Here is how I did it, I worked for a lumber yard, driving a straight truck, at the time, was under 18,000 lbs, box truck, making millwork deliveries. I had plenty of experience around trucks, and related equipment, we had 2 tractor trailers that were part of our business at one time, so I had an advantage with some experience, but was still plenty green nonetheless. At the time there was no CDL, NYS was class 1-5, I had a class 5. I started filling in on framing lumber deliveries, out of class, as I recall, because I never had the class 3 license for it and could have gotten busted for it. Was not too long after, that the company started manufacturing trusses and needed a pair tractor trailers. One of the drivers that came later, awhile after I had been there (and this place had a high turn over rate) was formerly an owner operator, hauling reefer units coast to coast. He was 20 years older, with a lot of experience. I was never afraid to jump into the seat and learn something, so he helped me along, I got comfortable enough with the tractor trailer and while on company time, (we told the dispatcher) I scheduled and took my road test with their rig, you had to have someone with the license accompany you to the test area. We took the single axle tractor, a Mack Midliner with a 6 speed, real easy to shift and a 44'-0" flatbed trailer. Better to look good shifting that, as the R model tandem had a 9 speed I was still getting used to. I lucked out, the DMV guy wanted to go to lunch so we literally went a few blocks down came back and I parallel parked the rig, passed with flying colors. So I got my class 1, but that did not make me a driver, still quite green, so I spent a lot of time getting used to driving a tractor trailer and that long wheel base R model Mack. There are a lot of attributes that make a good driver and it does not come overnight, best thing you can do is get some seat time and learn from an experienced driver, a good one, like I had. Jimmy was a good friend, been in trucking most of his life, I have not seen him in almost 20 years, will always owe my Class 1 license (CDL Class A now) to him. I used to ask my father to teach me with our rig, never went anywhere, don't think he had much faith in me, so I soon learned in life, you have to aggressively go after the things you want, I needed a job, driving was not so bad then, though years later I had my share of it, mostly due to the unruly attention by law enforcement, got sick of all the crap that goes with driving for a living.
I drove 4 years straight at this place, flatbed trailer loads of lumber from the rail yards, to our yard, to job sites, over length roof trusses, hauled a set of 54'-0's and 60'-0's, biggest they ever built in the plant, then got into construction, site work/excavation/foundation etc. Low boy, tri-axle dump etc., thinking back was still green when I started that, but someone gave me a chance and I took it seriously, respected the weight I carried and the speeds I traveled more than anything, including all the safety items, tires, brakes, lights etc. in those years I sure got an education, you need to work your way up, learn what you can and use common sense, you can't panic in a tough situation and you cannot fear what you drive, some people are just not meant for this work, same is true with running equipment, others adapt to it and have some natural ability to just fit right in and become a sound driver, 90% of becoming that is seat time, you just have to get those miles in, once given the chance, it's a serious job, you can't ever forget that.
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Today's Featured Article - History of the Nuffield Tractor - by Anthony West. The Nuffield tractor story started in early 1945. The British government still reeling from the effects of the war on the economy, approached the Nuffield organization to see if they would design and build an "ALL NEW" British built wheeled tractor, suitable for both British and world farming.
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