Headed to orientation this weekend.

Yes sir. I'm an OTR driver doing quite well here actually. There is money to be made here if you keep your eyes on the prize. How far along are you in your training?

 

Started with my trainer on Wednesday should be done with him next Saturday. Then on to phase 2

 

Just keep in mind what I wrote about Phase 2 above. The FM for it is... Well she isn't very nice. But do as you're told, run the trips safe & legal, & you'll be done with her in no time. After that you're solo & life gets real good. Remember you & your co driver will be equals in Phase 2. Full on partners if you will. So look out for each other & run the miles as quick as you can.

 

Yea me and the guy I'm going to run with already know each other, so that should make it somewhat better.

 

How long have you been with the company and what are your miles like.

 

I've only been here 2 months so my experience is short term. But it's been good so far & I've been treated with the utmost respect. The last month I averaged 2900 per week & just last week 3152. I'm staying very busy & every driver I encounter on the road for the most part has a similar story. Once I got to where I was following everything Driver Support had laid out for me I was turning miles. It took a few weeks to get in the swing but now that I am it's great.

Do yourself a favor however & stay out of the drivers lounge in Murray. If there's one universal truth in this business it's that all the complaining drivers who get no miles, equipment breaking down, trouble with he DOT, always have problems, have the worst fleet managers, always get crappy loads etc etc etc... They all are usually hanging around the company terminal where they can find similar company to complain with & share their grief. Go there & handle your business then get out quickly.

 

Did you have to do a phase 2. If so how long did it take you to get that done. And how long did it take you to get a truck after that.

 

I came in as a Refresher actually with previous experience but I had been off the road for 5 yrs. it took me all of 6 days to be called back in & made solo. I had a Phase 2 driver with me who was almost done with his 30,000 & his partner quit. We knocked out 5000 miles in those 6 days so if you get some coast to coast turns it can be done real quick.

 

Oh & I got to keep the double bunk International I recovered when I started. It was kind of special circumstances all around but it doesn't take long. My fleet manger has been fantastic as well & he really looks out for his drivers. Eric Hicks. Ask about him as you get closer to finishing & maybe Monty will give you him. He's great.

 

How do you get those kinda miles? I have been here for 4 months and the best week I have had is 2995. Do you do the NE and NYC? I don't. For the 21 weeks I have been here my average is 2175. This includes home time weeks.