u/HoosierLarry

I test for my CDL on Tuesday. Since I’m a newb, I’ll be with a mega carrier and that basically means driver facing camera with AI triggered events. It seems like from what many people say, there will be many false alerts. If management just blindly accepts the AI is right and drivers are always at fault, I’m concerned about what they will report to HireRight on my DAC report.

I’m thinking that any incident document I’m expected to sign should first be reviewed by an attorney that specializes in representing the drivers.

Are any of you using an attorney to protect yourself? Are you paying a monthly retainer fee? What wisdom can you share with this kid that barely knows his ass from his kingpin?

I hate driving in the city. I have a CDL Permit. I was out driving a sleeper with a 53' trailer with my instructor when the light turned yellow. The speed limit was 45. I was driving 40. BRAKES! I stopped right at the end of the lane before the intersection. You could smell the brakes and tires. Maybe I could have kept going and cleared the intersection but I'm not risking bodily harm and property damage. Considering I stopped just before the intersection, maybe I would've been in the intersection had I been going 45. Maybe I would have been better off going through the intersection had I been going 45.

I wish there were timers displayed so that we knew how much longer we had to clear the intersection before the light changed to red. I suppose "triggered" light changes don't make that a practical solution.

I got my permit on Monday. Today (Thursday), I drove for 90 minutes.

Part of the route was a twisty 2 lane highway. I felt so WIDE, especially when another truck was approaching. It felt like we were going to joust using our mirrors. I triggered the lane departure a few times because I was hugging the outside line too much.

Left turns are challenging. I'm trying to watch my off-tracking, swing wide/button-hook and finish in the closest lane that I started my turn from. My instructor says I'm not getting back into my turn lane soon enough but I'm trying to not clip cars and cheat the turn. I lose the end of the trailer in my mirror almost immediately because all I can see is the side of the trailer. I'm not using my convex mirror like I should or the hood mirror. I do on the right turns. Just nervous, I guess. I also don't like opposing left-turners. I feel like I'm going to run out of room to go forward for the left turn and cut the other person off that's coming at me from the other direction to make their left turn.

The steering wheel feels sloppy at highway speeds - especially when it gets bouncy in the seat. The truck is out of alignment. True straight isn't hand position 10 & 2. It's more 11 & 3. It took a little getting used to that which made my lane control a little sloppy until I adjusted.

I know it'll take time. Millions have done it before me. I just don't want to screw this up. It's sort of my last chance for a new career in the third act of my life.

The state is changing their computer systems for services at the DMV - both local and online. Service days and hours will be impacted. I won’t be surprised if things don’t go as planned and the people at the office struggle with the new system. Get your business done ASAP. Check their website for details.

https://drive.ky.gov/Pages/KINDL.aspx

What job board or boards are you using to find work?

Are you using any of the specialized boards?

I start CDL school next month. I’m starting to search for jobs to put together a list of companies to research and follow.