Today was a loooong day. We drove up to Logan, in the pre-dawn hours. A nice 6am departure and got up there and stopped in at McD's for breakfast, then back thru a canyon and some 6% grades.
We came back and did some backing practice, then Dan grilled hamburgers for us.
After lunch Kim started her test with the backing. She got the parallel but couldn't get the trailer straighted out and the straight line done. So they took off for the driving part. She was already abit flustered and didn't drive as well as she normally does, but didn't have any safety or hazardous problems so she passed that part. Then my turn. I started with the straight line backing with no problems. From that on to the parallel. I got into a position I couldn't get out of, so had to take max points on it. I still had to do the offset back and had to ace it to pass the backing segment. Luckily, it fell into place for me, and I got by it. Then off on our drive. Not too many problems there, other than driving a truck I had never driven. It also had a little different shift pattern than what I was used to. I feel it cost me a few points, but overall not too much. When we got back, it was pre-trip time. Everyone has to do the coupling system (5th wheel area) and one other area of the truck selected at random. I got the trailer to do. After that, light check, then in-cab. That includes general condition, heater/defrost, lights, then a brake check, making sure the tractor brakes hold, then the trailer emer brakes, then trailer only regular brakes, the the normal brakes. After that a leak check of the system, then checking for low air pressure warnings. I made it thru with only a couple items missed. Kim got the tractor from the driver door back, then the coupling and in-cab. She made it thru that ok as well, then he had her retry the backing. She got the straight line and offset this time, but had some problems with the parallel. So she will have to have some more practice Mon or Tues and restest on the backing. Should be no problem. She knows she has done well, and is really close, some practice will help us both. They are also going to work with us some on backing up to a dock, something they don't normally teach in school. They usually leave that for the companies to work out.
So I am the owner of a brand new shiny Class A CDL with all endorsements. Kim will have hers soon!
On a sad note, the other day when Russel, the school director had to leave early because his sister was admitted to the hospital, well, he didn't make it in time, and she passed away. We feel really bad for him. He showed up at 6am to drive with us today, and spent the day at the school. Mon afternoon they are having the funeral for her. Our best wishes to Russel and his family during this hard time.