So I’m a yard jockey in the mountains of the northeast. My company paid for me to get my CDL so I can haul trailers around my area. I live in a mountainous area, and so far my routes are mainly on interstates traversing up and down mountains, but also state highways doing the same.
My training consisted of a very lackluster CDL school experience that left a lot to desire that was contracted by my company to teach the bare minimum to pass the test, as they only taught other jockeys from my company and no one else at that specific site(I should’ve asked more questions in retrospect).
My company’s training, was essentially going over company policies around driving on public roads, and a crash course of what I already learned in CDL school over the course of 2 days. Then, an additional 2 days with a coworker (honestly, he was pretty inexperienced, even though the most experienced jockey in our yard) driving me 30 miles up the interstate and back. I am now good for the rest of my life.
My winter driving training was “don’t use the jake brakes and cruise control, and drive slow” and nothing more, really.
But driving automatics, It just left me even more confused. I asked the same question to the trainers, and it was met with “I’ll get back to you” then they never do.
So…how do I drive down a mountain in a auto shifter without the jakes?
I feel left to figure everything out on my own.
Thanks guys.
The
