CDL Training

As a diesel mechanic, it behooves one to attain a CDL.  I was turned down for a few that I have applied for here in town because of a lack of the CDL. So I went over to SAGE Technical Services in Grand Junction, CO to see what they had for me.  Come to find out I could start that week, and I had another 2.5 months left on my Vocational Rehabilitation program with the VA. So the VA is picking up the bill! And I get the stipend again.

So I started that Friday 11 FEB 11, after a day with my daughter's school on the ski slopes :). The first two weeks were drastically boring, and after spending 6 years at a univeristy, not what I was used too for classes. There were two instructors, one would look at the test and highlight the areas on the book covered in the test, the other simply read aloud from the book as we followed along. The Videos were ancient 70s and 80s stuff, but excellent stuff.

Then the drives- each "drive" is 4 hours with the instructor 1 on 1. That is awesome. However, one of the instructors quit and went on to greener pastures. Leaving the other instructor with four students to train. So the third week, I didn't get to go in but twice to drive. I understand- but it did extend my training time by a whole week. On the drives, I didn't have much trouble with anything but the Ally Dock- biggest pain in the neck only because the instructor sets there telling you when to turn. I finally figured it out today, as the instructor was busy training the new instructor on how to instruct and I was able to experiment to get a feel for it. Also the down shifting, Army Trucks have a mostly automatic trannys. So get that art down took a few drives of grinding until finding them.

I have two more drives Thursday, in the afternoon and tomorrow night, then I am up to Test out Friday morning!!

Oh and preach a Sermon in Fruita this Sabbath :)