I'm Back in the Saddle Again

Hello once again from the apartment provided by NTTS in Liverpool, NY. It is strange to be here once again, and yet, my old room mate is here and we are having a good time getting caught up again.
I can't help but feel the atmospher of the apartment has really changed. First Zak graduated, then me. Now I am back, and have learned that Freddy failed his road test and has returned home to await his next road test. This apartment is an ever-changing environment. Students come and go as they start and graduate from the school.
So, today I completed one of my road trips, with my favorite Instructor. I was nervous as I hadn't been in a truck for couple weeks. I did pretty good but truth be told, ground a few gears, and had some issues with a couple corners. My road Instructor had me go round in cirles like 3-4 times in the city to give me practice making right hand turns. Round and round we went, and even though it didn't look like it, I was getting better. After this we returned back to the school, where I was asked to parallel park. Well, it took thee times, but I got it on the third try.
Tomorrow I will have an opportunity to practice my parallel parking, as well as take a second road ride.
Till then, Have a great night.
Don

NYS Road Test Day,

We were all nervous as we gathered at the school. But even though we were nervous, everyone was doing their best to act cool and together. We chatted and laughed, but all just wanted to get it done and over with. One by one the trucks departed for the test area. I was selected to go first for team 2, and therefore was chosen to drive the truck, we were to test in, to the test site.
The Instructor for my test had one straight ten truck driver before me. We all watched as this Student (second attempt at the NYS road test) completed his pre-trip inspection. Then he did his 50-foot brake test and headed for the first turn. As he disappeared, we all continued to "mill about smartly". We were all amazed to turn and see this first Student returning to the starting position just a few minutes after he left. We later learned he had driven over a curb.
I was told to head over to the truck and get ready. I completed my pre-trip with no issues. I signed my test document and completed my in-cab inspection. I completed my brake test and we were off. I completed the city part with no problems. We headed off to the highway and again, no problems. On the way back we pulled off the highway and approached a two lane stop. I was told to make a left so I got into the left lane. (the beginning of the end) The right lane of the two lane stop was marked for both left and right turns. (I was in the wrong lane for the left turn, and the Instructor made sure I knew it.) I knew I was done as she started writing on the paper. Shortly after I brushed a curb with the trailer, and again more writing. We returned to the start point without doing the parallel park or straight line back. Crud, I knew I would have to do this again.
Later that day, I received a call from a Team member. He said that two other Team members had also failed. The good news is that the one guy that struggled in the yard actually was the one from our Team to pass. YEA!!!
I was really bummed, but I know what I did wrong and will do better next time. I now have two weeks off, due to NYS scheduling. NTTS has provided me with an additional two road rides, and will allow me to stay at the apartment. My new test date is July 2nd.
Bye for now!!!
Don

Graduation Day

Today we arrived at school at 10:45 am as usual. At roll-call each member of my team was assigned a 30-minute road ride. And yes, once again, I got to go out with my old buddy, the Lead Instructor. A thirty minute ride goes pretty fast. All we did was go down to an Industrial Park and do a parallel park and straight line back. My first attempt was less than satisfactory, but my second was right on the money. After that, we drove back to the school so the rest of the Team could have their ride.
At 11:30 members of Team one and Team two piled into the classroom for graduation. We had pizza and soda and received our certificates. None of the guys brought their significant others. We all left after graduation, and were given instructions for tomorrows NYS road test.

See you tomorrow,
Regards,
Don

Week Ten - Friday

So that's it. The last day of school. Today was a strange day. We are all tested out, so there was really nothing for us to do. The Instructors were all over the field ensuring the Students didn't bunch bunch up and just hang out talking. They wanted to make sure all the trucks were being used. So, much like many days in the past, the Team drove forwards and backwards continuing to practice our maneuvers.

We are looking forward to Monday, GRADUATION DAY !!!

WHOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !!!

I can't believe my CDL training at NTTS is over. Man, these 10 weeks went really fast.

I will check back in Monday after graduation.

Best Regards,
Don

Week Ten - Thursday

Thursday - Thursday

The yard testing went very well. Here's the break down:

1. Drop & Hook Test . . . 100
2. Off-set backing . . . 100
3. Blind Side backing . . . 90 (Crooked in the Box)
4. See Side backing . . . 100

The other members of the Team all passed as well. :-)

So, we have now completed all requirements to graduate from NTTS. Our graduation is scheduled for Monday June 15th. We take our NYS road test on Tuesday morning.


da da da dats all Folks!!!

See yall Friday.
Don

Week Ten - Wednesday

Road test two was a big success. I did a perfect pre trip, (even found 3rd gear LOL). Did a perfect straight line back and parallel park. My grade for my second and final NTTS road test was a 94. Tomorrow, we will be tested on yard maneuvers. We are not sweating this at all. This what we have spent the majority of our time doing for the past 7 weeks. My road test was scheduled last in the day so I had plenty of time to think about it. The other three members of the team completed their rides before lunch. So I was the only one remaining to pass. We were all glad when my ride was done and I told them my score.
Like I said, the team is not worried about tomorrow's backing tests, we are now all looking forward to completing the NYS road test on Tuesday morning. We are all happy to have achieved and completed successfully the NTTS Road tests. Tonight we will enjoy our success and relax.

Today was a very good day !!!

Best Regards,
Don

Week Ten - Tuesday

Hey, Welcome back !

Deep breath. . . YES!!! I passed my first NTTS road test. And, guess what? I went out with the Lead Instructor AGAIN. As if I wasn't a bit nervous based on the importance of the test, I drew the hardest grading Instructor at the school.
So, here is the brake-down on the road test.

First we have the pre trip inspection. There are two parts, external and in cab. I aced the external. The internal inspection was also completed successfully, right up to the 50 foot brake test. Well, I put the truck in REVERSE... can you believe it. OMG I couldn't believe it. 40 points right out the window. Score on the pre-trip 60.

Well I found 3rd and completed the 50 foot break test. Then it was off to parallel park. I did pretty good, The Instructor claimed the back end of the trailer was sticking out a bit (-5pts)
Score on the parallel park 95.

Finally we are off to the races, first thing I was asked to do is stop on a hill and restart without letting the truck roll back. No problem! On the road we go... In a nut shell, I missed a gear and failed to call out a couple bridges. Score for the Road Test 80.

Back into the practice yard and I am asked to pull up for some straight line backing. No problem, I nailed it. Score on the straight line 100.

So, there you have it, I passed road test one with an 80. Road test 2 will be tomorrow with a different Instructor. Also, each of the things tested separately today, will be considered part of one test. So, any failure of any part will mean failing the test. Should be fun . . . AYE!

Check back tomorrow to see how it goes.

Regards,
Don

Week Ten - Monday

Wow!!! I made it to week ten. Oh Yea!!!

Today, I had a great road ride with #1 Instructor. I would have had a perfect score, alas I finally hit a curb. Not a moment too soon. Now I can go on my 1st NTTS Road Test not needing to take out a curb. :-).
Comments from the Instructor included " Much improvement with Shifting", and no hits on the check list. As for the rest of the day, the same old back and forth...

So, tomorrow, road test one, Wednesday. the old back and forth. Thursday, road test 2 and phase III testing on backing maneuvers.

That's it for today,

Good Nite,
Don

Week Nine - Friday

Friday has finally arrived. We do not expect to have a road ride today. In the morning the Team worked on the everything truck. In addition, one team mate and I also did a drop and hook.

The everything truck is set up for the following backing maneuvers:

1. Straight line
2. See side
3. Off set
4. Blind side

In the afternoon, we worked on our parallel parking. At 4:45, we were gone. I was headed back to Rochester.

Have a great weekend,
Don

Week Nine - Thursday

The Night Ride was GREAT !!!

Hello all, Today for the most part was like many others lately. Drive forward and back up, over and over, and over, and over again.

But at 6:00 PM, it was time to embark on the famed "Night Ride". Three students go out with an Instructor for 3-hours. We arrived and 5:45 and began pre-tripping the truck. We needed to borrow three safety triangles from another truck. At 6:03PM we departed. I was in the #2 position and therefore did mostly highway driving. That was fine with me, because shifting a straight ten with a sleeper cab is currently not my specialty. My high point was starting out from the on-ramp in reverse... WHOOPS!!! Once I actually found 3rd gear, we were off to the races. After that, all I had to do was keep the accelerator mashed to the floor. The truck is governed at 65mph. Once my hour was up I turned the truck over to the third student who brought the truck back to the school. We all had a good time and learned a bit more of what it is like to take a load from point A to point B.

Well it is time to hit the hay. Take care all...
Don

Week Nine - Wednesday

Hey! Welcome to over-the-hump day. This was a good day. Yes, we did more of the same thing. However, On this day, I completed my first road ride with no hits. You see, at the end of each ride the Instructor has a carbon form they can check boxes that refer to areas we need to work on. It also has an Instructor comments section and a place for the student driver to sign.
So, like I was saying, today's ride I received no tics and the following Comments; "Nice Ride, Nice Parallel Park. No Complaints or Concerns of any kind. Good Job Today"

That made my day !!! :-)

Have a great day,
Don

Week Nine - Tuesday

It is really getting tough to come up with new ways of telling you all the same things. So, I will keep this short. No rides today. I worked on Pre-tripping the truck, and the good old drop & hook. After that excitement LOL, We were back to going forward and backing up in various directions. All I can say is that I am glad we are all another day closer to graduation.

That's it for now,

Good day,

Don

Week Nine - Monday

Wow, Week nine already!!! One more week and a couple road tests, and I am outta here :-) So, Let's take stock of where I am in the whole scheme of things.

1. I have learned all backing maneuvers that I am to be taught
2. I have completed 15 road-rides
3. I have learned about the truck, including how to inspect it
4. I have learned how to maintain a log book
5. I have learned how to perform trip planning

We continue to work o n our truck maneuvers and take road trips to continue our work on driving and shifting under various road conditions. We are mainly driving in the city these days. Many traffic lights, stop signs, railroad tracks, and various road hazards.

Today I had another road-ride. And again, it was with the main man. I felt like I did much better, even though I still grinded the gears a few times. I also had to do a parallel park, and that was done perfectly. The Instructor was impressed, and that made me happy.

So, that is all for today,

Regards,
Don

Week Eight - Friday

Today was most uneventful. No Road-rides, and more of the same old backing maneuvers, drop and hook, and pretrip inspections. Although our days are shorter now, they seem longer and longer as we are not learning anything new. Now we are refining that which we have already been taught.

It seems so strange to whiteness the various Student dramas unfolding among the various classes working together in the field. This is what keeps us amused these days. Well that's it for today.

Best Regards,
Don