For all those looking into companies to work for, I'm sharing first hand my experience as a professional of something as a newby going thru orientation at Celadon... Feb 9th day one.. as maybe some of you have already talked with a recruiter, first day is Physical, Drug and Drive as well a lots of papers and confirmation of work history, plus class room work and lecture on HazMat, lots of qts on that, driver logs, and cargo shipper trailer pitfalls, etc. Our class somewhere between 40-50 people in. I understood that about 10-15 people did not make it past noon, for whatever reasons. So that said, your class may start out large, so to speak, but how many make it to the end of orientation is at this moment is a quess. Let you know when we complete, if I make it. Class starts at 7am, knocks of at 5. With breakfast,lunch and dinner provided in their cafateria.. Food is not bad at all.. When you check in the night before, you will have a room to share with someone. They are clean and as good as any Motel 6/8, community bathrm/showers.. Which is a good as some of the better truck stops.. Again these are my personal opinions and experiences.. after over 30 yrs out in the transportation realm, Day One has been a good experience..,so far. The company itself from what I've seen in the last 24hrs, is well organized and on top of what they are trying to accomplish... The little negative I can say, is on day one, with 40 plus people, as the day runs on, you don't hear for hours for those of us waiting to be called for the test, (drive,drug or phy) when your up next.. would be nice to have to positive reinforcement, like your next or about an hour.. they did say that it would run into the next day.. so I guess they covered it.. But like anyone new to the surroundings it would nice to hear it a few more times, kinda keep you out the mushroom effect, only meaning in the dark, no bs associated from what I heard so far. Straight talk, here at Celadon
Well end of day one, so good so far.. will keep you posted for those wondering... On a Scale 1-9, giv'm 8+ today..
We'll see what Tuesday brings.

Keep 'em coming, this is the info we need!

__________________
You can always tell a trucker, but you can't tell him MUCH!

Guide to Instant O/O and Loadboards thread:
Financial settlements: 50, 68, (80), 82, 123, 166 (cumulative), 166 all repairs/maintenance, 181, 205
Pics: 3, 9, 10, 16, 24, 29, 32, 41, 61, 63, 78, 84, 94, 96, 119, 210, 326
Vids: 47, 48, 63, 74, 77, 80, 82, 96, 172, 211
JasontheRock cost investment summary: 87

Day Two at Celadon, busy with log reviews and policys, trip sheet fill outs, insurance options, pay options, finished up drug, drive. Physical...is well screened and your looked at to make sure you can see, hear, walk, talk, balance,etc. Your BP is important.. needs to be below 140/90 DOT Reg, if its higher you get 1 yr between phyical, if lower BP you get 2yrs between phy. Heavy duty on logging and I don't mean trees...
Overall its busy, driving test is a good show on how well you can drive from local to interstate, to local and a back in with 15 inches clearance on each side, but you have rows of trailer in front of you, so its not a piece of cake, but not a problem for experience driver.. its like taking a driving test for your cdl... if you make some major mistakes you will go home.. If you forget to seat belt, you have to retake, one driver touched a trler, went home. Overall very fair.
Day 3 coming up and will have more... Again my overview has been a good experience... Celadon is driver friendly, but you have to follow the rules.. my take is, they care and company on your side.. But you have to follow the rules, do your job and represent the Company, in return you will get what you expect. Good team joint effort from company with driver...
Today was a 8++

Hi, thats good that it is a good exp. i am going to oreintaion on monday, and how long does the driving test take? where does the driving test take place at? Thanks for any help. matt

Hello my fellow drivers.,

Day three at Celadon, is more of the wind up and completion to prepare you as their official hired driver... Some of the day is on the maintenance of the trucks and procedures to follow, the equipment and the do's and don'ts. Safety and potential safety hazards with hijacks, etc.. Then how the trucks are equipped and fuel economize.. Trucks are assigned, the truck you get is yours till its the grave. The truck life is done as what is called "cradle to grave"., meaning when you get a truck, for example it may be a 2007-08-or 09, you will stay with it till, a certain mileage, then they go away and you get a brand new truck, till its grave day, which may be 2-4yrs pending the mileage.
My overall view after three full days is Celadon is very well greased and constantly keeping itself up ahead and on top, high tech and only getting better. They again care about and know the importance of their drivers and expect the drivers to reciprocate.
I'm impressed and very happy to be hear.. Scale 9-
Will say more when I get on the road maybe tomorrow.

Howdy,, asking about the driving test, takes about 45-60 minutes, from time you step in the truck and step out.. Be cool, just follow your best experience, and drive according to the proper rules of the CDL rules and do what's expected of you.. Don't be cocky or a gear jammer and crammer and you'll do fine... And don't listen to all the other advisors (drivers) just be you..

Hi ok thanks the driving test is the only thing i am a little worried about i haven't driven a truck since dec. so hopeful gearing will come back to me, otherwise everything else i know will be fine, oh i won't listen to the other drivers, thanks again.

You will do just fine.. Like you, I had'nt driven in several months... and you wonder about the particular truck, how its set up and what your use to. The last company I drove for. The shift pattern was totally backwards.. As the owner had bought a used fleet of trucks that came from Cananda, it took me forever to get the shift pattern right.. after have driven for over 13 years in a normal pattern.. Celadon's are 10 and 13 speeds, but the test is in 10 speed normal pattern. You won't have any problem, like riding a bicycle, it becomes natural, being empty during the test you don't need much motor to move and take your time.. Relax

hi, ok thanks for that info, call me crazy but i am excited to get back driving again, how did today go? Is the dorm as bad as everyone says it is? thanks

Heck no, If your use to living in a castle which is your home or truck or someplace else.. then you might find it a little basic... Its clean, neat and fuctional. The price is right $0 I found it to be adaquate. Place to get a good nights rest, its not a party room.. and your not there to be entertained.. just trained. Its better than you ever had in basic training or on a ship or out in the field with a m16 Same for the food, its free it gets the job done and you can eat it.. Again depends where your coming from.. Its not Mom's cooking, but its eatable.

Day Four very busy, after truck assigned, your runn your butt off getting it inspected for your acceptance, then hauling your belongings into it, and if it all works out, you'll have a load ready before your really ready to roll.. I got out at 6pm roll'n SB to MO/OK delivered my first load at 0700, then better watch your logs and keep track cause you can set yourself up for violation of the 11/14 then your going to need rest time, etc.. Its Great Lov'n it.. If your not familar with Quallcom, like myself, that was the biggest challenge, getting it all done timely,, seem like it took me forever.,, kind like throwing you in the pool on the deep end feet can't touch, you can swimm a little so you feel like your really need'n to tread water,, after about 10 entries and 24 hours on the keyboard,, its starts to make sense and you relax,, least that's my experience.. remember, thou, like anything in life, civilian or military, the old rule hurry up and wait
Again, after my first trip out, I have to give it a 9, the tractor is held back to 62/65, mine never would go over 62, except downhill it would get up there. 68-70. The DM has some control of that, also could not idle more than 5 minutes, shuts off no mater what I do.. so at night,, its cold in the cab if you sleep any time.. more than 3 hrs since you can't idle, some of the trucks have bunk heaters, but I'll have to get it adjusted on mine so I can stay warm or cool.. They have the computer on the trucks which to control all this have to get maintenance to make ECM changes,, my truck is 07 with 161,000 miles on it.. Interior is like new, runs well and everything works.. The maintenance people have a tough job keep'm roll'n but my little experience when I was getting my truck ready they were polite and helpful.. no attitiudes. So I say what goes around comes around you develope an attitude you'll get one back

Enjoy your training and get ready to work.. Look the whole industry is slow, some weeks will be better than others.. I feel you'll have all you want as time passes.. There are some other nice perks with this company as well, that's why in our class of 47 we had 3 rehired back,, as the some have said they quite but some come back cause the grass ain't greener, but browner on the other side, if you get my direction.
Best to you and all out there. Will keep writing as the days and weeks follow, first officer celadon driver work'n his way to capt'n