Central Refrigerated Truck Stop

thank you Chipperdawg, I am trying to find the link now Denise

 

You might already know this, but...

Don't forget blood pressure. You could be strong, energetic, young, and feel great, and have high blood pressure. If it's high, get to doctors, get on meds, and get a Dr's note. The limit is 140/90.

Also, it sounds like they check your heart rate while doing the Work Well, so some cardio work would probably be a good idea for some. With your age, you're probably fine.

 

Hey Chipperdawg (or anyone), do they need our birth certificates? and do they need 4 references with addresses (not relatives)?

I'm having problems finding my B Cert. I have a SS card.

 

I haven't been under 2200 miles since starting. Well, except when I broke down in july. Funny, I #####ed about sitting labor day weekend but still ended up with2400mi. I'm very vocal (squeeky wheel) for my miles. My dm knows me when he sees me and all is well. My friend has same dm but struggles to get 2k miles.

 

Okay so I just got off the phone with a Central recruiter. Now, keeping in mind that I just got out of the military so I am FULLY AWARE of the cocomamy BS recruiters come up, I wanted to run it all by you before I submit my application and jump into trucking with Central.

Before I go on, let me first state my situation. Having just separated from the military, my wife and I have spent a significant portion of our lives apart. Not interested in continuing the trend, we are thinking about putting our belonging (those that can't be sold, donated, etc.) into storage so as she may ride with me as a passenger. "Oh, but Iceman, you'd make so much more as a team driver," I can hear you all saying. Trust me, I have seen the number breakdowns, I know. Unfortunately, my wife drives a Scion xB (you know...those boxes/toasters on wheels) and she thinks THAT is too big and scary. There is no way in H*LL that she will be comfortable driving a rig. So she will be passenger.

Now that that's out of the way...onto the questions I asked the recruiter.
Question 1: How long after I begin my solo career can a passenger be permitted to ride along? IE: 60/90 day probation period, etc.
A1: None. A passenger can ride as soon as driver picks up solo truck.

Q2: Are there any requirements for passengers? IE: age, insurance, etc.
A2: The passenger must be 18 (which, last I checked, my wife meets). A driver must fill out a form and submit to HR for insurance on passenger. Fee is $11/mo.

Q3: How long can a passenger ride for consecutively? (Since we'll essentially be living on the truck, I can't have a "3 weeks at a time" rule).
A3: None. The passenger can ride with the driver indefinitely.

Q4: How many miles does each truck average?
A4: Right now they are averaging between 2500-3200 miles/week.

Q5: Can a driver drive the truck while on personal time? (Seeing as we'll be living in the truck, we'll be taking our "home time" in whatever large city or even small city is in the vacinity. I wanted to know if a driver can use his truck to drive around town bobtailing or if s/he had to depend on taxis, etc.)
A5: Unknown. The recruiter didn't know the answer. I am hoping some of you can chime in here.

Q6: As a company driver, who pays for gas, maintenance, repairs, tolls, lumper fees, etc?
A6: The company pays for everything. (I asked again, to make sure. "Including gas?" His response was yes. Is that true?)

Q7: When does health insurance kick in and is it free? Does a driver need personal insurance on him/herself or the passenger?
A7: Insurance kicks in after 90 days and for a family is $80/wk. No personal driver or passenger insurance is necessary.

Q8: Are personal touches allowed to company owned vehicles? (Personal touches being defined as fridges, microwaves, etc.)
A8: Yes. They are allowed.

If any of you could chime in as to the true or falseness of the above Q&A I would REALLY appreciate it.

Thanks again.
Iceman
(Sorry, I have a penchant for rambling)

 

Work well test is going to be pretty easy for people who aren't short and aren't terribly weak. (I'm short... I struggled a bit. Metal Milk crates were difficult to hold on to if you have sweaty palms!)

You'll be fine. The people who failed were older ladies... There were probably more... but people were leaving so fast that I couldn't keep track.

Thanks Chrome... I appreciate the pep-talk and the advice greatly!

Actually, the BP cuttoff is 159/99 for a 1 year DOT card, the Dr. checks that in the physical. They also come around first thing with an electronic gizmo and check everybody's while you do paperwork. So it gets checked twice. Mine was 126/92 which is higher than I like it... but the Dr. also realizes that you are stressed, tired, and probably ready to kill over any minute... Yes, they do keep track of your heart rate.

From what I have heard today is this: Yes you can have passengers day 1 after you go solo. They have to be 10 or up for summer or 18 othertimes. Trucker cannot drive the truck on personal time. If you live within 50 miles (or maybe its 40?) you don't get to take the truck home on hometime. They DO require that you have a physical address... this could be family that agrees to let you "stay" with them.
That's about all I know.
Good luck!


DAY 2
Is pretty much classroom time... taking practice tests and such. We need to know chapters 1,2,3,5,6 for our test tomorrow.

 

We were told to bring it, so I am bringing it. The majority of the states in the union use vital check (http://www.vitalchek.com). We had to request a copy of lextec's to ensure we had it. I had to get mine before after I finally found out my birth records weren't sealed any more. I have the references, and I guess if I need the addresses, I'll be sending text messages.

 

there is nothing in this world that is guaranteed that I've found in my 56 years. It's sort of trial and error until you get it right. But if we don't try, and give it our best shot we won't know if it would have worked out in the end. I hear all the bs about the economy but if I let it all "run me off" I'll get no where, just stay in bed and hide, try to.

I know about nerves and panic attacks or whatever you want to call them but I choose to believe it is something that is trying to scare us off, keep us from succeeding. I heard again, on a movie the other night. People who have done the greatest things in this world were constantly bombarded with fear and others telling them they couldn't do something. Like the Wright Bros. for example.

You can do this Chipperdawg, look how far you've come already Kick-### and go for it. Don't listen to the negative crap in your head. I know, I fight my voices everyday a fellow'ette trucker to-be Denise

 

Your Wife can join you on the truck as soon as you upgrade, Fees are $125.00 a year.

Passenger indefinitely is true!

As everyone has said the miles vary anywhere from 1500-3000 miles.

As a company driver you DON'T pay for Tolls, any fuel, Scale tickets, Lumpers or Pallets.

You can buy a power inverter and just have the shop install it to run your electrical things.

Insurance is pretty reasonable and its through United.

I'm pretty sure you can't use a Company truck to drive around sight seeing, They wouldn't care if you went to walmart if you are going past one.

 

Q: What were most people being dropped for?
A: Background checks, background checks, and background checks. I think only one failed the workwell, and two just walked out. So that left us at 15 out of 25. Lost(?) another this morning due to an illness(?), didn't come to class this morning, doubtful that this person will be back, will find out tomorrow. So now we are at 14.

The workwell test was not difficult, unless you made it difficult on yourself. The push/pull test was easy on the pull, not difficult on the push (I disagreed with the method, but I'm not a pt professional).

It is important to listen to what is said, and don't take anything for granted. I adopted the attitude that every day is a new challenge and that I am here not only for me but also as a future productive Central employee.

Day 2 was prep for the written exam for the permit. My advice for day 2 in Fontana/Riverside.... be ready to take that permit test before you get here. A few other students today were not as prepared as they probably should have been, and it showed during pre-testing. Study enough to be prepared to walk into the DMV on your own and take the permit test before you get to school.

Now time for homework....