| Author |
Message |
David Clark (24.197.82.121)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 2:18 am: | |
Hello again --
This may sound dumb, but has anyone out there (besides pro bus/truck drivers) gone to a driving school?
Seems like it couldn't hurt.
I've driven 24 foot straight truck up and down the east coast to NYC and back to GA, but just seems like some schooling couldn't hurt.
I've not been big on real "school" in my life, rather having attended many classes in the School of Hard Knocks.
Would appreciate thoughts, and if you know of a school, what was the cost?
Thanks --
David Clark |
TWO DOGS (63.185.73.156)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 4:04 am: | |
I went to driveing school...worth it's weight in gold..getting on & off expressways is a good subject,it wasn't covered in '57 but it should be now..see it done so poorly,by so many...nothing you learn will hurt you,it's what ya' don't learn,.....later I went to truck driveing school...learned bunches...what them little short stripes were about,what happens if ya' drive under one of those orange squares,how to really read a map... |
FAST FRED (65.154.177.193)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 6:03 am: | |
Some folks have riped off the local Skool district by pretending to want to drive Skool busses.
Gets a a CDL (bragging rights , no other use)and practice denting the districts skoolie.
READING The CDL book and air endorsement book is enough to create a safe BUS camper driver.
FAST FRED |
Tim Jones (Torquester) (12.73.176.194)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 9:08 am: | |
Hi David,
Some truck parts suppliers offer seminars on various subjects at reasonable costs. These are generally one day seminars that cover a single subject such as air brake systems, electrical, transmission, etc. They are generally geared towards the truck technician, but are usually very informative. The cost ranges from free to 50 bucks. Some are very helpful, some are mostly a sale pitch but most offer usefull information.
Driving schools are harder to find at a reasonable cost. There are proffesional truck driving schools which can last for six weeks. These can cost 3 grand or more and I'm sure they are very good but most of us do not have that much time. I have also seen some safe driving classes offered at FMCA rallies. I do not know the cost of these classes but I'm sure they would be worth the price.
hth, Tim |
Jim-Bob (64.12.116.135)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 9:39 am: | |
Fred, gotta strongly disagree with you on this one! There is a world of difference in the amount you learn AND RETAIN when you study for & pass the CDL test. Admittedly, there are those who misuse the school bus CDL program. Actually, one of the program supervisors I know SUGGESTED I do that to get the license for free!
Also, having the license, you are not going to be hassled in ANY state for not having it. You are also legal to transport seated coaches.
Another reason I did it was that it would slow me down. If you have a CDL & you are stopped for 15 or more over the limit, your license is automatically suspended. |
Scott Whitney (69.35.62.177)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 9:55 am: | |
My local community college offers a course in School Bus Driving. Might look into something like that to get some training and not have to pretend you are looking for a job.
I might offer some tips to those who are new to driving large vehicles:
1) give truckers a courtesy headlight flash when they clear your bus on a passing manuever.
2) when you pass a truck, and they give you the all-clear flash, give them a courtesy thank you by blinking your tail lights.
3) When you see a disabled vehicle on the shoulder, move to the left-hand lane if possible.
4) when a truck is entering the highway, move to the left lane and give them space to merge.
5) Pass only in the left lane. Return to the right lane when done passing. (my personal exception to this rule is in heavy urban traffic where multiple lanes are going all random speeds)
6) Don't pass on the right.
7) When driving your 4 wheel car, still don't pass trucks/busses/RVs etc. on the right.
If in doubt, see #6.
Scott |
Jimmci9 (209.240.205.68)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 10:31 am: | |
i got my chauffers' license in '77 when i drove a school bus for the bryan tx, school system... it has evolved, in '92, to the class a CDL , with all endorsements...TPX... which is doubles, triples, passenger, tanker, and hazardous....in Texas, you must retest each renewal time for the hazardous endorsement...i also have a commercial motorcycle license.... |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.224.197.10)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, April 24, 2004 - 2:39 pm: | |
School bus school, fire engine school, truck driving school, etc., etc..
Didn't do any good, I am still a lousy driver as I poke along TOO DARN SLOW!! |
Casper (52.128.30.16)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 8:47 am: | |
Hey Scott, I completely agree with your #6,,,, but---
Just this morning I was coming in to work, travelling a divided 4-lane in my little pickup. I came up behind a Roadway tractor (Remember the trucker jokes about "Big-R" drivers?) pulling a single trailer, doing 50mph in a 55mph zone, in the left hand lane, with his left-turn signal on. I followed the guy for a few miles from the right lane at a distance of 100 yards or so. We passed several turnoffs to the left, so it became obvious that our friend was oblivious to the left turn signal he'd been flashing. I flashed high-beams at the whiz kid a few times, but he didn't seem to notice that either.
Call me cynical, but I think that anyone who can drive 5 miles with a blinker on and not notice it - is a guy I don't want to drive close to. I dropped a gear and turned it up a little, and got past the guy (on the right). Now I NEVER pass on the right, but I didn't want to follow this guy, I didn't want to drive the next 20 miles that slowly, and he left me no choice.
Your thoughts? What should I have done?
Casper |
Derek (24.85.245.203)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 2:13 pm: | |
Passing on the right is only acceptable in situations such as yours, where an ignorant, sleeping or otherwise stupid driver makes it impossible to pass on the left.
Now, if you were on a 3 lane each way freeway, and the truck was in the centre lane, you should be passing in the left of course... But we already knew that, eh? ;-) |
charles seaton (205.183.220.106)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 3:42 pm: | |
Except, here in the NYC area a lot of the roads are posted "o trucks or buses permitted in left lane." |
charles seaton (205.183.220.106)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 3:42 pm: | |
Except, here in the NYC area a lot of the roads are posted "No trucks or buses permitted in left lane." |
Scott Whitney (69.35.62.177)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 1:49 am: | |
Sometimes I do it euro style and flash my high beams. If that doesn't work I pull in a bit closer to their tail and flash longer again. Eventually, I may give up and pass on the right, if I have to. Bugs me to no end, tho. Usually some ditz blabbing away to the passenger or a cell phone, clueless to proper road ettiquette.
I may get some arrow signs for my tailgate: One for the left saying "{--Passing Side" and another for the right saying "Suicide--}"
Scott |
Geoff (Geoff) (66.238.120.24)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 8:47 am: | |
If you drive on the freeways in California you have to pass on the right quite often, unless you want to get stuck behind an idiot-- and we have plenty over here. |
TWO DOGS (65.179.200.170)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 27, 2004 - 10:51 am: | |
I know in Ca. if you are a bigtruck...ya' better not be anywhere except the right lane...stupid law... |
RJ Long (66.229.97.200)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 3:39 am: | |
"I know in Ca. if you are a bigtruck...ya' better not be anywhere except the right lane...stupid law..."
Not quite, 2D, not quite.
While true on two-lane freeways (except to pass), on multi-lane (3 or more) they are restricted to the TWO RH lanes, unless posted otherwise. Not uncommon at all to see them running in the second-to-last RH lane in urban areas like LA or the Bay Area, primarily to avoid all the on/off traffic activity in the far RH lane.
FWIW,
RJ
PD4106-2784
Fresno CA |
DaveD (142.46.199.30)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 1:29 pm: | |
I took an air brake course at our local community college. I completed the written and the practical test at the college as well. The certificate issued is recognized by the Ministry of Transportation (this is in the Province of Ontario)and all I had to do once I had passed the course and received the certifcate, was take it in to the MOT Diver's License office and I was able to obtain the air brake endorsement.
Dave Dulmage |
TWO DOGS (158.254.224.37)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 5:38 pm: | |
RJ...ya' want to see my ticket...that's the Ca. law....was given to me by a freak named CHURCH...between L.A. & San DIEGO...I was in #2 lane..to get away from all the cars entering the 5 |
RJ Long (66.229.97.200)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - 10:41 pm: | |
2D -
I'm curious now. . . please send me a note privately (click on my name in the header) with the CVC code violations off the ticket CHURCH wrote you up for violating.
How long ago did you get this?
RJ |
TWO DOGS (63.185.81.17)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2004 - 9:15 am: | |
I was in #2 lane going to San Diego from L.A...lite traffic...was in #2 keeping from having to slow down because of trafic entering the freeway...Church..gave me a ticket for not being in the right lane...he was in a D.O.T. pick up...real smart ass...took me back to his pick up & opened the side of the 'camper'....1991... |