Any new updates? I am real interested in Superior since I live about 30 minutes from their Marion terminal and about 1 and a half hours from the Kingsport terminal.

BTW, what is NETTS?

I think what you want is NETTS-New England Tractor Training .

Ok, I saw it mentioned while reading through the topic and I wondered what it was.

Call the terminal manager and ask what school they recruit newbies from. Here in Rhode Island it from New England Tractor Trailer Training School and they dont make exceptions. SO DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND CALL THE TM. I DIDNT AND NOW I HAVE TO WAIT 1 YR BEFROE I CAN APPLY. Best of Luck

Thanks for the information, Rob.

No problem, Hope you get in the guys all seem to love it.

Sunday 4/20-Friday 4/25

Had a run from NC to Sturtivant Wi that delivered Tues AM. Left Sunday afternoon and drove to Charleston Wva and shut it down at the pilot for 10 hours. Had my first encounter with a lot lizard that morning. About 5:00 AM she woke me up banging on the passenger door. I just ignored it but peaked out of the curtain without pulling it back and could see her shadow slinking across the lot. I doubt if I will stay at that pilot again. Its a pain in the butt since I couldn't get back to sleep after that and still had a couple of hours before I could leave.

The rest of this trip was uneventful. The guy unloading me was real nice. It was a big plant and they handle everything. Tank Wash was back to the Markham terminal often referred to as the black hole by drivers because of how often you sit there. I was lucky and got one for the next day that loaded literally 5 miles from the terminal. Only problem was it loaded at 1300 and was going to New Haven Ct. That left me sitting from 1500 to 1300 the next day. I called dispatch and was told no problem just go over about 9:30 AM and they would probably be able to take me early.

The next morning I get over there and they have a truck ahead of me that is late and they told me to come back after noon. Screwed me a little since I had started my 14 hour clock 4 hours earlier than I needed to and would not be able to make it as far as I wanted. It all worked out in the end because on my way I got a Qualcom to drop this load at our Karns City terminal and they had a load for me back to High Point. I had asked to be home on Monday because My wife had some Springsteen tickets. They didn't have anything out of Ct that could do that so they changed me up. That seems to happen a lot. Several times I have been sent dispatch qualcoms that have been changed. Its to the point that I don't even call my wife and tell here where I am going the first time I get a message.

I drove 11 hours and shut it down at a Pilot about 90 miles from the Karns City Exit off I-80. The next day I set out for the terminal. All went well until I came off the exit. It was a narrow 2 lane road that wound around and follows the Alleghaney River. About a mile off the interstate It dropped down to the river at a 9% grade with switchbacks and a 15 MPH speed limit. Fortunately I wasn't going very fast and the hill wasn't but about a mile or so long. I will never do that hill again loaded. I found an alternate route that avoids that hill by talking to some drivers.

The Karns City Terminal is in a real small town in what would be a really pretty mountainous area if there weren't so many chemical plants around. I love the outdoors and took a walk around a park next to the terminal and into town for lunch. I got there around Noon and didn't load until 9:30 Thursday morning one mile away. It didn't deliver until Monday 4/28 but the consignee is inly 90 miles from my home terminal. There was a sign in the drivers room warning about bear sightings on the terminal property
Thats how rural this place is.

The next day went without a hitch and i made it all the way back to my home terminal with 15 minutes to spare on my 11 hours and had the weekend off.

Monday 4/28-Friday 5/2

Very nice day. Got to the consignee 30 minutes early and customer unloading was done in less than 2 hours. I got back in time to take my wife and son out to eat before seeing The Boss. It was a great show and I was dispatched to Iowa 900+ miles loading at 15:00 Tuesday 4/29 delivering in an 8-12 window 5/1. Life was great.

Then about 9:30 Tues morning I get a call saying they are taking me off the Iowa load and putting me on a paint load to Michigan. Only problem is they don't know when it will be ready. Probably 15:30-17:30. I was a bit pissed. this is a dedicated load. I have been to the plant many times and written about it in earlier posts. Whenever the load is ready I have 24 hours to get it to Michigan. That means I need to go at least 250miles before a 10 hour break. Get another call that afternoon saying it won't be ready until 20:30. I get to the plant at 19:00 and they are still filling the first compartment of a 3 compartment tank. Basically I am screwed. The load was finally ready at 1:30 that morning. The only way to run this load legally in 24 hours is to only take 1 10 hour break. That meant It would all be night driving. I decided to stop in Nitro Wva at one of our terminals and got there at 7:00 AM. Left at 5:00 the next morning and made good time. I would only be about 15 minutes late for my 1:30 AM appointment time. Then I took a wrong turn that took me 60 miles out of the way. I was driving back roads to try and save time. Finally got to the consignee about 1.5 hours late at 3:00. It wasn't a big deal to them and they immediately backed me into the rack and began unloading. I crawled into the sleeper.

I woke up about 6:30 and the sun was just starting to come up. I got up and got out of the cab only to notice coolant under my truck. I then noticed that there was a stream of it where I had backed in. I popped the hood and you could see a stead leak from the bottom of the engine. They finally finished unloading me. I got a bunch of water and topped off my radiator. It took over 5 gallons of water. Thats how bad the leak was. Then I drove to the truck stop 1 mile away where i had weighed heavy, weighed light and backed it into a parking space. There was a shop next door so I had them fix my hose. By then it was 16:00 in the afternoon. I settled into the bunk, Got up at 2:00 AM and drove to Beckley Wva. Took a break and drove back to High Point. I got home about 4:30 this morning.

I had asked to stay out through the weekend so I have a load back up to Michigan that delivers 8-10 Monday 5/6. I will leave this afternoon. I look forward to getting back into a daylight driving and night time sleeping schedule. Fortunately this load is spotted on our yard so its hook and go this afternoon.

Well, I just retired 20yrs Army and just graduated truck driving school. I have a wife and two almost grown kids and plenty of bills. lol...........
I have a prehire with Werner, they make it sound great, and I'm waiting on approval from VOC REHAB through the military. This might take 2 - 3 weeks. My question is, is this a good choice and does anyone have any good advice or better choices.

I think I am going to like driving a semi but if anyone has any good stories of their fist time driving I would be interested in hearing them.

Thanks, Have a nice day.

Hey Tin man if you out there hi.

I havent heard alot about werner.. But the only thing i can say is, dont , dont jump into any trucking outfit to soon. ask around.. they all make it sound great. sit down and think what you wont from that company, how much hometime,insurance,pay.and be carefull...ask about other truckoutfits..