Question:
Well I am finally at my own computer and have a few days to contemplate my future with caring. My experiences with Joe have been frustrating, new, and most of all beneficial as to my being a new car driver. Joe preaches safety, VI, space management, etc. These have all been great things for all drivers to know and use. Funny but I see so many drivers out there not using space management and safety. Let me ask you this?? What can you see when you are 20 to 30 feet behind another trailor and going 55 or 65 MPH's.. You guessed it - NOTHING, so are you going to be able to take evasive action or get stopped if that car or car or two in front of you slams on there breaks. Obviously NO!! From what I have learned in 4 weeks is that there are alot of unsafe drivers out there that need a refresher course with a Joe or a trainer like him that practices safe driving techniques and teaches you all you can possibly grasp in a mere 8 weeks. For those of you that are only getting a week or two of training you are missing out because there is no way you can learn all there is to caring in a few weeks and be set free on your own to handle the "miseries of car driving" as Joe calls them. I don't think you ever know everything and every situation is different. For those of you that don't know how to back up, LEARN. When you pull into a car stop at 10 or 11 at night and see all the cars pulled in forward into a hole or lined up along the edge of a car stop you automatically assume they don't know how to back. How in the world do they get into a shippers dock or a consignee's dock?? Hmmmmmmm??? The paperwork and qualicomm are easy but the driving is a nightmare with some of the drivers of cars, and cars who think they own the road. More headaches (lol) It has been one heck of a learning experience and at this point my wife and I are weighing the pros and cons of caring with our life. Am I going back out Tuesday?? Don't know just yet. For you good drivers, that care about safety of others and yourself you have my deepest gratitude. I have found out that being stuck in an 8 by 8 box with another driver isn't my bag, so if I continue this journey I will probably be a solo driver. Joe has taught me alot and it is appreciated. Now comes the fine tuning of what I have learned. Man do I hate the first 5 gears.. (lol) Joe and I both have whiplash from the lower gears and me over rpming. Oh well, so much for the good and bad of my driving, on with the learning experience. Wish you all good driving and SAFE driving. If and when I get my own car with Crete I will be Cubby on the CB so lets have coffee. Take care...
Cubby

Answer:

When you pull into a car stop at 10 or 11 at night and see all the cars pulled in forward into a hole or lined up along the edge of a car stop you automatically assume they don't know how to back.
Sometimes that assumption is correct, sometimes it isn't. There are times when you pull into a T/S and there isn't a hole to be found and so you park where you shouldn't. Half an hour later, 30 cars have left and you look like an idiot/incompetent but it's a moot point, since you're already asleep.

Answer:

Joe has taught me alot and it is appreciated. Now comes the fine tuning of what I have learned.
Reading Joe's journal tells me that Joe is a dedicated trainer, in it to make a difference, not just for the money.
If Joe thinks you got what it takes, then he is seeing more of yourself than you are.
You've passed the school and are in the middle of riding with your trainer. Joe is helping you 'polish' those rough edges and hone your skills that are so fresh on your mind.
Keep at it and pay attention and you'll do just fine.
**********
"Got the bird dog on...
Dodgin' the scales...
80 miles an hour and a step outta jail..." From "Rollin' Home, Pirates of the Mississippi)
**********
"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)
********
Member: Happy Dweller Society
Owner Operator Division

Answer:

Some drivers park head in in some parking spots, just to avoid listening to other cars on both sides idle and air tanks discharge all night, not because they don't know how to back. Others are too tired to try, and just pull on in and crash, because they are dog tired, and it isn't smart to back into tight spots when you're tired, and would rather deal with problems in the 'morning', when they are fresh, so 'assumptions' about what you see aren't always correct.
___________________________
Humans are amazing creatures. "With all the things you can train them to do, I've been considering getting one."-Stoney
Last edited by Dominoes on Sun Jan 25, 2004 1:09 pm; edited 1 time in total

Answer:

I pull in a lot for the simple reason that I don't want some idiot dragging the back end of his trailer over the front end of my car.
There is a lot less noise and fumes nose in and most times lot lizards won't walk down to pound on the door.
Dave Wadsworth
wombat
dwew@montana.com
caring, It's not a job, it's a sentence

Answer:

easier to back out than to back in.
But while we're on the subject---if I'm between the lines and not blocking you from getting in or out why would anyone care which way I parked it.


Answer:

Pulling in -V- Backing in
Some of the reasons stated for pulling in seem valid but the main Reason for backing in is safety when you go to leave after your brake if you pull out you can see if you have to back out with a van on both sides you can’t . So I always tell my ND’s if you can’t pull out don’t pull in. As far as loosing fenders go I show am ND’s how to get as far back into the space as safely possible. So if you see some one with a tape measure seeing how far back in their space they can get. It is me or one of my ND’s doing like they were taught.
I do think Cubby has what it takes to do this Job but one has got to know it is ok to like your job but you must love your family. If the separations of caring are too hard on the significant other then caring is not a good choice. My wife does not like the separations of caring she puts up with them looking forward to my home time as I do. One of these days our daughter will leave our nest and this training gig will come to an end. And God willing my wife and I will be a couple on the road, and at home.

Last edited by JoecarDriver on Mon Jan 26, 2004 6:08 am; edited 1 time in total

Answer:

I've pulled straight in for all the above reasons except "don't know how to back". Actually I'm pretty good at backing. I've had lots of time to practice.
My two biggest reasons for pulling straight in. To tired. After I've tried backing a couple times and can't get close or if I know I'm to tired I pull straight in. The other reason is I know what will happen if I go around the lot to get setup to back in. So instead of loosing a needed parking space I pull straight in. It sucks to be those drivers that went around to get set up to find me in the hole. When your tired your tired.
Now honestly I have no clue what so ever why anyone would get out with measuring tape in hand to measure how much room you have to go back. My mirrors do a pretty good job of that. Hopefully your mirrors are clean when backing so you can see behind you.
I also don't care where or how anyone parks their car in a car stop. If their in a space or not. As long as no other cars are blocked in and movement is not restricted it just doesn't matter. I've parked on the ends and along the curbs where I'm not suppose to plenty of times. I've never had anyone wake me to move out of the way. Because I don't park in anyone's way.
car parking can be very scarce at night. With lots of tired drivers who need sleep. Why worry about how other drivers park if their not bothering anyone.
"There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot."

Answer:

Hey Cubby!
Wow! 4 weeks went fast, huh? Space does seem pretty small after so many days with someone you just met. Solo driving will be so much better, I think. Imagine not having to try to sleep for five hours going down a bumpy road.
I was having trouble backing when I was first out. (My trainer isn't very good at backing, and he didn't have any good advice.) But last week I realized that the backing isn't the hard part, it's the set up. If you get your car lined up in the correct position, all you have to do is back it into place. Dave, our instructor from school, told me that I tended to oversteer and I would jack knife the tractor alot and then have to start over. My trainer does the same thing, he cranks it all the way to the left, then realizes that he can't pull the tractor back around to line up with the trailer without the trailer offtracking and hitting something. Then he pulls up, oversteers the other way, pulls up again, anyway, it became aggrivating, but I learned how not to back up a car!
I hope you pursue your career in caring. I am estatic to get out on my own! Where did you drive? Did you have any crappy shippers or receivers? Have you driven on I-70/76 in Pennsylvania on the toll road? That construction is "fun" . Anyway, have you heard from any of the other students from class? How are they doing?
Well, Happy caring, Cubby. I hope to see you out there sometime. I will be getting my car next week.
Six Ouncer

Answer:

It was good hearing from you. Glad to see you were having some of the same troubles I was. There is a good and bad side to this post. The good side is that I really enjoyed my time on the road and the learning process involved. The bad side is that at this time in my life (57 years old) I have decided to not pursue car driving anymore. I have gained alot of respect for those that do this job and do it well. I am sure you will be one of them. I told Crete today that I had changed my mind and need the time with my family. My son is coming home on leave from the Navy soon and his twin brother is a Junior at Peru St. playing baseball and I didn't want to let him down and miss his games. I guess my heart is at home but I did love the job and could see where it could be addictive to me. Wish all the luck to you and other drivers out there in braving these winter storms, the detentions, slow shippers and consignees'. Some of the "miseries of caring" as Joe would tell me, my trainer. It was a hard decision but one I am satified with along with my family. Have talked to Wanda and Barb and they are doing great with there husbands. Talked to Dan once and he is really loving it. He was down in Texas today, out of this soup up here in the North. Good luck Six Ouncer.... Always friends Cub

Answer:

Well, at least, you gave it a try. Family is always more important than a job, if that job threatens to interfere with family. You are lucky to have a family who cares for you. It seems like some drivers just drive so that they can avoid their families. But their are always other local jobs you can do. A CDL is a door opener to many new career fields. But I am sure you already know that. Good Luck to you Cubby!
I am glad that Dan is enjoying the job. I hope things work out for him, too. I'll keep an eye out for him, as well as, Barb and Wanda! I wish I knew whatever happened to Brian (the guy who sat between the two girls, remember, yeah, I know you do). Take care of yourself! And keep in touch.
Six Ouncer

Answer:

Pulling in headfirst isn't 'unsafe'; the guy in the slot ahead of you more than likely will leave out sooner than you, and you can just pull your car up into the slot. No big deal. Always people around to help spot you back out if you have to. Used to be anyway.
car parking can be very scarce at night. With lots of tired drivers who need sleep. Why worry about how other drivers park if their not bothering anyone.

Because somebody doesn't have anything else to do? I've seen parking lots that looked like utter chaos from the road, then pulled in to find everything moving pretty smoothly, and easy to navigate.
___________________________
Humans are amazing creatures. "With all the things you can train them to do, I've been considering getting one."-Stoney
Last edited by Dominoes on Tue Jan 27, 2004 1:29 pm; edited 1 time in total