TravelsinTrucking

Hi everyone!  A few quick updates for ya :).  So, as I neared the end of CDL school, I narrowed my prospective employers list down from 15 to 2 (yes, I really was that thorough bahaha).  I got my CDL on 6/8, and went to visit the York terminal of Hogan Transports that afternoon.  I had spoken to the ops manager on the phone a week or two before then, but it was my first time meeting her in person.  She's super chill!  The following Monday, I visited my other remaining option, but they only had home daily, bulk material loads, and that was pretty exactly what I DIDN'T want to do!!!  So, I felt really good and a lot of peace about Hogan, and decided to make them my first trucking home <3. I called my recruiter that afternoon (6/14) and let him know my choice, and he pretty much said I was hired, could I attend orientation the next morning, and could I be in Ohio the following Monday.  I was like, uhhhh, I think so??  LOL.  Apparently, s...

The other 2 guys who had failed their first times, passed on their second times.  I was the last person to test the 1st time and retest the 2nd time.  I didn't want to be a three-peat!!!  Now, I should mention, everyone in the class besides me had owned and driven a manual vehicle at some point in their life.  I, the cheese, was standing alone.  So, for what that's worth, I did an amazing job learning to shift in the short time I had (5 weeks). When I got to school that morning (last Tuesday), I was looking for a useful distraction lol.  I found it in tutoring the new class of CDL students on the finer points of the pre-trip (which I, of course, loved doing!!!).  I felt like a proud teacher, imparting wisdom with every gesture I made.  Then...it was time for me to turn back into a pumpkin (another student), and do my retest haha. I retested with a different examiner, which was fine with me.  I made it out of the yard without running over ...

My first shot at the road test was about mid-morning.  First thing that morning, I went with my instructor and we tried all sorts of roads and turns.  I only made 1 mistake; everything else I nailed!  Annnnd then, I promptly failed the road test on the actual exam!!!  I was like, what the heck just happened?????  Again, it could have been nerves, but I also suspect that I was just plain confused.  See, there are things one has to think about with a manual transmission that one simply glosses over with an automatic transmission.   Oh, and did I mention I had to double-clutch???  I had to learn to press the clutch in slightly to come out of gear, then press the clutch in slightly again to put it into the next higher gear.  To downshift, do that and then add in a quick engine rev in the middle just for kicks and giggles.  Not gonna lie, the manual transmission was kinda my arch nemesis during class.  I was convinced the clutch w...

Hey everyone!! So, by now, most of you should know that I passed my CDL exams, and am now a licensed commercial driver!!!  I am beyond elated.  I can't describe just how good it feels to have made it all this way from where I started <3 .  I'll take this opportunity to share my insights as to how my testing went. There are 3 tests: pre-trip/in-cab (a verbal explanation of all the components of the tractor and trailer that need to be inspected every day prior to driving + a test of the brake systems); maneuvers (straight line backing, offset backing, and parallel parking); and the road test.  If you think about it, getting your CDL is 3x as hard as getting your normal Class C (regular license for cars and light duty trucks).  I had to take 3 tests to get my permit, and then 3 tests to get my license LOL. I passed the pre-trip/in-cab the first time I attempted it.  I named 88/90 components accurately.  My examiner said that I gave a thoughtful, ...

Hi everyone!!! One weekend, I was fighting an ear infection. The next weekend, I was exhausted and busy, and the next weekend was really, really hard!!! I finally have a quick second to update all of you haha. Things are going very, very well at school. I'm in my 4th week out of 5, and I'm enjoying myself, and enjoying learning about the industry! I can now upshift and downshift on a manual semi-trailer. Back in a straight line, offset park, and parallel park (yes, I can actually parallel park a 53' trailer!!! thazz right, I'm a boss...😎). Now, if only I could figure out how to parallel park my Hyundai Elantra bahahaha 😂😂😂. I've done left turns, and right turns, and drove on Route 30 yesterday. I've only hit 1 object, and stalled out 3 times. The object didn't break, and I didn't hurt anyone, so for never having driving a manual trans in my entire life, this is a total win for me!!! I can perform a complete exterior pre-trip inspection wi...

Hi everyone! I wanted to let you know that the 1st week at my new school was awesome!!!  It took some time to settle in, but now, I'm feeling like part of the crew, and I'm really enjoying myself.  I am the only woman in a class of 8, and at times that feels daunting.  But, I'm doing my best to focus on learning how to do my job to the best of my ability, so when I'm out on the road by myself, I can be safe and efficient.  I've retained about 85% of what I learned in my first training program, so I'm really proud of myself. My class is made up of several generations, so it's interesting to kind of hear and see how each person arrived at this point in their lives/careers.  We had 3 recruiters come in on Wednesday, and they made their pitches.  2 of them were advertising their flatbed divisions (which I'm not strong enough to do safely, and I'm okay with that lol), and the 3rd had an equally arduous dry van division (loading and unloading food supplies...