Heading to orientation soon.. What to bring??

The fact that you're asking that speaks volumes about the fact that you may not yet be ready to be a driver.
No, they do not allow that, but more importantly, the FMCSA doesn't allow that. Your state may thinks it's okay to do it, but nobody allows driving with it, and a CDL guarantees that if you intend to keep your license, you won't do it, so the first thing you need to get through your head is to stop doing it, PERIOD!! Until that is firmly understood, you won't be here long enough for any of these folk's good advice to do you any good.

 

If you are in it to win it and what you replied to Caxpt is factual, I would cancel on Western and then go shave and groom every hair off of my body and then wait a month to attend an orientation and training with a much better company around May 1.

With that said, if you are going to drive a commercial vehicle you must remain clean. If you don't you will eventually get caught. I would hope it was when you got popped for a random and not when you ran over a family when high.

 

Not to necessarily "echo" what has already been said -- but it's amazing how obsessive/anal some carriers can be about safety.

Thus -- drugs/alcohol & CDL driving simply don't mix. Any...or ever.

-- L

 

Well then, that's a good thing. Although I wouldn't go the route that TX2Day suggests, because now that you've been tested, that result is in the clearinghouse, and no matter how much you shave right now, it won't matter because it's in the record. Although there are good carriers out there, you're going to have to prove that you can make the muster and be clean through several "random" tests, and don't be surprised if you get subjected to a lot of them at first, go with what you got.

Great Western may be a crap company, but at least you'll get your foot in the door and learn a trade you want (flatbed), where others have refused to take you on.

Work for a year or more with them. I did it with Swift for 2 years, because even though I have every endorsement from my local driving experience, nobody at the time wanted to take me on as an older novice OTR driver. I went over the road, at 51. I never logged a day in my driving life prior to that, and I was trained in flatbed, I believe very well. So rather than bite the hand that is allowing you a chance, embrace it, and learn like the dickens, come here and ask questions (even if they sometimes are contradicting), get the books (like JJ Keller's Cargo Securement Handbook for Drivers) for quick reference, plus the material they give you as you go through training. Keep it near you. Actually read that Green Book you should be issued. You're signing for it, and you should learn it. Most everything comes from that book, and books like the Cargo Securement one, comes with pictures, diagrams and are just easier for you to read and understand than all the legalese print in that DOT manual, but you're still going to need to learn it...so when you have free time, no matter how little, read it and learn it.

Good Luck.

 

If lightening struck and you were guaranteed the best trainer at Western I would say go get 'em. While I have never worked for them I have heard some terrible stories from their drivers. If waiting until May one would be 90 plus days clean, I would encourage you to keep looking for a better training company. Your decision of course, but weigh your options carefully as this training will effect the rest of your flatbed career.

Good luck in whatever you decide. Going to the house.

 

Insulated hat with a brim , like a fedora ? Im here to drive a truck seeee .

 

Bring some common sense and you will be long ahead of everybody else in orientation.

 

Holy crap! I've been doing this gig for awhile now, and I never thought of getting magnetic flashlights to put on the DOT bumper for backing in the dark! Good idea, thanks!