Friday 2/15

Came in about 8:30 AM and loaded another load of tank wash waste water. I talked to my terminal manager and he issued me a comdata card. My first solo dispatch will be Monday so I am officially a company driver now. My first load will be a 6:00 AM delivery over in Greensboro of a spotted tank on our yard. They are going to run me local this week. I also found out they have a truck for me. Its a 2003 Freightliner with 700,000 miles on it and is located in Pasadena TX. If they get a load headed that way I may be riding with someone to get it. Until then I will be driving a day cab doing local work. I am a bit apprehensive about it since it has a super 10 transmission and I have never driven one before. I am going to go down to the terminal on Sunday and drive it around bobtail until I get the hang of it and then hook to my load so I can get an early start on Monday and not have to worry about that. This site has been helpful. I found a nice video made by Eaton on here of how to shift a super 10.

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I received a lead friday from my CDL School Director.He told me a beer company called for workers(most likely helpers) and he told them he had a guy who has his cdl that just graduated and he'll send him down or call. I went to DMV got my hazmat,doubles and already had tanker. I called the contact person then went to fill out application. While on my way I decided to call my oil company and ask if they were hiring. They said no, but another company was. I contacted that company filled out application, talked with office manager,meet the owner and they said "I'll give you a shot, I like you" I was given "THE JOB". They sent me out for WHIZ QUIZ and asked me if I wanted to try it out Saturday and Sunday to see if I liked it plus I can get trained. I SAID YES! Will go over pay on monday. Only problem is no bennies.I currently have bennies from the state and VA. It's also seasonal and goes part time in summer 3 days + collecting. Not a problem I was in lawn care/landscaping and can go with my old boss in the summertime to make up hours or look for other oil/gas jobs that are busy in the summer. I know one that is busy then and pays great. At least this is a stepping stone or new home. Will keep MILLIS in play incase it doesnt work out. It should I wanted to be a tank all my life.

Worked 6 am until 5 pm local heating oil deliveries. I drove truck today when it was almost empty and when fully loaded and I noticed the difference. Didn't have much surge but felt the side to side movement around corners. I continued to double clutch although some times you didn't have to and I even floated a couple but didn't want to push it. I was told by the trainer don't baby the truck DRIVE IT.So I did and it was GREAT. Working tomorrow and then will be talk with office manager & owner about pay scale. This could be a blessing(is a blessing because unemployment only had 1 wk left) and/or step to get into a bigger company with both straight and tractor trailers. One of the guys that graduated before me is delivering at MId to lat $20's an hour. I'll take that all day.

Sounds like a great move, BigDaddyJollyRob. I've been following your various threads with great interest-I'm a wannabe from central CT so your schooling, etc. was of great interest to me. I'm still on the fence as to spend the big $ on NETTS or go to a training OTR company. Unfortunately a lot of them don't hire from CT because you have to come back here to get your CDL (at least according to Schneider).

Probably the best thing to put Millis on hold if that thread on the other board (about a entire class being canceled during training allegedly because of lack of jobs) was true. This sounds like a more sure thing.

One question, if you don't mind-is the money with your local oil co comparable to what Millis was offering? How many months will you be fulltime?

Sounds good BigDaddyJollyRob. Only thing I might caution you on. I have read that some companies do not count experience in a straight truck as experience. When you try to go back to tractor trailers they make you start over with the training. I am a rookie too so take that for what its worth. Congrats on your new job and i hope it works out for you.

Full-time is until the summer,then days + collect and On call, I lucked out be cause the just got rid of one guy and then his nephews license is getting suspended march to sept. As far as pay,I will be negotiating on monday. I was asked if I wanted to train & try it out this weekend to see if I like it or if its not for me.I like it(same as what I've been doing the last 7yrs,service customers at there homes and route driving). I'll get back to you on what they pay. unfortunately I think they are going to offer $13-14. I somehow remember them being in the paper in the past. I want $17+ will settle for $15(what I made before trucking) will have to take what I get for know due to unemployment running out but, will continue to look and still have union job in play.I found some trucking companies 1 state over I haven't spoken with yet. If this job doesn't pay at least I'd get some experience in this field and hope it leads to the bigger companies or If it pays well then I'm home.

WSYROB you are right, I'm hoping this will lead to a bigger oil company willing to give me a shot in the same field. I got my CDL A and want to use it. Only way that wouldn't matter would be if I got into the company a recent grad got into $25-$28 hr doing a combo of CLASS A & B oil,fuel to airport, filling other semi's and construction vehicles. I can live with that. They are my next call.
Thanks WSYROB, I'm hoping to get a shot at tanking and then If I can run the road hopefully with superior or local that pays hourly. I'll keep folowing your post they're GREAT!

I quit Superior on 2/14/08. Freight was way too slow. Heading to Crete. Enjoyed my 6-months at Superior. Hope things pick up.

How many miles were you getting or were you doing local?

Me too. I picked a good time to be training I think. I did see lots of parked trucks in Kingsport when I was there for 3 weeks. Nashville's terminal was empty with lots of employees cars in the parking lot so they must be running pretty well. What terminal were you running out of? Good luck at Crete.