PORTLAND — Jason Nord poked his head out the window of a hulking Freightliner 18-wheeler as he practiced backing the rig between rows of orange cones at the Western Pacific Truck School in Portland.
The exercise required the rookie driver to use skillful maneuvers to coax the truck and its trailer into a slot that simulated a warehouse loading dock. One by one, students took their turn behind the wheel while instructors on the ground offered guidance.
kAmp7E6C AC6G:@FD=J H@C<:?8 :? 4@?DECF4E:@?[ }@C5[ c`[ D2:5 96 42? >2<6 >@C6 >@?6J 2D 2 ECF4<6C] w6 6?C@==65 :? E96 D49@@= E@ 86E E96 92?5D\@? 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 EC2:?:?8 ?646DD2CJ E@ 2AA=J 7@C 9:D 4@>>6C4:2= 5C:G6C’D =:46?D6]k^Am
kAm“tG6CJ3@5J <?@HD H6’C6 D9@CE ECF4< 5C:G6CD[” }@C5 D2:5 @7 E96 :?5FDECJ]k^Am
kAmu@C J62CD[ E96 ECF4<:?8 :?5FDECJ 92D DF776C65 2 563:=:E2E:?8 D9@CE286 @7 5C:G6CD] (:E9 E96 2CC:G2= @7 E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4[ E92E D9@CE286 92D >FD9C@@>65 :?E@ 2 4C:D:D] %96 p>6C:42? %CF4<:?8 pDD@4:2E:@? 6DE:>2E6D E96 5C:G6C D9@CE286 A62<65 E9:D J62C 2E g`[___ — FA 7C@> d`[___ AC6\A2?56>:4]k^Am
kAm(:E9 76H6C ECF4<D @? E96 C@25 2?5 A@CE 3@EE=6?64<D A=28F:?8 E96 DFAA=J 492:?[ 28C:4F=EFC2= AC@5F46CD 2?5 6IA@CE6CD 7246 DA:C2=:?8 EC2?DA@CE2E:@? 4@DED]k^Am
kAm$2C2 pCD6?2F=E[ 5:C64E@C @7 7656C2= A@=:4J 2E E96 r2=:7@C?:2 u2C> qFC62F[ D2:5 6IA@CED E92E @?46 4@DE Sa[d__ E@ Sd[___ A6C 4@?E2:?6C E@ D9:A @G6CD62D 2C6 ?@H S`a[___ E@ Sb_[___ A6C 4@?E2:?6C] x?4C62D:?8=J[ 28C:4F=EFC2= 6IA@CED 2C6 36:?8 =67E 369:?5 2D @462? 42CC:6CD D6?5 6>AEJ 4@?E2:?6CD 324< E@ pD:2[ H96C6 E96J 2C6 =@2565 H:E9 >@C6 =F4C2E:G6 &]$] :>A@CED]k^Am
kAm%96 D6E324<D 2C6 G6I:?8[ pCD6?2F=E D2:5] x? @?6 42D6[ D96 D2:5 2 AC@5F46C H2D 7@C465 E@ >2<6 `a EC:AD 56=:G6C:?8 2 D9:A>6?E @7 5C:65 7CF:E 7C@> E96 r6?EC2= '2==6J E@ E96 !@CE @7 ~2<=2?5 5F6 E@ D4965F=:?8 E92E 42? 492?86 DF556?=J 2?5 H:E9@FE H2C?:?8]k^Am
kAm“~FC AC@5F46CD 2C6 46CE2:?=J 766=:?8 :E[” pCD6?2F=E D2:5] “(6 2C6 92G:?8 9F86 7CFDEC2E:@?D 2?5 9F86 4@?46C?D]”k^Am
kAm%96 ECF4< 5C:G6C D9@CE286 :D 2 >2;@C 4@>A@?6?E @7 E96 =2C86C 4C:D:D[ pCD6?2F=E D2:5] x? 255:E:@? E@ 2 D9@CE286 @7 =@?8\92F= ECF4<6CD EC2G6=:?8 36EH66? 4:E:6D[ E96C6 :D 2 D9@CE286 @7 =@42= 56=:G6CJ 5C:G6CD 2?5 6G6? 5C:G6CD H9@ 92?5=6 E96 492DD:D E92E D9FEE=6 4@?E2:?6CD E@ 2?5 7C@> (6DE r@2DE A@CED]k^Am
k9bmsC:G6C D9@CE286k^9bm
kAms6>2?5 7@C 5C:G6CD :D D@ 9:89 E92E D@>6 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 @776C:?8 D:8?:?8 3@?FD6D @7 FA E@ Sa_[___ 7@C 6IA6C:6?465 @A6C2E@CD] %96 >65:2? A2J 7@C 5C:G6CD :? a_a_ H2D Scf[`b_[ @C Saa]ee A6C 9@FC[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 >@DE C646?E 52E2 7C@> E96 &]$] qFC62F @7 {23@C $E2E:DE:4D]k^Am
kAmu@C `_ J62CD[ y@? $2>D@? H2D 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 p8C:4F=EFC6 2?5 u@@5 %C2?DA@CE6CD r@?76C6?46[ 2 F?:E @7 E96 p>6C:42? %CF4<:?8 pDD@4:2E:@? E92E 7@4FD6D @? 4C:E:42= :DDF6D 27764E:?8 4@>>@5:E:6D 2?5 7@@5]k^Am
kAm}@H G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 4@?76C6?46D 7@C E96 2DD@4:2E:@?[ 96 D2:5 2AAC@I:>2E6=J g_T @7 2== 28C:4F=EFC2= AC@5F4ED 2C6 EC2?DA@CE65 G:2 ECF4<D] %96 C6DE :D >@G65 AC:>2C:=J 3J C2:= @C 32C86]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 E96 5C:G6C D9@CE286 :D ?@E ?6H[ $2>D@? D2:5 :E 2446=6C2E65 :? E96 62C=J 52JD @7 E96 A2?56>:4 2D DE2E6D D9FE 5@H? 3FD:?6DD6D E@ D=@H r~'xs\`h’D DAC625] $F556?=J[ =@?8\92F= ECF4<6CD 4@F=5?’E 6G6? 7:?5 2 A=246 E@ A2C< 2?5 C6DE @C D9@H6C 2D ECF4< DE@AD 2?5 C6DE 2C62D 4=@D65]k^Am
kAm'244:?6 >2?52E6D H6C6 2?@E96C D@FC46 @7 4@?DE6C?2E:@?[ $2>D@? D2:5] %9@F89 E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE F=E:>2E6=J 3=@4<65 E96 q:56? 25>:?:DEC2E:@?’D G244:?6 C6BF:C6>6?ED 7@C 4@>A2?:6D H:E9 >@C6 E92? `__ 6>A=@J66D[ ;FDE E96 E9C62E H2D 6?@F89 E@ AFD9 D@>6 ECF4<6CD @FE @7 E96 :?5FDECJ @C :?E@ C6E:C6>6?E]k^Am
kAm“(6’G6 366? H@C<:?8 6IEC2@C5:?2C:=J 92C5 E@ 6:E96C 3C:?8 A6@A=6 324<[ @C C6E2:? E96 A6@A=6 E92E H6 4FCC6?E=J 92G6[” $2>D@? D2:5]k^Am
kAmsC:G6CD 2C6 2=D@ 86EE:?8 @=56C] %96 >65:2? 286 @7 @G6C\E96\C@25 ECF4<6CD :D ?@H ce] $2>D@? D2:5 :E :D :>A6C2E:G6 E@ C64CF:E ?6H 3=@@5[ E9@F89 7656C2= =2H AC@9:3:ED rs{ 5C:G6CD J@F?86C E92? a` 7C@> A2CE:4:A2E:?8 :? :?E6CDE2E6 4@>>6C46]k^Am
kAmx?DE625 @7 9:C:?8 5C:G6CD 2E `g[ H96? E96J 2C6 7C6D9 @FE @7 9:89 D49@@=[ $2>D@? D2:5 E96J =@D6 E9@D6 7:CDE E9C66 J62CD 367@C6 E96J C6249 a`[ AFEE:?8 E96 ECF4<:?8 :?5FDECJ 2E 2 4@>A6E:E:G6 5:D25G2?E286 4@>A2C65 E@ @E96C EC256D]k^Am
kAm“xE C62==J :D 4CF4:2=[ 2?5 2 =@E @7 E96D6 2C6 CFC2= 72C> <:5D E92E H6’C6 7@4FD65 @? 3C:?8:?8 :? 2D H6==[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmy2?2 y2CG:D[ AC6D:56?E 2?5 rt~ @7 E96 ~C68@? %CF4<:?8 pDD@4:2E:@?[ D2:5 @?6 H2J 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 2AA62=:?8 E@ ?6H 5C:G6CD :D 3J @776C:?8 9:896C A2J 2?5 36?67:ED — 96?46 E96 7:G6\7:8FC6 D:8?:?8 3@?FD6D]k^Am
kAm%96C6 :D 2=D@ >F49 >@C6 H@C< 2G2:=23=6 =@42==J[ 2D 6\4@>>6C46 92D 492?865 9@H 4@?DF>6CD D9@A[ y2CG:D D2:5] x?DE625 @7 DA6?5:?8 H66<D 2E 2 E:>6 @? E96 C@25[ 5C:G6CD 42? ?@H >2<6 =@42= 56=:G6C:6D 2?5 C6EFC? 9@>6 E@ E96:C 72>:=:6D 6G6CJ ?:89E]k^Am
kAm”%96 7=2G@C @7 @FC :?5FDECJ 92D 492?865 5C2>2E:42==J @G6C E96 =2DE 564256[” y2CG:D D2:5]k^Am
k9bmr2==:?8 2== ECF4<6CDk^9bm
kAm(:==J tC:<D6?[ AC6D:56?E @7 E96 (6DE6C? !24:7:4 %CF4< $49@@=[ D2:5 E92E 5FC:?8 2?J 8:G6? 7@FC\H66< 4=2DD A6C:@5[ C64CF:E6CD 7C@> `e ECF4<:?8 4@>A2?:6D H:== 4@FCE DEF56?ED 5FC:?8 E96:C =F?49 3C62< H:E9 AC@>:D6D @7 2 ;@3 @?46 E96J 86E E96:C rs{]k^Am
kAm“%9:D :D E96 9:896DE W56>2?5X x’G6 6G6C D66?[” tC:<D6? D2:5] “xE’D 2=H2JD 366? 2? :?\56>2?5 ;@3[ 3FE ?@E9:?8 =:<6 E9:D]”k^Am
kAmu@F?565 :? `hff[ (6DE6C? !24:7:4 %CF4< $49@@= :D 2 `e_\9@FC AC@8C2> E92E 4@>3:?6D 4=2DDC@@> 2?5 @?\E96\C@25 EC2:?:?8 E@ 86E 5C:G6CD C625J 7@C E96:C rs{ E6DE] %96 D49@@= 92D EH@ =@42E:@?D[ :? ?@CE962DE !@CE=2?5 2?5 :? r6?EC2=:2[ (2D9]k^Am
kAmp3@FE 92=7 @7 2== DEF56?ED ?@H 2C6 DA@?D@C65 3J 4@>A2?:6D E92E A2J E96 Se[___ EF:E:@? E@ 86E >@C6 5C:G6CD[ tC:<D6? D2:5]k^Am
kAm“p== @7 2 DF556?[ 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 C62=:K:?8 E96C6’D ;FDE ?@3@5J @FE E96C6 H2=<:?8 2C@F?5 H:E9 2 rs{[” tC:<D6? D2:5] “r@>A2?:6D 2C6 ?@H D4C2A:?8 ECJ:?8 E@ 7:?5 5C:G6CD] %96J’C6 @776C:?8 3:8 3@?FD6D[ 2?5 E9:?8D x’G6 ?6G6C D66? :? E96 :?5FDECJ 367@C6]”k^Am
kAmp=6I !2=:J[ ab[ 8C25F2E65 7C@> E96 D49@@= :? s646>36C] %9C66 52JD =2E6C[ 96 A2DD65 9:D rs{ E6DE 2?5 8@E 2 5C:G:?8 ;@3 H:E9 #624E {@8:DE:4D[ 2 D>2== 42CC:6C 32D65 :? %C@FE52=6[ ~C6]k^Am
kAm!2=:J[ H9@D6 324<8C@F?5 :D :? 4@>AFE6C D4:6?46 2?5 :?7@C>2E:@? E649?@=@8J[ D2:5 96 H2D 2EEC24E65 E@ ECF4<:?8 3J E96 A2J] w6 92D 2=C625J >256 EH@ 4C@DD\4@F?ECJ EC:AD E@ u=@C:52[ 92F=:?8 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> A2==6ED @7 D@J AC@E6:? E@ sFC246== 32EE6C:6D]k^Am
kAm%96C6’D >@C6 E@ E96 D?2C=65 DFAA=J 492:? E92? ;FDE 2 5C:G6C D9@CE286[ !2=:J D2:5]k^Am
kAmx? 9:D 76H >@?E9D @? E96 ;@3[ 96 D2:5 96 92D 2=D@ D66? F?56CDE27765 5:DEC:3FE:@? 46?E6CD 2?5 H2C69@FD6D H:E9 =:?6D @7 ECF4<D H2:E:?8 9@FCD E@ =@25 2?5 F?=@25[ :?5:42E:?8 =23@C D9@CE286D :? @E96C =:?<D @7 E96 DFAA=J 492:?[ E@@]k^Am
kAm“xE’D DF49 2 4@>A=:42E65 :?5FDECJ H:E9 >2?J 3C2?496D @7 H@C<[” !2=:J D2:5] “xE’D ?@E ;FDE 5C:G6CD] *@F 92G6 3C@<6CD[ J@F 92G6 5:DA2E496CD[ J@F 92G6 H2C69@FD6D[ J@F 92G6 A@CED[ J@F 92G6 4C@DD\5@4<D 2?5 5:DEC:3FE:@? 46?E6CD] p== @7 E92E E:6D :? E@86E96C]”k^Am
kAmtC:<D6? D2:5 E96 D49@@= :D 3@@<65 D6G6C2= >@?E9D :? 25G2?46 2D 4@>A2?:6D 6D42=2E6 E96:C AFD9 E@ 9:C6 5C:G6CD]k^Am
kAm“x? 7@FC H66<D[ J@F 92G6 2 42C66C[” 96 D2:5] “*@F 4@F=5 8@ E@ 4@==686 7@C 7@FC J62CD 2?5 ?@E 36 23=6 E@ >2<6 E96 D2>6 >@?6J J@F 42? 5C:G:?8 2 ECF4<]”k^Am
k9bm!:=@E AC@8C2>k^9bm
kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ 9:896C A2J[ =68:D=2E:@? :?4=F565 :? E96 S`]a EC:==:@? 7656C2= :?7C2DECF4EFC6 A24<286 4@F=5 A2G6 E96 H2J 7@C J@F?86C 5C:G6CD E@ ;@:? E96 :?5FDECJ]k^Am
kAm%96 sC:G6 $276 p4E 6DE23=:D96D 2 EH@\DE6A A:=@E 2AAC6?E:46D9:A AC@8C2> 7@C 5C:G6CD `g\a_ J62CD @=5 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? :?E6CDE2E6 4@>>6C46] !2CE:4:A2?ED >FDE 4@>A=6E6 c__ 9@FCD @7 255:E:@?2= EC2:?:?8[ :?4=F5:?8 ac_ 9@FCD DFA6CG:D65 3J 2? 6IA6C:6?465 5C:G6C]k^Am
kAm%96 AC@8C2> 2=D@ C6BF:C6D ECF4<D E@ 36 7:EE65 H:E9 E649?@=@8J :?4=F5:?8 24E:G6 3C2<:?8 4@==:D:@? >:E:82E:@? DJDE6>D[ 7@CH2C5\724:?8 6G6?E C64@C5:?8 42>6C2D[ DA665 =:>:E6CD D6E 2E ed >A9 @C =@H6C 2?5 2FE@>2E:4 @C 2FE@>2E:4\>2?F2= EC2?D>:DD:@?D]k^Am
kAm“xE 92D 2 D:8?:7:42?E 2>@F?E @7 3@E9 E649?@=@8J C6BF:C6>6?ED @? E96 EC2:=6C :ED6=7[ 2?5 2 D:8?:7:42?E 2>@F?E @7 EC2:?:?8 7@C E96 J@F?86C 5C:G6C — :?4=F5:?8 D@>6@?6 H9@’D 2=D@ 8@:?8 E@ 36 D:EE:?8 ?6IE E@ E96> :? E96 423[” D2:5 $2>D@?[ @7 E96 p%p]k^Am
kAmw6 D2:5 E96 AC@8C2> H:== 36 @G6CD66? 3J E96 u656C2= |@E@C r2CC:6C $276EJ p5>:?:DEC2E:@?[ 2?5 H:== 36 CF??:?8 “:? E96 ?62C 7FEFC6]”k^Am
kAmy2CG:D[ @7 E96 DE2E6 ECF4<:?8 2DD@4:2E:@?[ D2:5 D96 9@A6D ~C68@? 42CC:6CD H:== 4@?D:56C A2CE:4:A2E:?8 E@ 7:== D@>6 @7 E96 AC@8C2>’D b[___ 2G2:=23=6 D=@ED]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2 962GJ 7:?2?4:2= :?G6DE>6?E @? E96 A2CE @7 ECF4<:?8 4@>A2?:6D E@ E2<6 EH@ 5C:G6CD @? @?6 56=:G6CJ[ 3FE :E H2D D@>6E9:?8 @FC :?5FDECJ H2D G6CJ :?E6C6DE65 :? DFAA@CE:?8[” y2CG:D D2:5] “xE’D 2? 6DD6?E:2= ;@3]”k^Am
kAm}@E 6G6CJ@?6 :D @? 3@2C5 H:E9 E96 AC@8C2>] ~AA@?6?ED 2C8F6 E66?286 5C:G6CD A@D6 2 9:896C C:D< @7 4C2D9:?8[ 2?5 E96 ?6H =2H H@F=5 5@ ?@E9:?8 E@ C6E2:? 5C:G6CD H9@ 364@>6 3FC?65 @FE 5F6 E@ 8CF6=:?8 D4965F=6D 2?5 =@?8 DEC6E496D @7 E:>6 2H2J 7C@> 9@>6]k^Am
kAm%@ C64CF:E >@C6 5C:G6CD[ E96 x529@ %CF4<:?8 pDD@4:2E:@? 92D 2 ?6H S`fd[___ ECF4< D:>F=2E@C E92E :E E2<6D E@ 9:89 D49@@=D 2C@F?5 E96 DE2E6] %96 :562 :D E@ 86E DEF56?ED E9:?<:?8 23@FE 2 42C66C 2D 2 ECF4< 5C:G6C] %96 7:CDE DE@A H2D y2?] ae 2E |:55=6E@? w:89 $49@@=]k^Am
kAm“%96 92?5D\@? 6IA6C:6?46 >2J 62D6 D@>6 4@?46C?D 2?5 4C62E6 6I4:E6>6?E 7@C DEF56?ED =@@<:?8 7@C 42C66C @AE:@?D[” D2:5 p==6? w@586D[ E96 2DD@4:2E:@?’D AC6D:56?E 2?5 rt~] “x7 E96 5C:G6C D9@CE286 4@?E:?F6D[ E9:D H:== WAC6G6?EX 6G6CJ@?6 7C@> 86EE:?8 E96 8@@5D E96J H2?E :? 2 E:>6=J 72D9:@?]”k^Am
kAm&?E:= E96 DFAA=J 492:? C682:?D :ED 7@@E:?8[ $2>D@?[ @7 E96 ECF4<:?8 2DD@4:2E:@?[ D2:5 28C:4F=EFC2= 4@>>@5:E:6D C:D< 92G:?8 2 D9@CE6C D96=7 =:76 2?5 9:896C AC@5F4E:@? 4@DED]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2 4@>A=:42E65 H63[ 3FE ?@?6 @7 :E 6?5D FA 36:?8 2 A@D:E:G6 7@C E96 72C>6C @C E96 4@?DF>6C[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
