afternoon was spent reviewing chapters we read about in the morning and taking a brief tour around the facilities. Oh yeah, almost forgot about the logs. All OTR (over-the-road) truckers are mandated to fill out daily logs of the amount of hours they spend 1) Driving, (2) On Duty – but not driving, (3) Sleeping, and (4) Off Duty. So starting today, we're now logging our daily lives – 24/7/365.
Mr. R assigned us homework for tomorrow's agenda (coupling and uncoupling) and called it a day while reminding us to bring work gloves for tomorrow. Gloves – oh yeah, what I forgot to get at Wal-Mart when I purchased my belt at lunch. Guess where I'm going before headin' back to the apartment? *sigh*
So, it's study time for a while back at the apartment. Heidi called and we had a good extended conversation about the basement remodeling project, the kids, and a possible tenant for our upstairs duplex. God is good. Always. Well, before I sack out for the evening, I'll be installing WordPress on my notebook that I downloaded on Sunday from home. WordPress is a blog (web log) software tool that allows anyone to write about anything and everything and publish it inexpensively on the 'Net. At the moment I wouldn't recommend it for e-commerce purposes (I've found an excellent Internet
software platform containing an easy-to-use content management system with live toll-free support for life that hands-down beats anything else out there). I'm actually typing these notes into Microsoft Word and then will in the future port these notes over to WordPress. In other words, if you're reading this, I've been successful! Well, before I use up all my brain cells, I'd better get going on WordPress.
8:52:07 AM
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This week and next week we begin our day in the classroom and then move to the range for practice hands-on exercises. Then in weeks 3 and 4, we perform exercises on the range as well as the road in the morning with any classroom activities in the afternoon. I discovered that Ms. J suffers from the occasional migraine headache (and possibly Mr. J). Next week I'll bring up an isotonic solution of B vitamins for Ms. J to try the next time she feels a migraine coming on. This stuff actually clears the symptoms of a migraine within 10-15 minutes!
After our morning classroom learning and discussion session focusing on coupling/uncoupling, we broke for lunch. I headed back to the apartment for a short lunch, a brief nap, and then to the range. I teamed up with Mr. B while Mr. J and Ms. J were in the adjacent rig. Our equipment for this exercise is a late model Freightliner conventional tractor and a flatbed trailer. To couple a tractor and trailer you basically:
- Position the tractor in a straight line with the trailer.
- After setting the parking brake, get out of the cab and inspect your 5th Wheel (the part where the trailer rests on the tractor) and perform an initial trailer inspection (is the trailer in a roadworthy condition?).
- Get back in the cab. Put on the 4-way flashers, tap the horn (to let others know you're backing up), and back the tractor until the kingpin kisses the trailer nose.
- Apply parking brake, shut the vehicle off, take the key with you, and inspect the level of the trailer (will it overshoot the 5th wheel and hit the tractor?) and then get underneath the trailer to see if the path from the kingpin to the 5th wheel is on target.
- Start the tractor and back gently until the 5th wheel "jaws" snap shut around the shank of the kingpin. In 1st gear, gently nudge forward to check the connection. Do it again. Then apply the parking brake, shut the vehicle off, and take the key with you.
- PAL:
a. PIN - examine the coupling connection by going under the trailer to see the slider lock in the proper locked position (secure kingpin and 5th wheel connection).
b. AIR LINES AND ELECTRICAL LINES – hook them up so that the trailer has compressed air for braking and lights.
c. LANDING GEAR – raise the trailer supports all the way up.
- With the 4-way flashers still on, turn the lights on and inspect the entire rig to see if all the lights are working properly (clean and wipe the lights and reflectors and reflective tape with a rag as you go). Make a small chalk mark on the both sets of trailer duals (outside tires on rear double trailer axles).
- Start the engine, release the tractor and trailer brakes and pull forward a short distance then stop using the brake petal (Tests the brakes). Then repeat only using the trailer hand brake to check if the trailer brakes are working. Turn the lights and 4-way flashers off, turn the left turn signal on, and then with the trailer hand brake partway down, get out of the vehicle and inspect to see if the trailer brakes are on and the left turn signal is working on the tractor and trailer. In addition, inspect the chalk marks on the trailer tires. Did the tires turn? Or did they remain locked and did not roll forward? Check to see if there are any flat spots where the tires were resting in the parked position.
- Activate the right turn signal and make sure it working properly.
- That's it.
After successfully coupling the trailer, we then practiced uncoupling it using the LAP. (Basically you reverse the process).
LAP =
a. Landing Gear (Raise them)
b. Air Lines and Electrical Lines (Unhook them)
c. PIN (Unlock it and then pull away (carefully!) from the trailer.
Then we repeated the coupling exercise, then the uncoupling exercise again. Then again. Wash, rinse, and repeat.
By the end of the day, all of us felt comfortable (some more than others) with the process. Tomorrow is double-clutching gears 1-5 around the range (or as Mr. R fondly says, "it's hamburger helper day" since that's when us students tend to "grind" the most gears in the learning process).
Well, I'm bushwackered. The last few days finally is catching up with me. After eating supper, resting, doing my homework assignment for tomorrow, I'm turning in for the night.
8:51:55 AM
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It appears as though we will have a third day of beautiful, sunny weather. Wisconsinites have a saying about weather in these parts: If you don't like the weather, wait 5-minutes—it's bound to change. Hopefully, this weather won't! Last year we had a wet spring and then a rather dry summer. It has been a wetter season so far this year. Perhaps now we're in for a dry spell at least for a while.
Ms. J gave us all a good chuckle this morning. Yesterday, we had completed exercises for coupling and uncoupling. Her fiancée had notified her last evening while they were talking on the phone that another trucker and entered the truck stop where he was staying in Canada. He then informed Ms. J that the trucker was going to drop his trailer which he did…literally. Seems in his haste to bobtail (drive without a trailer), he neglected to follow the basics of uncoupling 101. Of course the driver may have never been trained properly in the finer points of how to correctly unhook a trailer. I'm sure he will be doing some reviewing when he gets back to his home terminal (if he still has a job)!
This morning's classroom training consisted of going over yesterday's assigned homework on the typical components of a big rig diesel engine as well as upshifting and downshifting the first 5-gears. Then off we went to the driving range to hit some balls…er…shift some gears.
I coupled the trailer to the tractor and then Mr. R showed Mr. B and me how to navigate the quarter mile rectangular track. Basically, we upshifted and downshifted down a straightaway until we hit a stop sign. Then we turned left carefully watching our mirrors (especially the left one) to see if our trailer missed the tires on the course. I'm proud to say I missed all the tires this first day although I had to do some fancy maneuvering to narrowly avoid a nasty trailer-tire incident. After the first lap around the dusty grounds, it was Mr. B's turn to take the controls. He did OK all things considered. He only ground a few pounds of hamburger (grinding the gears!). Seriously, he caught on rather quickly to double-clutching the gears.
Here are some simple steps for double-clutching:
1. Proper speed (RPM)
2. Off fuel (ease back on the accelerator)
3. Clutch in
4. Gear in
5. Clutch out
6. RPM drop (wait a brief moment or two for the RPM's to fall)
7. Clutch in
8. Gear in
9. Clutch out
10. On fuel (accelerate)
Then it was my turn. I was a little rocky the first lap around (we went 4-laps before turning the wheel over to our driving partner). Shifting came back to me rather easily although I did grind some hamburger! By the afternoon, all four of us were doing much better each time we went around the track. Another training instructor, Mr. D, came and sat in our rig to watch us and provide helpful tips on how to improve the shifting process. The main thing is to be in control of the vehicle at all times. Although that's rather obvious, you need to demonstrate that fact to the person at the DOT who will decide if you've got what it takes to be a professional truck driver. This means in part that both hands are on the wheel whenever possible – especially when approaching a stop sign as well as turning left or right at an intersection (Note to self: kick the bad driving habits I've picked up over the years ASAP!).
The day went by quickly. Tomorrow we focus on the air brake system and see a working model of it in action as well continue shifting and perhaps some basic backing up. All turns with the trailer on the course from now on will be right-hand turns. In other words, we will be turning to the side where we can't stick our head out the window to see where the trailer is. Should be fun—well maybe not for the tires *grin*.
Ms. J, Mr. B, and I stopped in at an all-you-can-eat China buffet place. Sweet! I love Chinese food (Come to think of it, I love Italian food, German food, etc.) We shared some laughs and then back to the apartments where we all stayed to complete our homework for the next day.
Heidi called (as she does daily) and we chatted a bit. The kids and I also spoke—the first time since Sunday. I miss my family. It was good to hear their voices. Everyone seems to be adjusting OK so far. Thank you God!
8:51:16 AM
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It's yea or nay day. Roehl allows you 3 business days to decide if trucking is not for you. If not, you get your money back. Everyone (students) is on board and willing to endure more punishment…er…instructions from Mr. R (*grin*).
Today, we covered air brakes and backing in the class room. Then we went to see a mechanical working demonstration on how air brakes work. Very helpful. Since we are largely a visual society (E.G. we learn by seeing rather than by hearing). On the range, we began shifting into the upper gears and then did some straight line backing. In 5th gear, you can reach 15 mph with the tach (tachometer) on 15 (1500 rpm). The trucks today are different than when I was driving in the early 80's. One difference is that there is a lot more torque in the lower gears. Thus you don't need to have a higher rpm to shift into the next gear. I remember having to get well above 15 rpm in order to get into the next gear. With the newer trucks, you don't need to go above 15 rpm.
Mr. B and I are settling into a good driving partnership on the range. He's a good guy and will make a great professional truck driver. We took turns throughout the afternoon shifting around a different driving track than we had been practicing on. This one is where Roehl parks the trailers. In other words, we need to be on the lookout for drivers hooking and unhooking to trailers in the lot. Guess Roehl has confidence in the students they accept (not to mention their instructors!). In 7th gear, we were able to get the tractor up to 25 mph. I wince as Mr. B and I go down the dusty gravel range when Roehl employees (office workers) are out for some exercise in the same vicinity. They get a good dusting if the wind is right as we go by.
I did pretty good backing in a straight line with the trailer on. The trailer's landing gear rest on a 4-foot concrete apron that extends for some distance in the yard. Truckers drop their land gear on the concrete apron since that is very sturdy and supportive of loaded/unloaded trailers. It is a rather embarrassing moment when the trailer you just uncoupled nose-dives onto the ground because the ground could not hold the wait of the trailer's landing gear. Of course this will never happen if you follow proper uncoupling procedures! The goal of straight-line backing procedures is to keep the tractor and trailer in a straight line. In this exercise, we pulled one side of the tractor and trailer's tires onto the 4-foot wide concrete ribbon in a straight line. Then we backed up and attempted to keep the 2-foot wide duals (trailer tires) on the concrete at all times. It really isn't that difficult provided you anticipate in advance how to keep the vehicle straight at all times. Otherwise if you misjudge the next 8-12 feet where you want to the trailer to go (or where the trailer will go), it is easiest to pull-up and begin again with the tractor/trailer in a straight line. By the way, the longer the trailer, the easier it is to back where you need it to go.
Tomorrow we have a 25 question quiz that will test us on what we learned so far as well as continued shifting and backing exercises. Then, after the day is done, it's time to head home and see the family!
8:51:02 AM
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Groan…I received a $151 fine today for not having my log book correct.
Actually, it was a "paper" fine. Mr. R is coaching us on what to expect when our log books are not up to date when the DOT inspects them (E.G. at a weigh station). Every time you get behind the wheel, your log must reflect that. In other words, every change of duty status must be instantly recorded. Later on in the day, I'd get another $151 fine for failing to record that Mr. R was in the truck as a co-driver (even though he didn't drive at that point). Hmm…if a trucker gets nailed with a $300 fine and if he receives .30/mile, and if he drives 500 miles/day, then it would take roughly a day and one-half of driving to pay for the fine. Ouch! It's important to keep the log book accurate and up-to-date.
I scored 2-wrong out of 25 questions. One of was subject to interpretation (my opinion). The other one had to do with whether the clutch is engaged or disengaged when the clutch is pressed to the floor. (It is disengaged so that the engine and transmission are momentarily separated so that the desired gear can be obtained. Then the clutch is engaged so that the power from the engine flows to the transmission which in turn goes to the driveshaft, differential/axle, and wheel.)
After the quiz, we reviewed backing procedures as well as tips for being aware of what is going on all round you. Whether driving an automobile, race car, or tractor-trailer, the environment ahead, behind, and on the sides of you (even under and above you) is constantly changing. You must be alert and aware of what's happening as well as anticipating what may happen for to make driving safe for you and those around you.
Each student is given a pass/fail card on activities that must be mastered in the driving course. If you are unable to obtain a "pass" on any given activity, you most likely won't be able to pass the same activity when it comes time to take the actual CDL skills test (road test). Today, I decided to test my coupling/uncoupling skills. I performed my coupling procedures flawlessly with one major mistake. When you exit the tractor and look either underneath it or the trailer, it is wise to shut the engine off and take the key with you. Common sense dictates that you don't want anyone moving the vehicle when you are underneath it! Well, I forgot to shut the engine down and take the key with me when I was checking under the trailer to see if the trailer kingpin and the tractor 5th wheel connection were secure. Oops! Or as Mr. R would say "you're dead." In uncoupling the trailer, I pulled the tractor about a foot too far forward after uncoupling the trailer. You only want a sliver of space showing between the tractor 5th wheel and the trailer nose so that if there is something out-of-whack (E.G. landing gear fails), the trailer will still have the tractor underneath the trailer. Since I pointed out my mistakes before Mr. R graded me, he allowed me to pass the exercises. That's cool. I expect I won't be making those mistakes again!
We continued to practice shifting, and straight line backing. Later in the afternoon, we began learning 45-degree backing. This is one of the backing maneuvers to learn when you are unable to back in a straight line. I was not too satisfied on my skills in this area. I'll cut me some slack since it's been over 15-years since I backed a tractor/trailer combination using a 45-degree maneuver.
Mr. R took us on the road with our vehicle near the end of the day. He showed us what it will be like driving a big rig in city traffic. He talked to us as he drove so that we could understand everything he was watching for and everything he was doing. Next week we'll be on the road (look out Marshfield! *grin*). In addition, each of us will be given the keys to the truck so that either before or after class, we can continue practicing on the range (not on the road). It's a good feeling when a company has enough confidence in you to entrust an expensive vehicle to you (when you treat adults as adults, you tend to receive adult-like behavior. When you treat adults like children, you tend to receive either childish behavior or irritated and frustrated adult-like behavior). With one week down and three to go, I'm very satisfied on the training experience I'm receiving with Roehl Transport.
We were able to leave class an hour early (4:00 PM) for the 4th of July weekend. Yeah! It will be great to see my family again.
8:50:50 AM
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The weekend was mostly a blur of home remodeling. Heidi and I continued working on the basement and preparing it for our new sleeping quarters by September 1st. Heidi measured and cut the insulation and I glued it to the wall. Next we stapled sheets of plastic to walls over the installation. Finally we started cutting and putting together the 2x4 framework which the wall board will be tacked onto. My hat's off to Heidi – she's putting her heart, soul, and sweat into this project. I'm not much into home remodeling and the like. So, she is the forewoman and general contractor rolled into one (I'm like a hired hand who assists as need be). Sunday morning worship was a great reminder of the freedom we have in this country as well as the blessings of God upon this nation. I pray that we—all of us—can draw near to the reality of God and His goodness in the coming decades; that we can truly acknowledge His magnificent mercy and grace, love and compassion, justice and forgiveness.
Saying goodbye to the kids before leaving for Marshfield was tough for me. An hour before I left, my feelings were of intense sadness. When the time came for our goodbyes, they seemed OK. However, I certainly had a lump in my throat as I headed out the door. I'm very proud of them for making the best of it (even though they are most likely perplexed as daddy won't be around nearly as much as he used to—especially once I'm on the job).
I arrived in Marshfield shortly before 8:00 PM. As I pulled up the apartment, there was Mr. B pulling up as well. We shared some moments about our weekend (it was tough leaving his family as well. In fact, his daughter wanted to accompany him back to school!). I unpacked and then completed my homework for tomorrow before retiring for the night.
This morning I got up early, showered and then spent some quiet time before God reflecting on His greatness. Then I packed my lunch and headed to class. Today we reviewed what we needed to examine in the tractor cab before and after driving the vehicle. For example, doors, windows, horns, gauges, clutch, break, etc. Another way to remember part of the inspection routine is BBHF+LAB (Button-Emergency, Button-Service, Hand brake, Foot brake + Leaks, Alarms, and Buttons) which deals specifically with the braking of the vehicle.
Then we were on the range for continued practice. We were all a bit rusty after 3-days off. However, we seemed to come back to us fairly quickly. It had rained the night before and would continue raining intermittently, throughout the day. The range was needless to say a bit messy. At least the reddish clay gravel mixture wasn't as bad as mud! Mr. R introduced us to Mr. SB—another Roehl instructor. He would accompany Mr. B and me into portions of Marshfield for our first day on the road with the big rig! Mr. B drove first. He did pretty well—even surprised himself. Then it was my turn. Everything went fairly smooth until I nearly took out a light pole when turning the vehicle. Other than that, I felt good about my driving! The "light pole" incident happened when I got a little flustered when crossing a rail road track and then entering into an intersection immediately adjacent to the tracks. A driver who was approaching the intersection in the opposite direction and turning the way we were going took pity on me and waved me on to turn first. So turn I did—just a tad before I should have started turning (Alright it was more than a "tad"). I knew I was in trouble when my instructor yelled "stop." I cranked the wheel to the right so that the trailer would miss the pole (but go over the curb) and off we went. By then the light had turned green for the folks on the other side of the intersection who then quickly caught up to me but cautiously gave me a wide berth as they passed me on the divided highway. A few minutes later we went through the same intersection the same way and I'm proud to report that the turn went much better than before. (I.E. the light pole stands tall for another day!)
Then it was back to the range for more practice. My 45-degree backing is still sorely lacking. That is something I need to practice. We called it a day after Mr. SB showed us a step-by-step in-cab inspection. Starting tomorrow, we will be given keys to the vehicles we are assigned to so that we can come in early or stay late to continue practicing without an instructor present (but only on the range). I'll be taking advantage of that!
8:49:58 AM
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Today was a good day – no light poles were in danger! In the morning we addressed trip planning techniques and received our very own 158-page, 11x15 ½ inch Rand McNally Motor Carriers' Road Atlas '04 for the United States, Canada & Mexico. Although it is designed for drivers of commercial vehicles, it is also comes in handy for any type of driving excursion. For example, family vacations by automobile would be more enjoyable using such a tool (no more map bickering between parental units!).
On the range, we continued practicing shifting and 45-degree angle backing. A 45-degree angle backing procedure is used when you are unable to set up to back up the tractor-trailer in a straight line into the loading dock (or whatever). Therefore you position yourself perpendicular to the loading dock about a trailer's length (your trailer length) away from the dock. To back into the dock from the driver's side, you position the center of the tractor's left rear duals at the outside edge of where you want the left side of the trailer to be once in the dock. For the purposes of illustration, you are now pointing to "12:00". Then turn the wheel all the way to right and move forward until you have reached a 3:00 or 3:30 position. At that point crank the wheel all the way to the left while continuing to move forward. At about 1:00 or 1:30 stop the vehicle. Get Out And Look (GOAL) to see how you're lined up. There should be a relatively short distance for you to continue backing the trailer into the "hole." All that remains is to continue backing and guiding the trailer into the exact spot you need it to be without going beyond parallel to the dock. Otherwise, if there is a trailer parked on the passenger side of your vehicle, you may put a crease into that trailer (as well as yours) since it is in your blind spot. The CDL (Commercial Driver's License) skills tests allows for 3 attempts (pull-ups) before backing completely into the test docking area. I've still got plenty of practice ahead of me before I'm satisfied with my 45-degree angle backing. Mr. SB helped me realize better 45-degree angle procedures later in the day by providing me with the above instructions. I was able to try it out once and it worked well. I'll need to continue practicing this tomorrow!
After lunch, Mr. B and I has some extended drive time with Mr. SB in the "real" world. We drove through the same basic area of Marshfield as yesterday and then expanded our horizons a bit. Today we got our big-rig up to 10th gear (55-mph) on the state highway. Do you realize that it is possible to take an individual who has never drove a tractor-trailer vehicle and within 7-days of their attending a professional truck driving training school, he/she is driving in the streets and highways around where you might live?! Believe it! Of course there is an instructor aboard at all times when a student is learning how to drive (except in designated practice range training areas on school property). Even so…7-days to go from zero to 55-mph in a semi-tractor-trailer vehicle on public transportation routes. Incredible! By the way, it's a unique feeling when you are driving 55-mph on a two-lane highway and one of your fellow students is coming toward you in the other lane also at 55-mph! Part of me wants to rejoice in the moment – we're driving the big rigs in the real world. However, another part of wonders if it is such a good idea to have two student truck drivers traveling towards each other at 55-mph. In the end, common sense tells me that none of us would be out on the roads if we weren't ready (Our instructors have over a million miles of safe driving each—they know a thing or two about whether a student is ready or not for the open road).
Every day that goes by, we're all gaining more confidence in driving our 60-foot vehicles and our skills show it. Back at the ranch…er…range, I complete an in-cab inspection and then we call it a day. At the apartment, I complete two more chapters of homework, talk to Heidi (she and two friends moved our piano up from the basement to the first floor around a tricky staircase (yes—the piano still works!), and then called it a night shortly after 10:00 PM.
8:49:46 AM
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There's no classroom today! All of our time will be spent in the trucks today—either on the range or on the road. We meet on the practice range where our tractors and trailers are parked at 7:00 AM. After a tractor inspection, we start 'em up and connect to the trailers at which time we perform a tractor-trailer inspection. Then we commence practicing the 45-degree angle backing procedure.
But first two of us are "reassigned" to another driving partner and tractor. This mixes things up a bit as we can learn from each other as well as learn the nuances of different tractor-trailer equipment. I'm assigned to ride in tractor #2468. The tractor I've been assigned to from the beginning is #2436. Both units are "conventionals" (the engine compartment sits in front of the driver much like an automobile's engine area under the hood as opposed to a "cab-over" model in which the driver sits over the engine—no hood). However, #2468 is a conventional "condo" unit. In other words, it houses a double-bunk arrangement that allows a person to stand up in the area between the driving section and the sleeper section of the truck (I'm 6'3" and can't touch the ceiling!). I prefer the condo style as I could exercise in such a vehicle using my portable stair climbing exercise machine. However, I suspect that a condo is assigned to team drivers (those who share driving duties and can keep the truck rolling for longer periods of time than a solo driver). Still, I'll certainly ask if a condo unit would be available once I'm assigned my own vehicle (never hurts to ask).
So for today, I'm partnered with Mr. J. and Mr. SB. We go for a spin around Marshfield with Mr. J and me sharing driving duties and arrive back in time for lunch. I stay on the range and practice backing maneuvers while Mr. J goes to the driver's lounge and eats lunch. Then we switch. After lunch, off we go for a tour of the countryside. Wisconsin is really a beautiful state—rolling hills, pastoral setting, four seasons (winter, summer, winter, and winter) *grin* -- there really is something for everyone to enjoy. Mr. SB shared some of his wisdom with us over the 35-years he has driven the big rigs and we wisely apply it to our driving skills. Every day all of us are seeing steady improvement. Today, for example, I continued to refine my down-shifting techniques. Instead of going down one gear at a time, we can go 2 gears at a time. In time, we will be able to judge exactly what gear we need to be in given the situation we're in and get there simply by looking at what speed we're at.
The day flew by—very enjoyable. I personally drove for just under 90 miles! By the time we got back to the range, we had missed Mr. R's under the vehicle inspection (seems Mr. R and Mr. SB had a communication misfire on when Mr. J and me should be back for the inspection). By the looks of things, it was a successful (All 3 of their backsides were covered in dirt and dust!). You literally crawl under the vehicle on your backside and look at the vehicle beginning with the front and working your way all the way to the trailer end (65-feet total). Mr. R will have the privilege of crawling under the vehicle again tomorrow and showing Mr. J and me how to properly inspect a big rig from the bottom up. I hope it doesn't rain!
Heidi left a message that she was off to the business meeting this evening. So, it's homework time and then I'll be counting zzz's.
8:49:34 AM
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Whether you are taking a vacation, going overseas, or trucking interstate, trip planning is so crucial to your overall success and peace-of-mind. This morning we reviewed the various aspects of preparing to get a load of freight from point "A" to point "B".
There's more to it than you think. First you have to make sure that the freight is loaded properly and securely. Next, you have to adjust (slide) your trailer tandem's to the appropriate setting for the most restrictive state in terms of length of vehicle as well as the distance between the trailer kingpin and the center of the trailer duals (exact specifications vary from state-to-state). Then, you take the loaded tractor-trailer to the nearest scale to be weighed. If need be, you can fine-tune the weight distribution resting on the tractor axles IF you have a sliding 5th wheel connection on the tractor. If everything is OK, then you can start your trip per your trip planning. If not, call your dispatcher and inform them of your weight problem. You may have to go back to the shipper and either have them (and you) redistribute the weight or take some freight off so that you can drive legal. And you thought a professional truck driver had life easy!
Later on, Mr. R informed us that we graduated from the "outside" practice range (primary used for shifting and 45-degree angle backing to the "inside" range. The inside range has a number of exercises to complete. First you begin pulling your rig up to two orange cones and stopping so that the front of your vehicle is even with the cones. Then you maneuver your rig around some orange cones in an "S" shape. Forward and then backwards! Next, you go through a set of orange cones. Once through them, you back in a straight line through them. From there, you practice driving your rig through two trailers having a spot between them to park your rig (E.G. at a truck stop). You approach first from the drive side, go through the space (without hitting the trailers!) and then do a loop to the right and enter the same spot from the passenger side (your blind side). Then you position the park as though you were going to be shutting it down. From there, you proceed to a "Y-back." This is where you back your rig in from the road to a 90-degree dock. It's similar to a 45-degree backing process except you are starting at 90-degrees from the dock. Finally, you go to the 45-degree angle-back dock. Then you do it all over again. Practice makes you better and better! (I've ran over 3 orange cones yesterday. Drats!) Later on next week, we'll practice one more backing exercise—parallel parking!
The inside practice range is fun and challenging. Mr. B is picking things up well. Mr. J and Ms. J are progressing well – Mr. has them backing up their rigs on the outside practice lap (straight-a-way, corner, and another straight-a-way) to help them master backing up a tractor-trailer combination. During the afternoon we each went on a short road trip with an instructor. That completed our progress report (due every Friday) on how each student is doing. From the looks of it, we'll all be here next week.
I had a nice chat with Mr. B back at the apartment. He told tales of his farming days helping his grandfather out with his farm. There is no doubt about it—farming is hard work! His wife's birthday is tomorrow, so he won't be staying here for the weekend although he will be here for Saturday's training session (makes up for the 4th of July holiday day off we all had on Monday).
8:49:23 AM
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After a week of cloudy weather, the sun appeared in force today. We are glad the trucks are air-conditioned as it was in the 80's today. Today we worked on the inside range all day. It was fun playing dodge-the-truck as we meandered about the course (just kidding! One doesn't mess around with a tractor-trailer combination weighing in the neighborhood of 28K lbs.). Every day, we are all feeling more and more confident about all of driving skills. I think I've finally figured out how to successfully back the truck up with no more than one pull-up for both the 45-degree and "Y-back" backing procedures (Thank you God!) Of course, I'll have to tweak my findings depending on the specific location/situation/and vehicle length. Later in the afternoon, Mr. R, Mr. J and I crawled underneath a tractor-trailer from front to back. It's a whole 'nuther view looking up. It was interesting to see and hear how trucks are put together today as well as how they were put to together 20-30 years ago (Mr. R is a wealth of information about components on the truck). It's also a bit weird (spooky?) being under a big rig (there's a reason you shut the truck off, remove the key from the ignition, and take it with you!).
Today was a bit draining. The sun, heat, humidity, and climbing in and out of the truck cab every time you needed to back up took its toll (If I was in top shape, it wouldn't have been so bad!) Back at the apartment, I relaxed and got caught up on the news (nothing much new), ate supper, did some additional homework for next week, and then watched a couple of movie reruns. After going to bed, as tired as I was, I found myself not being able to sleep which is usually very odd for me. So, rather than squirming around, I figured I'd get up and do something. Well, that didn't exactly work because my mind wasn't really functioning, so I turned on the TV. I watched two more movie reruns. The second one (Born on the 4th of July) which I'd never seen was disappointing. It told the story how a young man (Tom Cruise) went to fight in Vietnam on the premise that it was the right thing to do (God and country, etc.). He came back a changed man—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. To a certain degree, I believe the film accurately portrayed the horrors of war, and specifically, the confusion surrounding the rationale of committing United States forces to fighting against the principles and ideals of communism in a foreign land. However, I get rather disgusted when I see Hollywood blame the political party slanted to the right for everything from soup-to-nuts. That is so yesterday antiquated thinking. Who believes that anymore?? (For example, if memory serves correct, it was President Johnson who gave the "OK" for America to go fight in Vietnam in the first place). I guess that's why I now get my TV news from the FOX News Network group. At least they present the story based on the facts and let's the viewer decide what is going on rather than the other networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, etc.) who slant the news to make you think a certain way rather than thinking for yourself. Of course, that's one of the challenges facing America. Fewer and fewer people actually think for themselves. We'd rather be entertained than face reality and sift through facts that happen on the international, national, state, and local level. It's far easier be spoon-fed information on how certain entities want us to think than make our own minds up about issues and events in the world today. Isn't it ironic that in 50-years, we've gone from questioning everything to accepting everything. Does anything really disturb us anymore? Yes—9/11 forever changed the landscape here and abroad. But, nearly 3-years later, it seems that we all want the war on terror to end—get our men and women out of Iraq (and all the countless other places around the world where our military presence is). I'm all for that. But the common sense dictates that ain't gonna happen anytime soon. I think this is due to the fact that our attention span is about as long as it takes for us to watch a movie. It seems that we live for the moment rather than preparing a decent place in America as well as around the world for our children's children to live in. But I digress….When the movie was done at 3:30 AM, I stumbled into bed and fell asleep.
8:49:06 AM
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I surprised myself and got up shortly after 8:00 AM (less than 4-hours of sleep). Earlier in the week I had thought about attending a local church service this morning, but then decided I had better refine my driving skills instead. The weather channel indicated that Marshfield could see rain this afternoon so I decided practice on the range in the morning. I had it all to myself. Mr. J and Ms. J had planned to be here as well but when I left at 12:00 PM, they hadn't yet arrived).
After parking the car at the apartment, sure enough it started to sprinkle. However, that's all it did. The sun came out later in the day! So much for planning your day by the weather! The afternoon I caught up on trucking journal (what you are reading) and then did the rest of my homework for the entire course. The rest of the evening will be to begin reviewing my notes over the past two weeks, eating supper, and watching a mindless movie rerun—one that hopefully will put me to sleep early!
8:48:52 AM
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A new class began today for 3 individuals embarking on a trucking career. Two weeks ago I was in at the exact starting point as they are now. They are down to 2—one didn't pass the physical (medical) requirements. The class I'm in continued to refine our skills on the inside range. Mr. R took us out one-by-one. (Mr. B and I went together since the company borrowed temporarily the truck I've been "assigned" in hiring new experienced drivers. They do a road test to see just how well the "experienced" drivers really are.) The 25-minute route we took went through the heart of Marshfield. All of us did fine—no "incidents!"
After lunch, we were introduced to "The Roehl Way", a 7-step safety course that Roehl Transport introduced in March of 2003. I like it. The focus is two-fold: safety is a value—not a priority and the focus is on protecting other drivers first (Driven to Protect Others). If you drive in such a way to protect other drivers, then you of course will be protected as well (similar to the Golden Rule – treat others the way you want to be treated). The safety course is starting to be recognized—another school out East is now using it.
We finished the day on the range (it was hot and humid this afternoon!) and called it a day.
8:48:41 AM
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We dodged a couple of raindrops on the range before Mr. R took us into | | |
