Golf you so rock thank you so much for the fantastic advice. I just printed the whole reply off (hope you dont mind?) ops: but its really great and i dont want to forget anything you mentioned

 

Well sorry for calling you a 'HE'--I'm guilty of seldom looking over there to the left to see Who or which gender is making a post. And if that lovely photo had been there "right off the bat" I wouldn't have been able to keep my eyes off it.

Have fun out there.

 

Thank you for the compliment.. it would have been there but i couldnt get onto my MySpace to get it right away.

 

While I was in CDL training , we had a list that we went over each day. Our whole class followed each other around as they each did their pretrip.
This worked good but if you are not careful you can pickup bad habits because some of the guys would skip stuff, if this happens point it out .
Also some guys would skip around on the list and get out of order , I found it better to keep the pretrip exactly in order so you won't miss something. I would go over the pretrip on my drive to school everyday , I had no problems . Now when I actually took the test the examiner said to do a pretrip on the " connections" I had not heard this term before so I assumed he ment fifth wheel, air lines , pigtail and soforth so I politely asked him and he said yes. Their language may be a bit different, don't be afraid to have the examiner explain things .Actually the pretrip is the easiest part of the exam but if you fail the airdown you fail the whole thing, so keep that in mind . While your brother does his pretrip , ask him what this or that is suppose to be or do , this will help you understand more about what you are doing (I am sure this has been pointed out on this thread). I am no expert and hope not to sound like a know it all just my 2 cents worth

 

in reguard to the pretrip check;

the advise some one gave earlier- about learning WHY and FOR WHAT you're
checking everything for is most important. But also remember the most important is the PALS brake check test is the most important part- if you mis it scrub the whole test.
If I remember correctly; been a while there's 110 items on a DOT pretrip inspection.
Best to just start out at the front of the vehicle and slowly walk around it--visual reminder of all the components you're inspecting. Usually, the day you test, there's too many students to be tested by the State Examiner to have every student go through the hole speal. So, usually he just points to something and you better know---What you're suppose to be looking for.
More crafty examinations might involve a vehicle setting with several defects- and you're suppose to be able to find them. Very rarely will you have to walk/talk your way through the whole 110 points.

 

thanks headborg sounds like im going to have a lot of things i need to learn good thing im out with my brother until i learn it lol... hmmmm.... i could be out with him for MONTHS :shock:

 

months ayyy, don't forget your "pocket rocket".

since you've made a note "to self" not to give your truck number out to me,
I'll just have to be on the look-out for a attractive woman doing a pre-trip on
a swift tractor-trailer early morning......that should be easy to spot....considering I've been getting up every morning for 15years and have seldom seen any trucker ACTUALLY doing anything similar to that.

 

LOL gonna come give us a hand are ya? it will be VERY early in the morning.. he usually hits the road about 2am lol... oh and its a flatbed

 

On a Pre-Trip exam... [ See it--Touch it--Talk about it. ]
Mention everything you see, and yak yak yak. Just keep yakking about stuff.
Bone up on what it is and what is does, as well as what it should do.
It's really not so tough. In no time you will have a good understanding,
and your brother will be a huge help with explaining parts you have trouble with.

First thing I always look for while walking up to the rig, to begin your Pre-Trip exam, is fluids on the ground.
The yakking will rid you of a lot of jitters.

Same thing when you do your Road Test. Yak-yak-yakking will leave the Instructor
no doubt what you are doing, or about to do, but the talking will also relax you, and keep you focused.

Have fun and enjoy yourself. That frame of mind always helps a lot.
If something happens that shakes you up, take a deep breath. ( that will relax you best at first, and be honest about your nerves )
We all need to build confidence in the beginning... so you should naturally
feel the nerves. That is a good thing, and enjoy that too. I miss that
enthusiasm and excitement, when I first started to drive.
One thing I remember best, is I couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear.
I really loved what I was doing, and still do. That first love is the best.


notice they do not use mirrors in this evolution. Impressive. 8)

Find out who has the BEST Steering Wheel Holder class... then look elsewhere. Some here say Swift is the best.
WHAT ?........wuddid I say ? :shock:

Personally, I don't know. I was self-taught, and probably would have failed at "Single-minded Heavy Vehicle Operation 101."

 

I have decided.... im gonna skip school and just let y'all teach me... now if i could just find i rig to practice drivin..... :twisted:

JUST KIDDING!! :shock: :shock: :shock: