April 2, 2007: Day 3

We’re starting to get busy now. 

After two fairly short days (yesterday we were released at 3 p.m.), we had our first “full” day – in the STA at 7:00 and not done until 5:00.  There are many more such long days ahead, and a LOT more to learn!

The morning started with a brief talk given by the Training Director for the Midwest Region.  Larry gave us some good insights about what Schneider is looking for and the dedication the company has to the most thorough training program that any company offers.  The company wants us to be successful, and it was a good thing to hear that on average, only about 1 of every 30 applicants is selected to attend training.   He was honest that not everyone makes it though the intense 14 day experience, for some will find it too challenging and drop voluntarily, some will just not be able to get it, some will learn that perhaps being a truck driver is not what they really want, so will be downright stupid and break the rules (for example, there is a strict zero tolerance policy towards alcohol while we are here.  Not just while we’re in training, bugt not at all.  Although it has not been expressed to us in so many words, I have heard that if you are late for class two times, it’s Greyhound-bound for home).   Makes me feel better about this place and this program – there are a lot of so-called “CDL mills” out there who will accept practically anyone and teach them just enough to be able to pass the CDL test.

About the few who “don’t get it,” Larry told us of the student who had some problems grasping basic safety issues.  When said student was driving with an instructor one day, he took off his glasses and began cleaning them.  While DRIVING.  NO HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL.  Huh?  Boy, I am glad they suggested to him that Schneider Training Academy just might not be a good fit.  I only hope that some OTHER program didn’t pick him up and let him out on the highway while having such habits.

Then it got fun!  Yesterday we were introduced – very briefly – to the use of the clutch and shifting a ten speed transmission.  This was all in theory, delivered in the classroom.  After our opening pep talk, we were broken into smaller groups and some of us went into the simulator (“sims”) lab.  If any of you are old enough to remember the basic driver’s ed simulators you had in your high school driver’s ed class, these are not even close.  High tech, with wrap-around screens, and even though the images were computer generated, it was a very good experience.

Our purpose in the sims was not to see how well we could drive, but to introduce us to hands-on experience of learning to shift and how to double-clutch.  As such, we were told not to worry too much about keeping the truck on the huge Game Boy screen, but to concentrate on getting comfortable with the clutching and shifting.   For some reason, those of us in Ohio have a different situation than those form the other midwest states, for they separated us into our own little group.  Either that, or they realize that we Buckeyes are more naturally gifted and they didn’t want us to embarrass the others???

At any rate, after a brief demo by our instructor, it was time behind the wheel (of the sim – do you think they’d trust us with a $200,000 semi yet?!?!).   Wanting to get the butterflies gone early, I opted to be the first guinea pig in my group of three.   I got behind the wheel, adjusted the seat, fastened my seatbelt and got started with it.

Now I was not terribly nervous because I have been driving a stick shift for 36 years.  Standard transmissions and clutches do not bother me.  And as far as the double clutching, 30 years ago I had a summer job for which I drove a “split axle” straight truck (a “straight truck” is a one piece vehicle, it doesn’t bend and disconnect like a semi).  I had to double clutch that truck, so I was not a total stranger to the process.   But this was different.

Once I got familiar with the feel of the shifter, running up through the gears was somewhat easy.  Somewhat.   We are being taught to shift based on engine RPMs, so it was important for us to be aware of the tachometer.  Start in 2nd gear (that’s right – in these trucks 1st gear is rarely, rarely used), run the RPMs to 1300, off accelerator-clutch in-shift to neutral-clutch out-RPMS drop to 1000-clutch in-shift into next gear-clutch out-accelerator.  After trying my first shift, I realized why they said that for today not to worry about keeping the thing on the screen!  However, I did finally start getting the hang of it.  Then once I worked through the gears up to 10th, the instructor had me do what they call a “bump and run” in which you can downshift into a much lower gear (e.g., 10th to 7th) in a single shift.  Since you need to be mindful of certain speed ranges appropriate for certain gears, it takes a bit of concentration at first.

All three of us in our group got two sessions in the seat, for perhaps 15 minutes total.  Yeah, we were pros!  <Ahem>  While we were getting the hang of it, we still have a ways to go!

Recess!  Well, outdoors time anyway.  Forty five degrees, damp, gray and windy.  A driving instructor took three of us to the driving range and walked though a four point inspection (Free Case Of Beer – I must post some of the terminology elsewhere on this blog!), how to enter the cab, how to enter the catwalk (area behind the cab between cab and trailer), and how to enter the trailer, all in a safe manner.  He demonstrated coupling and uncoupling a trailer, and it was much more involved than most folks know.  I am not saying it was difficult, but there’s much more than just backing up. clicking to the trailer, raising the landing gear and scooting away. 

Remember, we are outside.  We were not told we’d be outside today, so I had left my WARM jacket at the hotel.  It was fun.  I got dirty.  Put my knee into a puddle of water on the pavement while crawling under the trailer.  Yeah! That’s the life!

Did you know that the modern sleeper cabs are fairly spacious inside?  I was surprised at how much room there is in a sleeper berth.  Behind the seats there was plenty of room to stand up – with even MORE headroom above that!  But not to worry, I might change my tune about the “wide open spaces” a bit once I am out onthe highway for three weeks at a stretch!

This afternoon was more class time, and more detailed instruction on logging and hours of service regulations during which Tom (our instructor, remember him) went into more detail on the 10 hour rule, the 11 hour rule, the 14 hour rule and how Schneider applies those rules.  Because I had done a little research prior to coming to Green Bay, I was aware that Schneider’s policy is slightly more restrictive than DOT regualtions, and a bit less confusing.  But they all must be followed, and your logs must accurately record that. 

 Let’s take a little stroll through those rules, ok?

The rules say that a driver cannot drive more than 11 hours without taking at least a 10 hour break.  Nor can a driver drive once (s)he has reached 14 hours after coming on duty.  And of course, “on duty” does not just mean driving, it can also mean “on duty, not driving.”  Once you get 10 consecutive hours “Off duty” or “sleeper berth” or any combination of the two, you’re back to 11 available driving hours – as long as you don’t drive past your 14th hour after coming on duty!  Oh, and you cannot drive once your total on duty time in the last 8 days reaches 70 hours.   Sound confusing?  Well, it is – at first, but once you get the hang of it, and I am starting to think I am, it really isn’t that difficult.  And the log really helps you keep track of all of that.

Now please understand that these are my own words regarding the aforementioned rules, they are not exactly as DOT of Schneider words them, so there are going to be some technical inaccuracies and interpretations.  But my intent here is not to parrot the specific regulations found in the FMCSA Regulations Manual, but to give you one person’s POV and paraphrasing. 

Tomorrow is all day in the trucks.  They didn’t say what we will be doing (locking us in the trailers while the trainers drive over potholes?), but no classroom.  Dress warm, take the gloves and flashlight. 

But first:  SLEEP!