Wednesday, November 25, 2009

We DID it!

Well we are happy to say that Jeff and I both graduated from Sage Truck Driving School on Monday the 24th. We had to pass our CDL test, which included a pre-trip inspection of the truck, a skills test (3 different types of backing the tractor with the trailer, 68 feet total) and then the road test. You cannot move forward on any of the tests if you don't pass them in order, so I was SOOOO glad when our instructor Craig got into the rig and asked if I was ready to drive for my road test.

Backing is not my specialty...and I say that in all confidence! I know this skill will get better with more practice, but this is one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do. You had one shot to get it right (no pressure there) you got penalized on all pull-ups (to correct your direction) as well as 2 points for every cone that you killed. I'm sure I was known as the cone-killer in secret amongst all of the instructors, but I took my time and thought about which way I was going wrong when I was backing and corrected my mistakes enough to make it through!

We went down to DMV on Tuesday and got our pictures taken for our official CDL License. How exciting it that??? Keep checking for new updates during our training....it should be pretty entertaining.

Friday, November 20, 2009

In the Box

I did it! After 8 grueling hours on the range yesterday I finally got my parallel parking in the box...without killing any cones! I was very proud. I am so sore today from backing and turning that steering wheel over and over again. I might get rid of my old lady arms by the time this thing is said and done. I was very proud. It was quite an accomplishment. I have finally figured out which way the trailer goes with the movement of the steering wheel. It isn't as easy as it looks and can be so frustrating when you just don't get it!


This is Craig, our range instructor, talking with Jeff. To his credit I believe, next to my husband, is the most patient man in the world! He has never raised his voice at me and if it wasn't for him, I don't think I would have made it as far as I have. He is always helpful and gets my sense of humor, or lack there of when I am frustrated. Kudos to Craig. I got my first, you did a great job today from him yesterday and it made me feel very proud.


Jeff worked on Alley-backing and was frustrated at first, but by the end of the day seemed to have a pretty good feel for it. That is my next range assignment on Saturday....oh boy, can't wait. Any way you stack it, range time is backing time and 8 hours of range time is exhausting. Not only physically, but mentally as well. Trying to make sure you are doing everything right all the while shifting and turning the wheel completely one way and then the other. Our muscles are better after this session but our old joints are a little achy. Our hot tub has been the best investment we have ever made. Not only does it feel dynamite on our achy bods, it also makes you sleep like a baby. When you have to be out on the road or the range by 6 am, you need all the sleep you can get. Yes that's right, we have been at school by 6 am, which means we have to leave the house at 5:15. I'm not sure who is more confused, our dogs or us.


This is Jeff coupling up the truck, something we do on a daily basis. this is when you back your tractor and hook it to the trailer. Once that is complete you lift the landing gear on the trailer and hook up your lines to the trailer so you have breaks and power to the trailer. This is becoming a no-brainer at this point which is good because we will be doing this many times in one day. We have been very lucky in the weather department and are not looking forward to executing this maneuver when it is cold and snowy, but I don't thing we will have any choice.

We go on the road today again for 8 hours and then have range time on Saturday, then mountain driving on Sunday. Until then we hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy your time with your family. Thanks for listening.

- Jeff & Melissa

On the Road

Jeff and I had our first road drive on Wednesday of this week. It was a blast! We both like driving on the road much more than working on the range backing up our trucks. We both did really well but still need some work on downshifting...I still think they switch those gears every time we get into a different truck. We have driven 4 different types of tractors in our training. From 8 to 10 gears, which is plenty. From Freightliner to Kenworth. This picture is of Rob, one of our over-the-road instructors. This guy has more crude jokes and has been a great ice-breaker when jumping in the cab and heading out on the road. He definitely makes you feel comfortable, but is a typical truck driver. This industry isn't for the squeamish. You must be able to take a joke, no matter how crude it may be. Good thing I have been working in a man's world for a while. It could have been quite a shocker. Having two boys to raise didn't hurt either.

Just in case you were worried about where scary student drivers start to drive on the road, we started out by DIA. We drove for 8 hours on 2 lane roads out by Tower and 104th and then out to Hudson to the Love's truck stop for a break and then back out again. Our first truck stop in a truck...it was pretty cool. Good thing I can back the truck into one of those spots. Of course my instructor made sure there weren't any trucks next to my space, but that was probably a pretty wise decision. I got to drive on I-76 on the way to Love's because I had to make a PC (thats a pee check for all of you non-truckers out there). So I drove on the highway on my first time on the road, how cool is that?

Classroom Time Complete

Finally all of the book work and tests are out of the way and we can just concentrate on being on the range and the road and learn how to drive a truck. We scored a 95 on our final written test...glad thats over and done! It is hard to sit in a classroom for 8 hours a day and listen to rules and regulations and watch videos on trucks jack-knifing and trains and other stupid drivers. There is a lot of scary things that happen when you drive a truck. It has made both Jeff and I very aware of a lot of things we took for granted before. We also found out that we can be held accountable in our personal driving as well. When you hold a CDL license you are considered to be The Professional and are held to a higher standard when driving even your personal vehicle. No more Mario driving for me anymore. The speed limit must be respected!

Jeff got picked out for a random drug test and had to immediately go down and pee in a cup. They even made him do a breathalizer test....crazy. Everybody tells us that we should get used to it because it will happen a lot when you are in this business. Neither one of us has ever had to do this for any job we have had previously, so it has been interesting. Good thing we are old and boring and don't have to worry about ever passing these tests!

Monday, November 9, 2009

First Week of School Complete

Well...we made it through our first week of truck driving school. What a whirlwind! Monday and half of Tuesday consisted of taking tests all day long for our CDL permits, good times. Our brains hurt, but we kept our sanity. After 3 1/2 hours at the DMV in Denver we passed our 3 tests plus a tanker endorsement and earned our CDL permits. First hurdle complete.

The rest of the week consisted of more classroom time and some
lab work going over the tractor
on the range at school.

Saturday was our first time out on the range to drive the tractors. We first bobtailed (just driving the tractor without a trailer for all you non-driver folk) learning how to double clutch and shift. Then we coupled up the 53 foot trailer....yes that's right 53 feet and learned how to back it into a cone zone completely straight. It is easier said than done. Jeff caught on much quicker than I did to this task, but with some persistence by the end of our four hour driving time I finally got the hang of getting it straight without mashing any cones!

Sunday....early 6 am to 10 am was our range time (yuck!). We continued to practice backing in the cone zone and Craig our instructor (a very patient man I might add) decided it was time to throw some more challenge into the mix. We started practicing offset backing. This is when you have two lanes of cones which are 12 feet wide and the tractor/trailer happens to be 8 feet wide. You have to pull the tractor/trailer out of the first lane of cones...make a sharp figure 8 type maneuver and then back it straight into the next set on cones that was next to the previous set of where you started. Oh yeah and it had to be straight. I really sucked at this! Jeff got the hang of it and was, as usual, backing and doing the figure 8's like he had been driving a semi for quite some time. I was frustrated but continued to try my hardest.

We have our next range time this weekend so I intend to perfect this off-set backing once and for all! Jeff is going to move on the parallel parking so we will see what next weekend brings.

For only being a week into it, I think that we are doing pretty well for not knowing a darn thing about driving a truck. Both of us are really liking the change and are looking forward to going out on the road next Sunday. Yup, the road next Sunday. Make sure you all stay home where you will be safe and lock your doors. Stay tuned for the next exciting update and thanks for taking the time to follow our new adventure.

- Jeff & Melissa