First Week of Work

I finished my first week of work at Old Dominion. I love it. Shane is a great teacher and patient for the most part. I enjoy working with him. Right now we are just working his route during my training period. We go up to Millersville, TN each day. All my training at the school was with an empty trailer so, I never relized how much work it takes to pull over 50,000 pounds of frieght up over a mountain it would be. It is about 4 miles up Mount Eagle. By the time I get up it, my butt and theighs hurt from keeping the pedal to the floor and down shifting. But I have a great time.

Job

I got a call from Dewey today. He officially told me that I have a job and can start working tomorrow. I hope I do well. I pray I can be patient. I have a tendency to get frustrated easily if I am not doing something well. I then get defensive. During my training at the school, I had to keep telling myself, "Listen, they are just trying to teach me; not getting on to me." I know that Shane is just trying to teach me when I am doing something wrong. I just need to remember to not get defensive and listen and learn.

Interview

Today, I went and met with Dewey. He is the hiring manager at Old Dominion. I had to fill out paperwork, go get my drug test, and do a driving exam. Luckily, Shane did my driving test with me. I think I did pretty good. My main problem was down-shifting. I was taught a little different at my training school. But, Shane reasured me that everyone he trains has trouble with shifting and that will come with time. Hopefully, I will start work with Shane by Tuesday.

Driving Test

So, on Thursday, I went and took my driving test. The tester took me for an hour drive. She had me go on the highway, back country roads, around tight curves and turns, and over railroad tracks 3 times. When we got back to the DDS, she said, "Congrats, you passed!" So now, I officially have my CDL license. I go Tuesday to fill out my paperwork, do my drug test, etc..with Old Dominion. I should start work with Shane by next Tuesday. I am sooo excited.

Test Day

This morning I went to take my driver's test. I also took my haz-mat test.I passed my haz-mat. I passed my truck inspection, coupling test, air-brake test, my yard tests (straight line backing, off-setting to the left, and blind side parralel). I didnt miss any points. But then as my luck would have it, the truck's starter was having problems so the DDS wouldn't allow me to take it for my driving part of the test. UGHHHH!!!! So I will have to go back next week to take the driving part of the test. The next available appointment is next Thursday at 4pm. The wait is going to kill me.