Today is the First Day of the Rest of My Life

I did, finally, pass my final test to get my CDL. It took me two attempts, but I only missed three points, which is better than any of my classmates. That was kind of cool.

So after I passed that test, I had to take another test. This one was for my new employer. It was yet another road test with a backing skills test. I passed, but barely. I am still a horrible test taker.

The road test was a piece of cake. I knew I would do well on that one. After all, I am a good driver... period. But it was the backing skills that had me worried. My instructor, Dan, at CWI, took us as a class to the yard that May uses for their backing tests and showed us the course and showed us how to maneuver the course. Then we were given an opportunity to try it. Dan told us since this was not the state test, we could pull forward and get out as many times as we needed to as long as we didn't hit anything. I was able to, over the course of several days, drive that course four times and each time I drove it, I never once hit a tire or ran over a cone. Today, I didn't run over any cones, but I did knock over three tires!

On the plus side, I had actually completed the course and was told to do it one more time before I hit the one stack of tires, knocking over three of the six. But I did hit them, nevertheless.

Thankfully, I still have a job! I thought for a moment there I was canned for sure. But, he was rather generous and apparently saw that I could actually do it if I was given enough time and practice.

Now that I know that this is really for real, it all feels so surreal! I mean, in about three days, give or take, I'm going to be driving an 18-wheeler for real! I'm going to invade the space of another trucker and I'm going to be a working truck driver.

And all these thoughts keep going thru my head: is she going to be nice? What is she going to be like? Will she be a talker or the silent type? Will she like me? Will she become my friend? Will I ever see her again once training is completed? What is life on the road going to be like? Am I going to adapt to it as easily as I think I will?

Sheesh!

History really does repeat itself.... on a small scale.

I had an epiphany yesterday. My test taking style has not changed since I was a teenager.

I took my final test for my Commercial Driver's License, and I failed the test. Not because I'm a horrible driver, but because I'm a horrible test taker.

Written tests come easy to me. Once I've been taught the material, it pretty much stays in my head until I no longer need it. I don't have to cram for a test. I just have to take it. Example: It has been 10 weeks since I finished the classroom portion of my truck driving class and I recently took the three endorsement tests. I walked into the DMV without having cracked open the book to review the material in 8 weeks. And I passed all three tests with flying colors. They were written tests. Two weeks later, I take my driving test and I missed too many points to pass the test. So I have to retake the test.

When I was 16 years old, I took my driving test for my driver's license for the first time. I passed the written test with flying colors. In the six months between obtaining my learner's permit and taking my driving test, I had much practice. My mom let me drive the car every time we left the house. I felt confident that I would pass the test. I followed the instructions the tester gave me and when we drove back into the parking lot and he added up my points, I had missed too many points to pass the test.

History, it seems, really does repeat itself.

The good news is I did pass my driving test for my driver's license when I was 16 the second time out. I'm rescheduled to take my final driving test for my CDL on Monday. I'm confident that history WILL repeat itself again!

Idaho is Beautiful.... But I Want More!

Oh the beauty of Idaho!

I am truly enjoying my road trips around the SouthWestern part of the state, and look forward to going to parts of the SouthEastern parts Our class has even managed to fit in a couple of trips to the Eastern side of Oregon! It's a real shame there aren't enough hours in the day to allow us to drive all the way to the coast of Oregon! I've never been and would love to go!

All of this pales in comparison to what I am about to explore. It won't be long before I'm able to get to explore the rest of these United States. I can only imagine what it will all look like. The one thing that I won't be able to do is take pictures while I'm driving. That is going to suck, because I love taking pictures of the beautiful sites I see when I'm out there. I have a couple hundred pictures of the sites I've seen here in Idaho. There is such beauty out there. I know my camera doesn't capture all the beauty I see, but it helps me to remember what I've seen.

My only problem at this point is the waiting. I am waiting for a female trainer to become available so that I can begin my training with May Trucking Company. And I'm getting discouraged by the recruiter. Intellectually, I understand that she has more in her day to do than to conjure up a trainer just for me; however, I feel like if they really wanted me to join their trucking family, they would do more to get me on-board sooner. I'm almost at the point where I want to say yes to another trucking company. But then I remember why I chose them over all the others, and I know my original decision was the right one.

In the meantime, I am getting more seat time which means more experience before beginning my new job. Which means that my training time could be shortened, which would mean more money more quickly.

Idaho is truly a beautiful state. But it is no substitute for the rest of the country.