April 10, 2007: Day 11

Has it really been 11 days? 

On one hand, it seems like forever, on the other, it has gone by so fast – but you all know how that goes.

Today’s post will be short – I am tired and still have homework to do.

First, a correction:  While I will have my QRT (Qualification Readiness Test) tomorrow, today was not my last day in the truck with John, we will ride together again on Thursday.

Today’s run was much better than yesterday (in most respects).   We ran about 20 miles south of here to Appleton, WI and did some “city” driving around there.  John put me in some more tight spots, most of which I did pretty well with, except one S.O.B of a combination turn - hard, tight right, immediately followed by a fairly hard left.  Much to my dismay, I was thinking too much about negotiating the left before I even finished the right and ended up cutting the right way, way too close – as in way over the curb, nearly taking out a light pole.  <Hanging head in shame>  But we got it fixed and I learned to settle down.  The second major league screw up was one that I have never, ever even come close to before – I shifted gears while crossing a railroad track. MAJOR LEAGUE NO-NO!!!  In fact, that right there would be an automatic disqualification on the CDL road test.   Stupid thing is, I realized what I was doing as soon as I started doing it, but by then it was too late.  However, at the end of the run, John’s comments were very positive, he told me that he knew where and how I messed up and that he was confident I wouldn’t do it again.   He has a way of keeping us focused and positive.

Classroom work was about scaling (weighing the truck) and how to slide the tandems (rear set of axles on the trailer) and the fifth wheel (the contraption that connects the tractor to the trailer).  That was fairly easy.  Sim class was about getting “unlost” in a city.  We were given a map to a small city, told to start at intersection such and such and pick up or drop a load at a different place.  Problem was, most streets you wanted to turn onto were no good for various reasons - low clearances, a fire, power lines down, etc.  The deal was you had to find your way around these obstacles and to your location.  Good practice!

Then at the end of the day, they had some backing practice for those of us from Ohio, for Ohio has a slightly different maneuverability section on the CDL test than most other states.  Bottom line is, I just got back to the hotel at 8:30 p.m., which makes for a very long day!

So, with your kind permission, I will close this tonight, and I promise to let you know about the QRT tomorrow.

Sleep well, be safe and keep the shiny side up!

P.S.  and DON’T EVER shift over railroad tracks!