First day went very well. I drove oil truck almost empty and when it was full. Didn't feel much surge but felt the side to side push around corners. I was told not to baby the truck and just drive it. When I relaxed and just drove the truck
everything went great. I remembered to reduce speed around curves,look far enough ahead, anticipate the lights changing and braking early.

A feather in your cap my friend.

Keep those Wheels Turning so you can Keep on Earning.

__________________


The trouble with the world is not that people know too little, but that they know so many things that ain't so
- Mark Twain

Let's support our new president,
but Obama should remember one thing,
Gray Davis.....

Second day of training went very well. I drove for a good portion of the day.I noticed with class B some drivers don't tend to follow the hazmat rule at railroads or speed limits. I think its because they're in the service industry and trying to get done quickly. I understand getting done efficiently but unless you have somewhere to go ( outside of work) your paid hourly not cpm why are you rushing? Work smarter,safer, not harder. Trainer said I'm doing an excellent job was very happy that I remembered what to do and now I'm getting the reps in. The office manager checked up on me and told me the start time for monday (8am) and will have our sit down then.Heres hoping the cash is better than I expect. If not I'll keep looking,well going to keep looking anyway because no bennies. I got some sunday x1/2 and should end this work week with 40 + sunday or 30's + sunday hrs. the week starts thursday to wednesday midnight. I'll keep you posted.

The pay is not good at the new job. Its $14 hr.I was making $ 15 hr doing landscaping and can go do security overnight for that amount and still look for CDL A work during the daytime. I'm going to conway freight tomorrow to fill out application. TM told me once I have cdl and Hazmat & Doubles to come see him so I will. I'm waiting for a recruiter to call me back he's checking on some companies that might hire me. The first one he told me about was swift. I informed him I already talked with 2 swift recruiters and had friends that just went to their orientation. One was disqualified because he has high bp even though its controlled by medication they sent him home. I have high bp controlled by meds and don't have time to waste to be sent back home.
My spirits are high as I know I will find something soon. Will go back and fill out application for ABF as well.

I applied to ABF in seekonk ,ma and will call the TM at brockton,ma he's the one I spoke to before and he came to my school to talk with us.

I talked to the heating oil people and told them I cant take the position because I will keep trying to get into tractor trailer work. I went to GREYLAWN FOODS for there fuel/yard jockey position. Pay is low $13 hr with ot. The owner and I had a straight talk about what I want. I want to drive the truck, he said "ok" so you'll do this until spring and I know you'll be looking for a trucking job. Once your working for us we'll talk with the insurance carrier and see when we could move you in a truck if not I know you"ll move on. I went back for a second walk around after my whiz quiz,met my supervisor and checked out the equipment learned a little about thermo king system. I will move trucks, fill them,back them, PM them and the thermo king system. Seems like I'm in a win win situation and can know hold off for one of the local companies I talked to both union and non union. At first I was told to stay away from reefer units as a newbie but it seems the local reefer units are going to give you a shot faster than others. At least it looks that way.

Spoke to a cousin tonight that graduated 8 mo ago and is working local reefer.He gave me his bosses name & number.He will talk to him in the am and then I will call.He said they were hiring and to also check with another company and gave me an inside referral. Funny thing is as I kept reading the name I believe we went to middle school together and have some distant relatives we are related to by marriages.( If its the same person)

I am a bit partial to abf lead due to my current employer...

I love freight - and think it would be your best pay option...
(and pension option).

__________________
TEAMSTERS LOCAL 100


Faster than a 60 MPH bullet....

calling ABF at 8am then my leads from my cousin and jp noonan.

I talked with two ABF barns and I'm trying to get into the closer one.The TM was suppose to call me right back after he re looked through my application and bring me in for a interview.He didn't call so I called him again,time to be overly persistent.My cousin has a friend there that is going to put in a good word and let them know I'm hungry for work.
(2) I got the job at Greylawn Foods as a fueler/yard jockey. It doesn't pay well but its a step in the door until spring(3-6 wks) and the owner knows that I'll be looking to drive. It starts Wed 5pm
(3) I got a call back from an environmental oil company(i put the application in yesterday) for an interview wed 8 am. They have class B and A Tankers.
(4) I interviewed this morning (Tue.) for a class B oil recycling company Safety Kleen
they pay $15 to start review in 90 days(this would keep me at my current rate of pay before layoff).
I talked to a freight company today that said he's interested but was unable to talk today and asked me to call at 10 am Wed. Its going to be a busy day.
I will continue to push for ABF. If the environmental oil company will put me into the class A tanker in the future that will be a tough one to turn down because they had a lot of class A tankers. It got pretty frustrating today after so many calls being told no not hiring yet. Its starting to pan out.

hey, Rob keep it up you wil find the right one is there any webster trucking in your area they are doing hiring in Ma and thought they had some plants up in RI .They are a grocery hauler and deliver to all the grocery stores. But I know its not easy out there for the new guys. But things are going well here I am glad I went this route . Check out my latest post .Good luck