TravelsinTrucking

It's interview time!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 11:35:00 +0000

Hey everybody! Just a quick note that my interview with David Nemo is THIS MORNING 😃😃😃!!! It is a 30 minute segment starting around 9am EST. The interview is LIVE on SiriusXM 146, on a show called "Road Dog Trucking."

Dave and Ellen Voie (the president of the Women in Trucking Association) will be talking with me about being the association's July member of the month and my trucking journey so far. Please pray that I reflect God's glory and remain calm and focused while speaking. Thanks! 🤗💝

Hogan is my new wagon..

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 23:12:00 +0000

Hi everyone! A few quick updates for ya :). So, as I neared the end of CDL school, I narrowed my prospective employers list down from 15 to 2 (yes, I really was that thorough bahaha). I got my CDL on 6/8, and went to visit the York terminal of Hogan Transports that afternoon. I had spoken to the ops manager on the phone a week or two before then, but it was my first time meeting her in person. She's super chill! The following Monday, I visited my other remaining option, but they only had home daily, bulk material loads, and that was pretty exactly what I DIDN'T want to do!!! So, I felt really good and a lot of peace about Hogan, and decided to make them my first trucking home <3.

I called my recruiter that afternoon (6/14) and let him know my choice, and he pretty much said I was hired, could I attend orientation the next morning, and could I be in Ohio the following Monday. I was like, uhhhh, I think so?? LOL. Apparently, since I had applied to them so early in my schooling process, they'd had time to do all their background checks on me, and were just waiting to hear my final decision. The rest of that week was a lot of running around! Orientation, onboarding, defensive driving training, signing disclosures, visiting PennDOT to get my physical license, selecting benefits, visiting PennDOT to fix someone else's oversight, proving I'm me and not a thief, you know, all the usual stuff for a new job...

The following Sunday (6/20) I was off and running driving to Ohio for yard training. We had 5 days of classroom/yard practice. Most mornings, we would be in the classroom learning how Hogan's software works, reviewing Hours of Service (so we know how long we can drive before we have to take a break), defensive driving skills, map reading, trip planning (using an atlas), and a few other things. In the afternoons, we would be out in the yard practicing our 45 degree backs. These are backing maneuvers used to back into a dock for loading/unloading. We use them pretty much every day, and oftentimes more than once a day.

I needed an extra day to continue to practice my backing skills, so I stayed over the weekend and into the next week. I trained again on Monday (6/28), and then drove home on Tuesday. I gave myself Wednesday to veg, and reached out to my new boss to see when I would be heading out with my trainer to start training on the road. I thought my first day would be Tuesday, but it was actually Monday!!! lol - that was a surprise, and sent me running around again to buy food to cook so I wouldn't have to eat out as much on the road, a few items I needed to replace in order to have the right clothing, plenty of cleaning, as well as laundry. Busy weekend!!!

I headed out with my new trainer this Monday (7/5), and we started our journey! A lot of other stuff happened, but I don't really have the time/energy to talk about all of it right now haha. Here are some highlights: I got to hang out with Tiff a few times while I was there (she lives 15 minutes from where I was staying), Hannah also visited Tiff while I was there and we all got to hang out one night with a delicious dinner. Tiff cooked food for me so I could eat leftovers for lunch and dinner and save money, I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express which was very nice and had awesome biscuits that I fell in love with.

I think that's all for now. Since I've just completed my 1st full week (out of 4) with Hogan, I hope to be able to report on that sometime this weekend. Next week, I'll be out on the road Tuesday-Saturday (my 1st week was only 4 days, but my normal schedule will be 5/5.5 days out, and 1.5/2 days home). Thanks for your continued prayers for safety, and for me to be able to keep working hard! <3

Love ~ Amanda

The (first) Finish Line!!! (part 3)

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 00:20:00 +0000

The other 2 guys who had failed their first times, passed on their second times. I was the last person to test the 1st time and retest the 2nd time. I didn't want to be a three-peat!!! Now, I should mention, everyone in the class besides me had owned and driven a manual vehicle at some point in their life. I, the cheese, was standing alone. So, for what that's worth, I did an amazing job learning to shift in the short time I had (5 weeks).

When I got to school that morning (last Tuesday), I was looking for a useful distraction lol. I found it in tutoring the new class of CDL students on the finer points of the pre-trip (which I, of course, loved doing!!!). I felt like a proud teacher, imparting wisdom with every gesture I made. Then...it was time for me to turn back into a pumpkin (another student), and do my retest haha.

I retested with a different examiner, which was fine with me. I made it out of the yard without running over any grass or curbs (automatic fail), and got to the stop sign in good position to make my right turn without running over THAT grass, either. As I drove along, I was definitely nervous, but I kept a continual dialogue with the Lord, and tried to remember that the test itself wasn't really going to last all that long. I just needed to show the examiner that I could maintain control over the vehicle and follow the laws. Aside from that, I didn't need to drive perfectly. I could accrue up to 30 points and still pass, provided that none of my errors were egregious or auto-fails.

Well, I got to that same blasted hill! I had been having trouble shifting since the time I'd gotten out of the yard (I don't know why), but I was determined. I shifted that sucker like that meant business! Heading up the hill I had previously gotten stuck on, I again missed my shift, but this time I knew what to do, and I corrected it back to a gear that would work. I tried again for the shift, revving it higher this time because I was headed up a hill, and I got it! From then on out, I was able to shift with confidence, and did an excellent job!

The only other noteworthy event that I'll share here was a(n almost) run-in with a mallard duck. I was out driving on one of our local roads during my exam, and there, in the middle of my lane, was a duck. Just ducking along, calm as you please. Normally, I would have slowed down or swerved to avoid said waterfowl, but NOT TODAY. I couldn't risk stalling my truck just so Daffy could sit where he didn't belong and have a nice little snooze. So, here's how the conversation went:

Bill: Oh look, there's a duck.

Me: Yup. **stares intently ahead, gripping the steering wheel**

Bill: I think it's a male.

Me: Yup. Nice green head to attract a female. Looks like a Mallard. ** continues to stare intently ahead, aiming right for the duck**

Bill: You know you can go around him, right?

Me: What? Oh, I'm allowed to cross the double-yellow line?

Bill: Yup. I'm not going to have you murder a duck to pass your test.

Me: Hey. It's a double-yellow line. Donald was about to be pate!!! I'm not failing AGAIN because of some dumb duck!

So, the poor duck came within an inch of his life, and didn't even know it. Saved by the Bill, I suppose.

I made it through all the turns, stops, shifts, merges, and the like. When I got back to the yard and parked, Bill gave me a fist-bump and told me congratulations, I had passed. I hit the roof. Literally. I mean, I was banging on it with my fists in excitement, whooping and yipping like I'd lost my mind. I think that was the most animated Bill had ever seen me, cuz he just sat there, chuckling and shaking his head. I was so overjoyed. I got out and gave my instructor and the new class a thumbs-up indicating I had passed, and they all cheered for me.

I feel like a lot more happened, but I figure I've shared enough for the time being LOL. Thank God I made it through! I'm also extremely grateful for my instructors (and their patience), my classmates who believed in me, and all of you for your continued love and support! Not sure when I'll be able to post next (which is a shame because I've had at least 3 other major things happen in the last week and a half, but I have to go to sleep at some point within the near future, so it's just going to have to wait LOL. Love to you all <3 .

~ Amanda d:p

The (first) Finish Line!!! (part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 00:19:00 +0000

My first shot at the road test was about mid-morning. First thing that morning, I went with my instructor and we tried all sorts of roads and turns. I only made 1 mistake; everything else I nailed! Annnnd then, I promptly failed the road test on the actual exam!!! I was like, what the heck just happened????? Again, it could have been nerves, but I also suspect that I was just plain confused. See, there are things one has to think about with a manual transmission that one simply glosses over with an automatic transmission.

Oh, and did I mention I had to double-clutch??? I had to learn to press the clutch in slightly to come out of gear, then press the clutch in slightly again to put it into the next higher gear. To downshift, do that and then add in a quick engine rev in the middle just for kicks and giggles. Not gonna lie, the manual transmission was kinda my arch nemesis during class. I was convinced the clutch was just a tricky extra brake added to big rigs to drive people insane. I couldn't figure out when to use it, when to avoid it, or WHY. I just wanted to rip the stupid thing out of the truck, and send it sailing out the window!!!!

I failed the first time because I tried to upshift, missed the gear, couldn't get back into gear, lost speed in neutral, and then was unable to start from an uphill incline without rolling backward toward the line of cars behind me. Yup, on that particular section of road, I failed with flying colors!!!! I was pretty irked that I had just driven on that road 2 hours prior to testing with literally no issues (that wasn't even where I made my 1 mistake that morning!!!), and them proceeded to screw it up when it actually counted.

However, I took great solace in the fact that the exam about which I was most confident (the pre-trip) ended up being the exam on which I not only did the best, but I knocked it out of the park! The mistakes that failed me on the road test were completely related to driving manual, and they were things I never understood to begin with. If I had to fail because of anything, I failed because of the right things. That was of great comfort to me haha. Additionally, out of the 6 people who graduated in my class, 3 of us failed our road test the first time - it wasn't just me!

I tested on a Thursday, and we didn't have classes on Fridays, so my next chance to drive was on Monday. I wasn't overly thrilled at the delay in getting back into the truck...clearly, I needed to practice. But, perhaps equally important, I needed to rest. I needed to get my mind focused on the fact that I only had 1 more test. I didn't need to keep practicing for 3 different exams, just 1. The break was actually quite useful and restorative for me. When I got back on Tuesday, I was laser-focused.

My instructor, a guy who was there to refresh before testing, and I all went out in the truck (affectionately called "Betty White" because she's old, but just won't quit <3 ) to practice. I watched the other guy like a hawk. He had been driving for months on his permit in his dad's tractor-trailer, and he was good! As I watched him and asked questions, I started to understand those last pieces of the clutch's purpose that had eluded me up to that point. When I got into the driver's seat, I was able to put those things into practice, slow down, think, address my cornering issues, and timing of my downshifts, and started to understand how to recover lost gears. Those were the things I needed to work on the most, and I was finally getting them!

My instructor and the other guy were cheering me on, and really believed in me! After we got back to the truck yard, I decided to head on home. Once I understand something solidly, there's really no point in continuing to review. Further practice actually sometimes seems to make things worse. I didn't sleep well that night, but that wasn't really that unusual lol. I definitely had a lot on my mind. Whereas on my first attempt on the road test, I didn't feel like I was very nervous, just confused and uncertain, on my second attempt, I was NERVOUS!!!

The (first) Finish Line!!! (part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 00:18:00 +0000

Hey everyone!!

So, by now, most of you should know that I passed my CDL exams, and am now a licensed commercial driver!!! I am beyond elated. I can't describe just how good it feels to have made it all this way from where I started <3 . I'll take this opportunity to share my insights as to how my testing went.

There are 3 tests: pre-trip/in-cab (a verbal explanation of all the components of the tractor and trailer that need to be inspected every day prior to driving + a test of the brake systems); maneuvers (straight line backing, offset backing, and parallel parking); and the road test. If you think about it, getting your CDL is 3x as hard as getting your normal Class C (regular license for cars and light duty trucks). I had to take 3 tests to get my permit, and then 3 tests to get my license LOL.

I passed the pre-trip/in-cab the first time I attempted it. I named 88/90 components accurately. My examiner said that I gave a thoughtful, knowledgeable, confident explanation, and that I was best pre-trip he had seen in the last 2 months of testing he conducted!!! Pretty doggone good for someone who couldn't identify the shocks and didn't know that a wheel was composed of a rim and tire when I first started learning back in March!!!!! I'm so proud of myself for nailing that!

I also passed the maneuvers on my first try. During practice, I did them very, very well. On the test, I struggled for some reason. It could have been nerves, I guess, but even the day before the test, I was struggling. It's like I got out of the groove or something, and ended up with something to correct each time, instead of making one small adjustment and then getting right to the final parking location. Whatever the reason, I passed, and that was good enough for me!!!

So, on to the road test! The last week or 2 prior to testing was really the first time I felt I actually had a shot at passing the exams and getting my license. I was beyond remedial when I started. I had never driven a vehicle with a manual transmission before, and starting out my stick shift lessons in a 35,000-lb vehicle was daunting to say the least! And, driving with a 20-inch wheel means I had to turn the wheel twice as much to either side to make the tires respond. It was extremely difficult to get my brain to adjust to the exponential jump in size. When I first started driving, I could not drive forward in a straight line. I always veered off to the right. Oddly enough, I was able to drive backwards fairly straight right from the get-go bahaha. I joked to my instructor that as long as the road test was done completely in reverse, I should have no trouble passing!

So, like I said, it wasn't really until that last week or so that I felt I had even a chance of passing. Things were finally starting to click, and I was finally starting to relax enough to drive safely, consistently, and notice what my errors were. I still trouble figuring out what I did wrong to create the error, but I could at least see what the error was. That was a big step! As I neared the exams, I became more and more aware of what I was doing wrong, but I didn't know how to fix it. Then, I started to understand how to fix it, but I couldn't fix it!!! I lacked the hand-eye-foot coordination to actually fix the problem before I lost too much speed, and stalled the truck (which btw, happened many more times than I care to admit bahaha). You really haven't lived until you've stalled an 18-wheeler on the highway. Fun.

Week 4 update!

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Wed, 19 May 2021 14:47:00 +0000

Hi everyone!!!  One weekend, I was fighting an ear infection.  The next weekend, I was exhausted and busy, and the next weekend was really, really hard!!!  I finally have a quick second to update all of you haha.  Things are going very, very well at school.  I'm in my 4th week out of 5, and I'm enjoying myself, and enjoying learning about the industry!  I can now upshift and downshift on a manual semi-trailer.  Back in a straight line, offset park, and parallel park (yes, I can actually parallel park a 53' trailer!!!  thazz right, I'm a boss...😎).  Now, if only I could figure out how to parallel park my Hyundai Elantra bahahaha 😂😂😂.

I've done left turns, and right turns, and drove on Route 30 yesterday.  I've only hit 1 object, and stalled out 3 times.  The object didn't break, and I didn't hurt anyone, so for never having driving a manual trans in my entire life, this is a total win for me!!!  I can perform a complete exterior pre-trip inspection with more than enough points to pass, and my in-cab inspection and brake checks are coming along nicely, as well.  I had several days where I felt completely clueless, but I'm glad I hung in there.  At some point, it all just started to click.

Next step is to polish my offset, in-cab, downshifting, turns, and accelerating from a stop.  At that point, I'll have most of the skills nailed down that I need to in order to pass my 3 tests, and get my CDL class A license.  I'm very excited...and tired...but mostly excited...and tired 🤣.  Thanks again for all your prayers, and by all means, please keep them coming!!! 💝💝💝

~ Amanda d:p

Week 1 is in the bag!

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Sat, 01 May 2021 21:45:00 +0000

Hi everyone!

I wanted to let you know that the 1st week at my new school was awesome!!! It took some time to settle in, but now, I'm feeling like part of the crew, and I'm really enjoying myself. I am the only woman in a class of 8, and at times that feels daunting. But, I'm doing my best to focus on learning how to do my job to the best of my ability, so when I'm out on the road by myself, I can be safe and efficient. I've retained about 85% of what I learned in my first training program, so I'm really proud of myself.

My class is made up of several generations, so it's interesting to kind of hear and see how each person arrived at this point in their lives/careers. We had 3 recruiters come in on Wednesday, and they made their pitches. 2 of them were advertising their flatbed divisions (which I'm not strong enough to do safely, and I'm okay with that lol), and the 3rd had an equally arduous dry van division (loading and unloading food supplies every day). I was disappointed that none of the 3 was a good fit for me, but I sure am grateful to have realized that now before starting to apply elsewhere. I learned a lot about what I don't want, which of course gives me excellent insight regarding what I do want.

I think the guys are impressed with my knowledge, but I've definitely also let them know that I might need their help when it comes down to understanding things out in the truck yard. I see us as a team - no (wo)man left behind. Having had the first full week be entirely in the classroom felt amazing. I came in already having my permit, so everything was review for me. It built up my confidence, and helped me settle into the rhythm of a new school without having as much pressure. I was also able to help explain things to my classmates, which was fun for me.

I realized just how much I miss being in school. I love everything about learning. The problem-solving and knowledge-gaining aspects of this past week made me really, really happy. It reminded me of the importance of continuing to learn and challenge myself for fun, even outside of my employment. Over the last year or 2, I've learned that it's okay to have a more routine/consistent/simple job and challenge myself intellectually in other areas of life. This way, if I hit a rough patch where the interpersonal relationships or long shifts start to feel overwhelming, I don't have to do that plus a complicated job at the same time. I'm happy with this.

On Thursday, the other guy who already has his permit and I got to go to the yard early while everyone else was testing. We not only got to start working on our pre-trip, we also asked the instructor to show us some double-clutching so we could watch it live (as opposed to flailing on the truck simulator haha). He took us on a 40-minute field trip, and we got to see so much. Not just about upshifting and downshifting, but also about taking turns widely enough, judging sharpness of corners, how much room you need to clear a street (which may require waiting until the other vehicle backs up behind the white stop line where they should've been to begin with), and proper stopping technique so you're not coasting. When we got back to the yard, he showed us straight-line backing, and then he let us try! So, my first day officially behind the wheel was on Thursday.

I did pretty well backing up, cuz I figured out what my rearview image was supposed to look like, and then matched it. Driving forward and upshifting, I was really rough around the edges bahaha. Stalled out the truck a few times, and shifted into reverse instead of 2. I didn't realize you had to depress the clutch in order to stop! Boy, did we go on a fun ride. Thank God I was wearing my seatbelt lol. And, the instructor was super kind and patient. I spent parts of last night and this morning watching shifting videos, and practicing at home. I'm learning my side grip, and at the suggestion of one of the gentleman on one of the forums I read, I'm using a broom stick to simulate the gear shifter, and I set up a measuring tape for 7" to help my arm get used to the narrow space between the gears. My leg is so sore from learning to manage that stiff clutch, but I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually.

Anyway, that's a look at some of what happened this week. So far, I'm loving this program. It's so much of a better fit for me. It makes soooo much sense now why the first program didn't work. Here, I can ask questions, people stay on topic and ask great questions, too, the instructors are nice, and they don't expect you to walk in and rise to their standards. When you walk in, they assume you know nothing, and help you gain the knowledge. That's my kind of learning environment. I'm so much happier here!!! <3 As always, thanks for you prayers, love, and support.

~ Amanda d:p

Brief Update

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Wed, 28 Apr 2021 00:48:00 +0000

Hey everyone!!! Just wanted to let you know that my first 2 days in this new program have been fantastic. I'm feeling so much more comfortable with the style and pace of the classwork. This week is all review for me, as the other students are preparing to take their permit tests this weekend. One other fellow and I already have ours, so we will probably be entering the vehicle Thursday afternoon. I'm a little nervous because next week will start some of the tasks that I struggled with back in March, but I am already off to a much better start, so that should help.

Plus, the learning is structured right now in such a way that allows for A LOT of questions...and, believe it or not, I'm not the one asking the most LOL. That title belongs to an older gentleman who sits behind me and talks about "drivahs" and "lobstahs." Yup, he's from New England. We bonded over the Patriots and our loyalty to Tom Brady bahaha. Hope you all are well. Again, thanks for the prayers!

Love ~ Amanda d:p

First Day (Take 2)!!!

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 23:57:00 +0000

Hi everyone! Just a quick update to let you know that my financial aid came through this morning, and I am now officially enrolled in the CDL training program at my new school! Today, I was only able to attend in the afternoon because of when my aid cleared, but I will be back at it tomorrow morning for my first full day. The school is called the York County School of Technology, and it's in my hometown. Classes run 7a-5p, Monday-Thursday for 5 weeks, though I can stay longer if I need additional practice, shifting or something like that. Unlike previously, these trucks have manual transmissions, so I will need to learn to shift. That's okay, I'd rather learn now and not need the skill, than not learn, need the skill, and have to learn later.

I'm excited and nervous, but mostly tired lol. I got the call that I was cleared to attend around 11:30 this morning, and had to get to school by 1pm, so I've been running around all day! Anyway, thanks for your continued love, prayers, and support!

~ Amanda d:p

Rolling Right Along...

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 19:38:00 +0000

Hey everybody!

Just a quick update to share that I'm still making good progress in my preparation. I've completed my grant application/aptitude testing paperwork, and have moved on to the last/next-to-last phase prior to starting at my new CDL school. I'm pretty sure I know where I'd like to attend, but I'm going to hold off on sharing too much about it until I'm definitely in. In any case, it's likely I could start sooner than I had anticipated, which would be amazing! And, this new program runs longer than the previous, company-sponsored one I tried out, which is even more amazing lol.

Prayers appreciated as I round this next bend. I hope to be giving another update within the next several weeks. Thanks for your continued love and support!!! It means the world to me <3 .

~ Amanda d:p

Time for a little heart-heart...

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 16:19:00 +0000

Hey everyone! 😁 a quick update to let you know that I am still pursuing my CDL, and I need to practice tonight now working with the community organization to qualify for funding for my training. Yay!

A week and a half ago, I was also sold a car (new to me) for a very affordable price, so I now have wheels again. Thank you so much Mindi and Craig Cramer! May God bless you richly! 💖💖💖

Finally, I wanted to take the opportunity to share here what I just posted on my Facebook. Enjoy! 🤗

"In honor of World Autism Awareness Day, I wanted to share something very near and dear to my heart: 5 years ago, I was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism. At first, I thought my life was over - that every unkind thing anyone had ever said about my personality and mannerisms was true. It's taken some time, but with the help of God and my loved ones, I'm learning to love myself again. I'm starting to believe again that the world is a better place because I'm in it.

I am not autistic

I am not weird; I'm unique.

I am not slow: I'm thorough.

I am not anti-social; crowds are overwhelming.

I am not overly sensitive; I'm sensitive enough to care about everyone I meet.

I am not narrow-minded; I have strong convictions.

I am not "extra;" I am just enough.

I'm not stubborn; I'm persistent.

I'm not rigid; I'm methodical.

I may miss what many others see, but you can bet your boots I see what many others miss.

I don't like small talk; I want to hear your heart.

I'm not subtle, but I am honest.

I don't always "have to have things my own way." I make more adjustments to the world around me and the people in it on a daily basis than most people do in a week.

I'm not "too normal" to be autistic, or "too strange" to be neurotypical. It's called a spectrum for a reason...

I don't struggle with relationships for no reason; I'm overcoming more than 2 decades of feeling misunderstood ALL.THE.TIME.

I'm not so weak that I need medication and therapy to protect my mental health; I'm strong enough to learn what I need, and ask for it.

I don't need to "just fit in;" I need to be who God created me to be.

I don't want pity; I want consideration, empathy, and respect...just like everyone else.

I'm not "so smart, I'm stupid." I'm just plain smart.

I'm not "too black and white" about things; I like knowing what my boundaries are, so I can protect myself and others.

I don't always "ask too many questions;" sometimes, you aren't very clear.

I may not have your level of experience, but you've never been me. Not even for a day. There is a good chance I know more about what I need than you do.

Here's a freebie: No, everyone is not "just a little OCD." Either you have it to some varying degree, or you don't. Period.

I don't overthink things; my brain is constantly making micro-adjustments to assimilate the gray in this world to the precision of my brain.

I try very hard to read between the lines, but please remember, it's hard for me to know what you haven't said.

I may not always understand your non-verbal cues, but I do notice them. Please don't be offended if I ask about them.

I'm not picky; some food textures literally make me nauseous.

I'm not short-tempered; tapping your pencil off-rhythm, squeaking that potato chip bag for minutes at a time, and randomly making loud noises cause me auditory and physical distress.

I don't think the world revolves around me; I function best when certain accommodations are made.

I'm not really good at hiding my disability; I'm extremely well-adjusted, with excellent coping mechanisms.

I don't have to finish things; it's really hard for me to leave them unfinished.

Just because I don't stim, does not mean I don't have Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Just because "others have it worse," does not mean I do not struggle.

Just because I have unique needs and challenges, does not mean I need to be "managed" in my job. Btw - I also have unique strengths.

Just because I don't fit your definition, does not mean I'm faking it.

But, if you aren't convinced...fine. How about this?

I'm not autistic. I'm autastic (autistically fantastic)."

#WorldAutismAwarenessDay #lightitupblue #autismspeaks #aspiesunite #notdisableduniquelyabled #TheCatIsOutOfTheBag 🥳🐱🥳

Detour...Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 15:18:00 +0000

Partway through the simulator, I froze. There were 6 mirrors to watch, a 17' tractor to account for, a 53' trailer on the back, other cars, traffic signals, a corners of varying degrees of sharpness to account for. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to be looking for, how much space I was allowed to take up, how to judge when to start turning, or even how hard to turn. I didn't realize it, but a steering wheel in a CMV has to be turned 2 full revolutions in either direction to get the wheels totally pointing in that direction. That was explained that morning in the in-cab inspection, but I didn't equate that with the effect it would have when in motion. See, I learned that info last Wednesday. Clearly, it now makes sense. However, by now, my class has already probably driven on the highway and backed into docks. Not too little, but certainly too late.

Now, as I'm airing out my concerns and frustrations, I would like to take a moment to note something very important: the instructors were, for the most part, highly professional. They all took their jobs very seriously, and were extremely qualified. Everything the program advertised that it was, it really was (especially in terms of safety). They have one of the best safety records in the entire industry, and one of the highest pass rates as well. They expect 110% out of each student, so that by the time you test, you perform far and above the 85% or whatever the examiner expects out of you. I truly believe their model works...just not for me.

Demonstrating something to me twice, will not help me replicate it. Telling me to practice what I barely understand, will not help me improve it. Expecting me to know what you haven't said, just plain won't work at all. For those around me who were highly visual and hands-on, things clicked faster (though some of them still struggled with the fast-paced nature of things). When you only have 2.5 weeks to go from looking at a CMV, to driving it, turning it, backing it, coupling it, and inspecting it...you just don't have that much time! In the middle of week 3, the testing occurs. If you fail, you retest on Friday. I'm not sure what happens if you fail again.

In the end, I recognized that there was too much information to take in all at once, and the way some instructors gave direction did more to confuse me than it did to help me. In a real-life situation, whether on the road or not, that could be extremely dangerous. I wasn't willing to risk the lives of my instructor, truck-mates, or myself, so I decided to speak with the supervisor, and we went from there.

As I close here, I would like to say thank you to all of you who have been supporting me and praying for me this entire time. I've needed your prayers more than you have known. I am, again, grateful for your financial support given to me before my trip. Most of that money went toward travel, and making sure I stayed safe (ie. I would have had to spend a 4-hr layover outside of a bus station at 5 am in 12 degree weather, because that station does not open on Sundays, if I hadn't had the money to take an Uber directly to the hotel, instead. And, obviously, I ended up flying home well before I would have received my first paycheck, so it helped there, too!).

I am confident that I worked extremely hard to try and succeed in this program, and in the end, it just wasn't a good fit for me. I'm taking time to rest and regroup before moving forward. However, I am pretty sure that I will be attending a local driving school in late-April. Due to the urgent need for truck drivers, the tuition fee for this school should be completely covered by a county career training organization. I'll share more when I'm ready to :) .

For now, I'll leave you with this thought: Sometimes, the most direct route isn't the safest. Sometimes, you have to take a detour.

~ Amanda d:p

Detour...Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 15:16:00 +0000

The complete pre-trip inspection includes a check of around 215 components in, under, and around the tractor and trailer, and takes between 20-30 minutes (assuming you are familiar with the process). Entering training, I could probably name about 15 or 20 of these components. 6 students (instead of the normal 3) were squished around 1 engine compartment while the instructors quickly pointed out 20 or 30 components and then moved on to the next section. I could barely see what they were pointed at, and had no idea of the purpose of most of what they showed me. I asked about a few common components, and they thought I was joking. I was not.

I tried to explain that if I've never seen the component, don't know what it's called, don't know what it does, or how to tell if it's damaged, it's going to be really difficult to remember it. Their take on it was that if they pointed at it and told me what to say (there is specific verbiage to be use during the pre-inspection exam), then I didn't really need to know all the rest of that. Now, admittedly, I'm a tree > forest kind of person, but, I use the trees to help me figure out which forest I'm in!!! If I see an anaconda, chances are I'm not in China. If I encounter a two-step Mamba, chances are I'm not in Bolivia.

For me, the biggest source of frustration is when I ask for the explanation that I need, and I'm immediately told that I'm overcomplicating things, and that I don't need the explanation. This has been happening since I was a child. Sure, these instructors have been teaching for years. However, not one of them has ever lived a single day as Amanda McLaurin. I'd be willing to suppose that despite the fact that I don't have any of their experience, I know more about what I need to comprehend a new concept than they do.

They told me not to look at any YouTube videos, or pull up any diagrams to study - that my practice would be in reviewing the steps every day. For me, this is tantamount to singing a song to someone once, then telling them to practice every day, because they are going to perform it in 2 weeks. Sheet music??? Recording??? Heck, how about every day when I come in, you and I sing it together until I can sing it alone??? Nope! Practice on your own. Oh, and by the way, if you miss a note or two, someone could be crushed by a 10,000-lb trailer and die. No big...

That evening, I chatted with (ranted to) my mentor, Bob. He broke down the parts to me, and helped me make the connections. I realized that a lot of the components in an engine that you can determine their form by their function and location, and vice versa. In the end, it's a lot like anatomy. Everything is in place to transmit forces in different directions, connected securely at joints, and lubricated properly by the appropriate fluid. It makes a lot of sense. However, he and I took the information bit by bit, and there simply wasn't going to be enough time to do that within the training structure.

Wednesday morning, we learned how to couple the tractor to the trailer, and perform an in-cab inspection (another flurry of info). Late morning, we were in the simulator learning how to do right and left turns. Wednesday afternoon, we were going to be making right and left turns in a nearby industrial park. So, I was supposed to go from recognizing 20 components on Tuesday afternoon, to driving on Wednesday afternoon. We didn't even learn how to drive forward in a straight line before learning how to judge angles and make turns. I think they assumed we could make that adjustment on our own, but (as I was continually reminded), driving a commercial motor vehicle is NOTHING like driving a personal, passenger vehicle.

Detour...Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 15:15:00 +0000

Hi everybody!

Whew! This is going to be a very long recap, so I've decided to split it into 3 posts. What a whirlwind week this has been! Lots of traveling, learning, adjusting, and humbling experiences. I'll start off with the biggest, and most humbling experience of them all: I'm back home in PA.

First off, yes, I'm okay! I didn't leave due to an injury or other emergency. Essentially, what happened is that the training was too fast-paced for me. I'm used to not only being at the head of my class, but being ahead of it, as well. This was as big of a surprise to me as it perhaps is to many of you reading this right now. After a few days in the program, the supervisor of the program and I sat down to discuss my progress and take an honest look as to where I was. We mutually agreed that at the pace I was learning, I would not be able to take the exponential leaps between days to keep up with the new information being thrown at me. We terminated my employment (I was considered an employee on day 1), and I traveling home the next day.

The decision came down to 3 things: communication style, learning style, and safety. For those of you who know me best, you know that I like to keep information orderly, and tend to view most things in black and white. While I've certainly grown more flexible in this, it is both my default as well as my personality. There were aspects of the program that relied heavily on implication, approximation, and "common sense." I perform best when things are clearly, directly, and completely explained.

There were several foundational concepts I needed to have walking in to training to even have a hope of figuring out what the instructors really meant by what they said, but I didn't have those pieces. I did as much research in advance as I could, but the feedback I gained from most (not all) truckers before entering school was that I would figure those things out once I arrived in training. The training assumed I had figured those things out before arriving. Clearly...there was a gap there.

Also, I'm neither a visual nor hands-on learner. I learn by concept, pattern relationship, and assimilation. For me, everything builds on top of something I already know. If I nothing against which to assess a new piece of information, I don't grasp it, and I certainly don't retain it. It's like building a building without a cornerstone, or handing someone a stack of books to put away without any shelves in the bookcase. I am most successful when I can read, study, visualize in my mind, clarify, commit to memory, then put into action. In the type of training I attended, not only was there not enough time to do this, there also weren't the proper resources, or incremental steps to learn/process this way.

For example, Monday was spent doing new-hire paperwork and discussing the company values. Tuesday morning, we discussed how to avoid common accidents. Tuesday afternoon, we visited the yard to begin practicing our pre-trip inspection (an inspection that must be completed every day before driving the truck to identify potentially hazardous/deadly issues before it is too late to fix them). In order to get a Class A CDL, you have to demonstrate to a DMV examiner that you know how to do this inspection correctly.

Keeping things rolling right along!!!

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 23:42:00 +0000

Hey everyone! Quick update: my official class schedule is 6:30 am - 4:30 pm Central Standard Time Monday through Friday, and 12-4:30 pm on Saturdays. I have a ton of homework and things to memorize, and I'm figuring I'm going to have to be in bed before 9 pm, just to have enough time to wake up, be coherent, eat something so I don't pass out, and still make it to school on time.

So, I definitely will only have time to update my blog once/week max, and I might not have any time to reply to people individually at all. Thanks in advance for your understanding. I appreciate you all and your support and prayers so much!!! <3

~ Amanda q:p

Room tour!!!

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 14:13:00 +0000

It seems that my videos are too large to upload Blogger! Since I already have them uploaded to my OneDrive account, I'm going to try and share them directly from that platform. The order of videos is Intro, Tour, Conclusion. Please let me know if for some reason, the link to the video folder doesn't work. Thanks and enjoy!!!

~ Amanda q:p

Room Tour Videos

Settling in...

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 03:21:00 +0000

Hey everyone! I had wanted to upload a video of my room tour, but it's taking quite a while to load lol - maybe tomorrow! Today, I spent time napping, eating, and napping lol. My body most definitely needed the rest! I was able to get my grocery delivery from Walmart without any trouble, and am very happily installed in a single room (yay!!!). Have a great night, everyone <3 .

I'm here!!!

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Sun, 07 Mar 2021 12:52:00 +0000

Quick note: I have made it Appleton safely, and was able to get into the hotel early!!! Thank you to everyone who prayed, encouraged, and supported me aLONG the way haha. Settling in now, and hopefully going to sleep soon. So grateful to see a bed lol 😁🤗💖!

~ Amanda

Heading out...

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Sat, 06 Mar 2021 03:17:00 +0000

Hello hello! Just a quick note to say that I've made it safely onto the bus, and am awaiting my departure from Harrisburg!!! Special shout out to my friend, Karah, for getting me here in one piece, and helping me lug around my bags, even though Amtrak locked the doors, and shut off the lights just as we walked up 😆😆😆.

Okay. I am exhausted!!! Goodnight ❤!

PS - Just in case I feared I might be bored on the way there, a fellow passenger is kindly gracing the ENTIRE bus with his colorful phone conversation with his friend. Apparently, he is planning to buy an old Acura from his friend, and will transfer his Mustang insurance over to the Acura when he gets the chance. Thank you, kind sir, for choosing to drive legally. 🙄😂

Greetings!!!

noreply@blogger.com (CDL Gal 54) — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 21:03:00 +0000

Hi everyone!

Just an introductory post to welcome you to my new blog :). Once again, a special thank you to all who donated money to my trip/training period. I couldn't have done this without you. My heart is so full <3 ! Since I'm going to be very busy training to become an OTR (over the road/long haul) trucker in the next few months, I thought it might be nice to set up a blog so that I can keep everyone updated all at once. So, here are some details about my new career to get you started:

I'm leaving this Friday night (3/5) from Harrisburg, and will be traveling by Greyhound bus to Appleton, WI for training. Just a hop, skip, and a 37-HOUR TRIP, and I'll be there in 2 shakes of a lamb's tail. However, someone else has graciously offered to cover the cost of the trip for me, so the schedule suits me just fine. It's hard to be disappointed in "free" lol. I will arrive on Sunday morning. Classes will start on Monday, 3/8, and it sounds like it will be a fairly intense schedule of learning and practicing.

I'm taking part in the company sponsored training conducted by Roehl Transport, Inc. which is headquartered in Marshfield, WI. The program is called their "Get Your CDL" training. It will be 3 weeks of classes and yard time (M-F, half days on Saturdays). They cover my tuition in exchange for 120,000 miles of driving for their company post-licensing (takes about 15 months, or so), and will also pay for my hotel stay, lunch during the week, free breakfast at the hotel, my testing fees, and will be paying me each week for my training. I'm responsible for my dinners, and lunches on the weekend, as well as any school supplies/new clothing I need. I'm excited about this opportunity for many reasons, but a big one is that I'm considered an employee from day 1, and have a guaranteed job with them upon graduation.

Here is their website describing their program Roehl GYCDL Program .

I've been working with an amazing recruiter, named Brandon, since November, and he's been helping me get everything sorted out to be successful in the program. As a company, Roehl is EXTREMELY safety conscious, and thrives on personal accountability and professionalism. Having spent my last few years as a pharmacy courier and food delivery person, I'm eager to see what it's like in this part of the delivery/transportation industry. I really wanted to continue to do delivery, without the wear and tear on my personal vehicle (which incidentally, gave up the ghost while I was increasing my efforts to earn and save money for this trip!), and without worrying about possibly not having any work when demand was low.

The last 4 months, I've been studying for my exams (unlike a passenger vehicle, you have to pass 3 exams [General Knowledge, Air Brakes, Combination Vehicles] to get your Commercial Driver's License Permit), strength-training at the gym, earning money, and, following an unfortunate injury at my temp job, rehabbing my back and neck in physical therapy. Now, I'm ready to head off and take the world by storm!

There's some insight on how I got to where I am now! As always, I covet your prayers! Please feel free to leave me a comment here on my blog, if you would like to.

Love & blessings ~ Amanda