It's been more than two years since I went back to school. In September of 2018, I officially enrolled in a professional truck driving program at Waukesha County Technical College, in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The goal was to gain a thorough understanding of the fundamental aspects of operating a commercial truck.
This course provided great insight on all aspects of operating a commercial truck – from tangential things professional drivers need to know like hours of service regulations and logbooks to track operational hours, varying driving and bridge laws across states, safety protocols, etc., to the actual preparation and driving of the vehicle itself. I learned how to conduct a thorough pre- and post-trip inspection on a tractor-trailer, how to properly upshift and downshift a manual 18-speed transmission, and how to accurately and safely back a tractor with a 53-foot trailer.
Check out the comprehensive list of blog posts from start to finish, beginning with the my initial impressions after enrolling in the class, all the way up to graduating from the 12-week professional course.
- Getting in the driver's seat - Some perspective on why I decided to enroll in the 12-week professional truck driving program.
- Understanding the clutch is, well ... clutch - When I reviewed options for different technical schools and professional truck driver programs in the area, one aspect that stood out with Waukesha County Technical College's program was the focus on learning how to shift properly in a world where automated manual transmissions are becoming more commonplace.
- Testing for the commercial driver's license permit - Nowadays they’ve got smartphone apps and downloadable PDFs you can use as study aids. Having everything accessible online and at your fingertips can be both a blessing and a curse.
- The importance of pre-trip inspections - Understanding how to inspect all aspects of a commercial vehicle before operation is a key skill. This professional training program stresses how critical it is for drivers to understand the entire process of conducting a pre- trip inspection.
- Performing the air brakes LABS test - The LABS test is a method for remembering all the steps to testing the air brake system on a commercial vehicle, which should be done during a pre-trip inspection. LABS stands for Leaks, Alarms, Buttons, and Service Brake.
- Turn, baby, turn! - Before enrolling in this program, I acknowledged tractor-trailers needed to operate a bit differently on the road. But now, more thoroughly understanding the process, I have a newfound respect for it.
- Backing a big rig is no joke - One portion of the Class A commercial driver's license testing involves mastering three types of backing maneuvers: straightline, offset, and 90-degree. Read more about perfecting this love/hate process here.
- Taking the test for a Class A CDL - The Class A commercial driver's license test is comprised of three parts: the pre-trip inspection, backing, and a road test. Find out which one gave me the most grief.
- What I learned from going back to school - Takeaways from my time as a student in the WCTC professional truck driving program.
While 2020 and the pandemic has made it a bit more challenging to get behind the wheel, I've had quite few opportunities to continue testing my learned skills from this course. I look forward to getting out on the road more in 2021.
For more updates, follow Erica Schueller on Twitter and Instagram.
This blog originally appeared on Fleet Maintenance.
