Trucking School

The first week of trucking school was very cold and rainy. The second week was hot, and I mean HOT! It was 98 degrees out and God only knows how hot on the black top 'range'. I stood outside for 9 hours a day on the range... in the heat. I stood there... watching my team mates practice their maneuvers... when it was my turn... I wasn't freaked out about getting in the truck or doing my back docking... I was just glad that for the short time I was in the truck, I was in air conditioning! Our maneuvers consisted of pulling forward through the cones, backing up through the cones, then doing a 90 degree back dock and then a right turn. You could get no more than 9 points on the actual test. I still was having problems back docking... everything else was easy. That back docking would be the death of me! I watched my new friends struggle with the docking as well.
Andy was now taking us out on the streets of Grand Rapids. I was so nervous! He told me when to turn corners and how to turn corners... he helped me get out of messes when I didn't turn the wheel fast enough. EE gads!!! "remember, you are driving the trailer, not the truck" he would say to me. "Use those shiny things connected to the truck! (mirrors)". Clutch, neutral, clutch to gear... Double clutch! Downshifting was the hardest thing for me. Watch the tack, watch the mirrors, watch the trailer and watch everyone around you... oh, and what did that sign say? What is the speed limit? What did it say on that overpass? Good Grief!!! My respect for truck drivers has increased with each and every minute.
Week three: I finally got the docking. I only missed once the whole week. Consider that I am doing this constantly for 9 hours a day... that is pretty good! I am more comfortable driving out in Grand Rapids... Infact, the only really scarey part is downshifting. Friday arrived and so did my driving test. Andy was more nervous than I was. I went with the tester... to the truck for my pretrip inspection. Properly mounted and secured... no bent broken or missing pieces.... castle nuts and cotter pins.... Phase one complete! On to phase two. I had to do the range for my test. I missed the dock by a foot so I pulled up and redid it. The second time, I pulled right in. The rest of the range was easy. I passed the range. On to phase three. Driving for an hour in Grand Rapids. This is the first time that Andy wasn't with me. I was very nervous. I did pretty good... some mistakes, but I knew I had passed. Once we pulled into the range, after the road test, Andy came to the truck. He stood nervously outside until the tester went over the good and bad of my driving. Andy had to go back to his other group on the range. After the tester shook my hand, and said, "congratulations, Driver." I got out and ran to Andy and gave him a big hug and a thank you!! I then went and looked for Tonya. My new friend and school mate. What a relief!!!! I PASSED!!!
Yesterday, I went to MC Vankampen and applied for a job. I now am Jeff's driving partner. My adventures driving across America will begin soon.