Class A drivers advice wanted

Ida_Mann · June 02, 2006, 08:17:22 AM

I'm looking into getting my Class A for my company and they are willing to train,,,,,I'm smart enough to know that I don't know all there is to know about hauling 75K pounds plus and am looking for any tips from experienced people.

anything?

Id@

Joedirt · June 02, 2006, 08:58:50 AM

Learn that your Mirrors are you best friend.

Know that cars do not care if you have to get over or change lanes.

Practice shifting , smoother the shifting the better the ride.

Understand and learn how to pre-trip a truck and trailer.

Whenever you go anywhere , do not pull in unless you look ahead and see your way out.

I assume you have trailered bikes before, that will give you the basics of roadway etiquette.

Master backing up the rig and trailer.

You have to anticipate everyone Else's moves on the highway.

UncleRico · June 02, 2006, 02:55:13 PM

First thing you're gonna need is some naked lady mudflaps...that's a must.

It really says "Hey, look at me, chicks dig me".

Which is a must when you're trying to score commercial beaver in the parking lot behind the Risque Cafe.

Da_Mtg_Man · June 02, 2006, 03:19:52 PM

Quote from: UncleRico on June 02, 2006, 02:55:13 PM
First thing you're gonna need is some naked lady mudflaps...that's a must.

It really says "Hey, look at me, chicks dig me".

Which is a must when you're trying to score commercial beaver in the parking lot behind the Risque Cafe.

They're called lot lizards!

arod · June 03, 2006, 08:20:36 AM

safety is your main priority. in the world of trucks it's almost like atv's, the big rig is the killer, not the idiot in the small car that cut you off. truckers have to be somewhat 'phsycic'. you have to be thinking one step ahead as an 80k lbs is not as easy to stop or react than a car. and next is compliance with DOT. if they are offering you training then go for it. welcome to the world of the trucker,we drive america.

Southern4x4 · June 03, 2006, 08:37:49 AM

yall forgot the most important thing check your straps!!!well good luck and truck on we got your back door.

Magnum330 · June 04, 2006, 12:04:28 AM

Hey don't forget to get the hazmat also. That's a case all by it's self. Goodluck and you can use your atvflorida name for your CB handle, Ida_Man

you just might get ask what you the man for? 10-4 their good buddy

4fittyr · June 04, 2006, 10:45:41 AM

east bound and down rollin up and trucking we're gonna do what they say can't be done, we got a long way to go and a short time to get there watch ol bandit run good luck good buddy 10-4 lol

MuddFreak77 · June 05, 2006, 11:07:51 AM

How bout ya pigpen ya got a copy..... CONVOY

Ida_Mann · June 05, 2006, 01:51:59 PM

getting the Class B license this weekend,,,,getting comfortable and going from there.

Id@

honda guy250 · June 05, 2006, 02:18:25 PM

im going through the process of getting mine right now and will probbly go the same route with my B first. with that you can tow up to 9,999 lbs, that should do for a lil while.

Asphaltdragon · June 05, 2006, 03:02:02 PM

Hope everything works out for ya. I have held a Class A license for over 11 years. Asphaltdragron was my CB handle

Joe Dirt had alot of common princples that apply to trucking. Rigs carry different loads, machines, dry bulk, liquids, lumber, and commodites on different types of trailers - Flatbed, Dropdeck, Tank, Lowboy, Detach, Landoll, Van, Refer, & Dump trailers. Different rules come with each trailer you pull and the load it carries. If you will be trained by the company that awesome! That will take alot of the pressure off of you at the begining.

Always know your height and width at all times.
Know what is next to you at all times in case of and emergency lane change.
In time you will learn how to keep cars out of your blind spots.

Hope that helps

Da_Mtg_Man · June 05, 2006, 03:15:39 PM

Quote from: Asphaltdragon on June 05, 2006, 03:02:02 PM
Hope everything works out for ya. I have held a Class A license for over 11 years. Asphaltdragron was my CB handle Joe Dirt had alot of common princples that apply to trucking. Rigs carry different loads, machines, dry bulk, liquids, lumber, and commodites on different types of trailers - Flatbed, Dropdeck, Tank, Lowboy, Detach, Landoll, Van, Refer, & Dump trailers. Different rules come with each trailer you pull and the load it carries. If you will be trained by the company that awesome! That will take alot of the pressure off of you at the begining.

Always know your height and width at all times.
Know what is next to you at all times in case of and emergency lane change.
In time you will learn how to keep cars out of your blind spots.

Hope that helps

If there is a car next to you and you need to get over then just start slowly inching into their lane, They will get out of the way, If nothing else the look on their face will have you laughing for the rest of the day.

Fox17 · June 05, 2006, 03:19:44 PM

Quote from: Da_Mtg_Man on June 05, 2006, 03:15:39 PM
Quote from: Asphaltdragon on June 05, 2006, 03:02:02 PM
Hope everything works out for ya. I have held a Class A license for over 11 years. Asphaltdragron was my CB handle Joe Dirt had alot of common princples that apply to trucking. Rigs carry different loads, machines, dry bulk, liquids, lumber, and commodites on different types of trailers - Flatbed, Dropdeck, Tank, Lowboy, Detach, Landoll, Van, Refer, & Dump trailers. Different rules come with each trailer you pull and the load it carries. If you will be trained by the company that awesome! That will take alot of the pressure off of you at the begining.

Always know your height and width at all times.
Know what is next to you at all times in case of and emergency lane change.
In time you will learn how to keep cars out of your blind spots.

Hope that helps

If there is a car next to you and you need to get over then just start slowly inching into their lane, They will get out of the way, If nothing else the look on their face will have you laughing for the rest of the day.

LOL!!!

UncleRico · June 06, 2006, 12:40:59 AM

1) You're gonna need a really cool handle...."Is rubber Ducky taken?" "What about SNOWMAN?"
2) Always carry a camera, because apparently, women love to flash truckers, or at least according to the website my wife posts on.
3) You have to be able to pull off the "I've been up for 7 days on meth look, without freaking everyone out"
4) If you're name can't fit on a belt buckle, this might not be the job for you.
5) Jake Break as much as possible between the hours of 2am and 5am in residential neighborhoods.

That's the only 5 things that I learned in TRUCK DRIVING COLLEGE.

CABLEGUY1 · June 06, 2006, 05:05:38 PM

Rule #1. Don't tailgate people just because you're in a big truck and they got in front of you. You may get that one idiot that gets out at the light,climbs your ladder and tries to drag you out the window. "Man was I stupid in my younger short fuse days". Oh yeah,always creep up to the red lights when in traffic in case you see the proffessional woman with her hair up wearing a short skirt not paying attention while talking on her cell phone, uh uh oh um ah sorry, I must have gotten carried away. Anyways,good luck.

Ida_Mann · June 06, 2006, 10:50:56 PM

Quote from: Asphaltdragon on June 05, 2006, 03:02:02 PM
Hope everything works out for ya. I have held a Class A license for over 11 years. Asphaltdragron was my CB handle Joe Dirt had alot of common princples that apply to trucking. Rigs carry different loads, machines, dry bulk, liquids, lumber, and commodites on different types of trailers - Flatbed, Dropdeck, Tank, Lowboy, Detach, Landoll, Van, Refer, & Dump trailers. Different rules come with each trailer you pull and the load it carries. If you will be trained by the company that awesome! That will take alot of the pressure off of you at the begining.

Always know your height and width at all times.
Know what is next to you at all times in case of and emergency lane change.
In time you will learn how to keep cars out of your blind spots.

Hope that helps

yeah, the only trailers I will be hauling are the typical barn-door types to haul pallets of computers and such,,,,and the every once in a while the Disaster Recovery trailers that are basically a mobile computer-server room and have about a foot clearance on the bottom of the trailer,,,so I guess that would be called a Lowboy.

and if anyonesms a 30' long box truck driving around Orlando in the next few days not looking like the driver knows where he is going and a big blue "RentSys" on the sides,,,,,gimme a wave ;-)

Id@

PureLogic · June 11, 2006, 05:37:17 PM

Quote from: honda guy250 on June 05, 2006, 02:18:25 PM
im going through the process of getting mine right now and will probbly go the same route with my B first. with that you can tow up to 9,999 lbs, that should do for a lil while.

Uhh I think you can drive anything with out a trailer? No weight restrictions? (Up to legal limit)

PureLogic · June 11, 2006, 05:40:42 PM

http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ddl/dlclass.html#cdl

Ida_Mann · June 11, 2006, 10:40:09 PM

just an update,,,I got the test all done and passed for the Class B on Saturday,,,,the instructor was a good guy and I missed two things on the pre-trip, didn't hit any cones on any of the basic skills tests and passed the road test "very well" was his words.

funny thing, I could tell when I was missing something on the pre-trip when he just stared silently at me,,,,,,,,then he said "hope it doesn't rain today",,,,,so I then remembered to check that the wipers were working ;-)

Id@

Asphaltdragon · June 12, 2006, 08:50:49 AM

congradulations!!! Ida