Things we learned in our first weekend of truck driving school:
- Always sleep more than 5 hours the night before you will be in class for 8 hours.
- Truck drivers have to know LOTS of stuff
- Watching instructional videos from the 1990's for a full 8 hrs. is not as interesting as one would think
- Our instructor really likes the phrases, "it gets real interesting out there", "it can get real exciting", and "welcome to the world of trucking". I don't have an exact count of how many times he said those three phrases, but I plan on keeping track next week. I'm willing to bet it's in the hundreds.
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| First Day of School!
Things Every Trucker Should Remember:
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- the 11 hour rule
- the 14 hour rule
- the 60 hour/7 day rule
- the 70 hour/8 day rule
- the 34 hour rule
- to check your slack adjusters
- to fill out your log book
- to avoid driving tankers and hazmat if at all possible
- that if you don't follow proper procedures, you could get sued "six ways to sunday"
- that it gets "real interesting out there"
Questions from this weekend:
- What in the world is a "carboy"?
- Why are we the only ones in class who need to eat on a regular basis? Do boys not eat? Are they all robots? How can they subsist on pure soda for 8 hours? How can it be done???
- Why did I think truck drivers had a simple job?
- Why are there so many kinds of hazardous materials?
- And why does the guy on the video insist on pronouncing it "hazardous muhtrls" for the whole hour long segment?
Oh sure, common sense...right...*deep breath*
My summary of the important info from the hazmat video:
- Don't touch any leakin' muhtrl!
- If there is a hazardus muhtrl spill, don't choose that time to have your lunch break-for several reasons.
- If you are hauling poison and it spills:
-Don't dip your sandwich in it
-Don't stand in it and smoke
-Don't invite the by standing children to come play in it
A fun game to play:
- Any time you are talking about, thinking about, or trying to sound like a trucker, it is fun to add an "r" to random words. At least, it is fun for Ariel and I. It is our new trucker lingo, and it results in phrases like, "pass the chirps" (chips), "shirt happens", "truckin cousins blurg" (blog), "Amandur", and "get on your shurs (shoes) and lets go drive us a truck". Warning: use of new trucker lingo while passing notes during class may result in a lot of silent giggling, and several very close brushes with loosing it completely (and loudly) right in the middle of class. Use it carefully.
Favorite quotes from JD-the instructional video host:
- "Nothin'll ruin your day more than fallen' asleep at the wheel and wakin' up dead!"
- "Now I know you're thinkin' "Good night Irene! I gotta learn everything' in this whole thick book?" Well, don't get your anatomy in an uproar just yet!"
- "Use yer head, and yer horse sense!"
SWAG from the first weekend of truck school:
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| Our tough trucker faces |
- IITR insulated lunch tote
- 2012 Motor Carrier's Road Atlas
- IITR Student Training Notebook
- Driver's Daily Log Book
- Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations Pocketbook
- light up IITR pen
- "Bumper to Bumper: The Complete Guide to Tractor-Trailer Operations"-a massive 500 page book covering the entire anatomy of a truck
- and best of all: our very own TRUCKER HATS!
Summary:
This endeavor is going to be a lot of work! We are going to be working extra hard to keep up with the rest of our class, since they already know a lot more about trucks than we do. We will mostly be working, studying, and driving-and probably not have much free time for awhile. We will do our best to keep you updated when we have the time, but just know that we greatly appreciate your support and encouragement.
Girl power forever!
-Amanda
...And one more, because I have to :)
A brief side note about youtube videos, because we've had questions from our moms. Any time we post a video from youtube, we are only posting the first one you see on our blog. Any others that come up after that are just suggestions from youtube, and we have no control over what they suggest (though, if it's about truckers, I wouldn't recommend clicking on it). :)
Wow! I bet you guys didn't know when you signed up for trucking school that once you're officially a driver, girls in thong bikinis with '90s hair will approach you to express overwhelming admiration for your profession and will flirtatiously ask to "take a peek" inside your truck - what an amazing bonus perk! Not to mention that once you pass the test, you apparently get to spend your time napping on the beach. Also, thank you for providing such handy information about "what ta look for durn an inspection." Should I ever need to inspect a truck, I will rely on my basic common sense, and be sure to "check the far extinguisher."
ReplyDeleteP.S. Did they not even give you guys a lunch break? Is that even legal? HOW DID YOU SURVIVE???
Nads-I knew you would love the videos. :) yes, they did give us a lunch break, but it was only 30 minutes long, and we were there for 8 hours. We basically ate constantly through the whole class and were still famished on the way home. In the morning we each had three beverages sitting in front of us, coffee, water, and a smoothie. And these boys, they just drink soda or juice, no snacks, and a not very substantial lunch at the break. I honestly don't understand it! Next week we plan to bring even more food, so we won't be having a sugar crash issue 30 minutes after lunch. :)
DeleteOh wow! Are you the only girls in class?
ReplyDeleteThose quotes were hilarious! I especially like the "Well, don't get your anatomy in an uproar just yet!" I might start using that one. I bet it was even better heard in person.
It sounds like you have QUITE the adventure ahead of you! I am really excited for you gals and can't wait to hear more about your experiences!
We are definitely the only girls in the class-although we did see a woman from the weekday class practicing driving in the yard, and she waved and said "Hi" as soon as she saw us. :)
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