The Week in Review

Saturday, April 5, 2008

The Week in Review

We have just over 2 weeks left in school and we still have a lot that we need to learn. I personally need a lot more time in the trucks driving. Thursday and Friday was hard rain so we did class room work. We worked on pre-trip which we all seemed to have a lot more to learn. I am mechanical enough that understanding what I need to look for in a pre-trip isn’t an issue but to memorize all of the correct terms is. We did drive the first part of the week doing backing maneuvers and some driving on the streets.

Although I feel that I made improvement in my skills this week I am nowhere near where I need to be. I am very anxious to learn this. I tend to start slow on learning new things but finish strong. I hope that my strong finish is timed with the completion of school. My mind has to find the way to translate what I am being taught to the method that I need to learn so I get a delayed response in learning.

I have what is called ‘phonic dyslexia’ meaning that I have to rearrange things that I hear in an order that I understand. Dyslexia is not seeing it backwards but more of having it disorganized. Though it can be an issue of knowing which direction to write S. I have to concentrate when someone is speaking to me. This is somewhat difficult because I have to figure out what is being said at the same time someone is speaking. I can comprehend much better by reading. The problem also shows up in my writing and speaking. I have a hard time of getting a sentence in the order that you understand. My strong points have been in graphics, mechanical, and visuals. These strengths have over compensated me for my weaker areas. It has also helped me in the areas of what is required for teaching and providing teaching materials. My learning disability has also been an asset in many ways. I am typically thinking outside of the box and it makes me creative in finding solutions. So on to where this is leading:

This school and I’m sure other schools could benefit from have an interactive program online where prospective students could get a lot of the class room study done while they are still at home before they even go to school. At TTC@Nashville we are required to get CDL learners permit before they will enroll us in class. I think that is a good way to go because it does save some time in the classroom that can be used in a better ways. But there is not enough information provided in advance to what is going to be required. I am sure that most people that are truly interested in learning to drive a truck would be glad to be ahead of the game when they get to class. I am sure that this will happen and probable is already available somewhere. What I have seen online has been poorly done and incomplete. It needs to done as a complete knowledge course including videos of pre-trips, and the controls inside the truck. Before I got to school I had never seen the inside of a big rig. When I took the knowledge test for my learned permit I had study and learned the right answers for the test but I didn’t really have any idea what glad hands look like. With the technology available today some good methods of study could be provided. Wii and Xbox game have great interaction with the player.

A good site should provide complete information on the requirements that will be needed to get a truck driving job. For example: A lot of companies require 10 years of verifiable work history. That is not always easy to provide. If you have been self employed, or worked for companies that you have worked for are no longer in business, or from my own experience some companies just don’t cooperate in providing that information. Time is needed to gather the required information. It would be a good idea to have a company that can go through these information verifications before hand and have it acceptable to the trucking companies so that it doesn’t need to done by each and ever company. I provide less information to get my teaching licenses than I am required to provide to drive a truck.

In summery we need a site that will provide all the information and services that get you to the point of being ready to enter school and get a job. This would be a great resource for recruiters and companies to get pre-qualified drivers.