YRC Driver training - Roadsidedown's journey

Discussion in 'Trucking Schools and CDL Training Forum' started by RoadSideDown, Sep 28, 2021.

  1. FLHT

    FLHT Heavy Load Member

    980
    1,455
    Aug 2, 2014
    0
    YRC does have a concept with the attendance policy.
    Its part of YOUR union contract.
    The id badge is something the company requires and must provide.
    To get your insurance information go visit the local union hall. Your BA or one of the office people can help you.
    You can always look up Western Teamsters Welfare Trust. Their web page has plenty of information and phone numbers.
    Northwest Administrators handles your health care call them or visit their web page.
     
    Last edited: Jan 9, 2022
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. RoadSideDown

    RoadSideDown Light Load Member

    163
    343
    Feb 26, 2021
    0
    END OF P&D TRAINING! WEEK 4

    It finally arrived--on Wednesday this week my road trainers decided I was done training and need to start driving solo. Glorious day!

    It was great seeing one of them fill out the official completed learnings and task list to certify I passed their evaluation. I finally have my own ELD login ID and password. My trainer for the last couple of days has been feeding me tips "for when you are on your own out there." Supposedly my company ID badge will be here Friday. But that delay pales in comparison to finishing training successfully. I know to the old timers this is peanuts, a blip on the real learning curve. But being a gate that must be passed through it seems like a huge milestone to me right now.

    Today was my first day as a full P&D driver. But our terminal is undergoing some challenges and there was not enough freight loaded for the number of drivers we have so a few of us newer guys had to work the dock instead. It hardly mattered to me, I was floating on cloud nine just be a real driver at last. I was told to come in at 9am, but was approved to come in early to work OT on the dock if I wanted. So I arrived at 7am and worked the forklift until 9. Dispatch sent me to the yard to get some hostler training. Really great guy out there patiently started working with me on building and breaking trailer sets. Apparently the office had some confusion and quickly wanted their hostler moving trailers instead, so I was sent back to the dock for the day. Just being a full driver changed the dynamic around the dock. Several drivers stopped to congratulate me and offer some insights. Several friends from the dock were very happy for me and chatted as well. Ran into one of my CDL classmates and we caught up on things. He passed his cdl test the first time so is a week ahead of me in driving solo. Met a driver that drove for Yellow/Reddaway/YRC for 15 years, moved away and came back recently. We were all on the dock today.

    Rumor has it that Reddaway and YRC management are thrashing it out for dominance since each has a terminal in Portland a few miles from each other and obviously redundant. Our terminal manager suddenly left the company. Reddaway drivers get a $100/day bonus for coming here to haul our trailers but our drivers get no such thing hauling Reddaway trailers. With that kind of incentive our dock is far, far emptier than it was just a month ago. The last few days there wasn't enough freight to make a decent P&D run for my trainers so they had to switch things around to get enough stops to make a run. Obviously Reddaway management is doing the thrashing and the YRC management is getting the thrash. Hopefully for the drivers and dock workers there is still more than enough freight to keep us all busy. If not, at least we are now trained and much easier to bounce to another company if necessary. I hope not. YRC has a lot of very decent, kind workers and I like it here a lot. The office is so understaffed it can make paperwork very frustrating. But the drivers, mechanics and dock workers are top notch in skills, fun to work with and help each other out in a heartbeat. Safety is practiced constantly and the equipment is well maintained no matter how old.

    This is my last post in this training thread. Training is completed, I am a driver now. So very much more to learn out on the delivery routes and highways and streets and parking lots. I am excited to do that. The final words of advice from my trainers were, "take it slow, safety is the utmost importance, get out and look when you can't see the other side. And don't break anything!".

    I hope this thread has helped others thinking of getting their CDL, or whether to consider YRC for training. I am very happy with my CDL journey with YRC and recommend it for sure. Free CDL, no strings, good quality and the REAL training starts when you go on the road with a driver trainer for a month. There are many other ways to get your CDL, some of them also free. This one worked perfectly for me. I am also very satisfied with my decision to get a CDL Class A. No regrets and lots of enthusiasm looking ahead. I wish you great success and an enjoyable career on the road. Message me if you have any questions about this.
     
  4. Kinsman

    Kinsman Bobtail Member

    38
    229
    Dec 23, 2021
    Montanny
    0
    Your story has been instrumental in inspiring me yo do the same.

    I originally thought I'd go over to PDX and train at YRC as well, but I'll hopefully be accepted at Wilson here in Missoula.

    Best of luck, driver.
    Keep on having fun.
     
    Lonesome, gentleroger and RoadSideDown Thank this.
  5. RoadSideDown

    RoadSideDown Light Load Member

    163
    343
    Feb 26, 2021
    0
    Glad to be of some help. Never give up on your goal. There are many hurdles to overcome but treat every day as a fresh start. We had a couple of people in our class that really struggled, looked gloomy. But through the tears they did not quit and passed OK. The only class fail was a guy who got discouraged and quit on his own.
     
  6. ozzyoztrucker

    ozzyoztrucker Bobtail Member

    43
    47
    Feb 4, 2019
    0
    Hey Roadsidedown, which position did you apply, linehaul driver CDL academy or dock to driver program? I wanted to apply to CDL academy. But they said when I finish the program I can only be a linehaul driver, not pd driver which I'd like.
     
  7. Otr_tohru

    Otr_tohru Light Load Member

    125
    43
    Jan 15, 2022
    0
    They allow pets?
     
    ozzyoztrucker Thanks this.
  8. RoadSideDown

    RoadSideDown Light Load Member

    163
    343
    Feb 26, 2021
    0
    I applied for the CDL academy to P&D. Since libehaul doesn’t do much of anything LOL they can go straight into the class and then to 4 weeks with a LH trainer driving. They like P&D to get familiarized working the dock for a couple of weeks, then CDL academy, then 4 weeks delivery training. Do to office co fusions and my failed first attempt at the driving test I worked about 7 weeks total on the dock. I am decent on a forklift now and have a MUCH better understanding how trailers are loaded and freight moves in the system.

    This was my fourth day solo hauling a 53’ around the city and got great kudos from dispatch (who controls whether I drive and what I do) for consistently getting all the loads done. Finally got my company ID badge, keys to my own truck (ole bucket of parts but all mine!) and looks like I’ll be driving every day. No dock work since going solo. My trainers advised to take whatever they give you and do good with it. That will open doors to better stuff. So that is my attitude. I would love a nice new tractor hauling a pup all day. But I get steady drive time by taking Mr Nasty and the long long trailer. Every day I bring that 53 back stuffed to the gills.

    The positions open will vary by terminal. Some terminals may only require dock familiarization and others may want you to work it a few months and work up by seniority. Portland is desperately short all positions so they are happy to get new P&D drivers as soon as possible.
    The recruiter is national and may not know the exact opportunities at each terminal. And it can differ if you want to work at a Reddaway terminal versus a YRC terminal.

    I would go visit the terminal in person. Maybe call and see if you can get an appointment with the terminal manager. Ask him if after completing the academy you could go straight into P&D training. And how much dock familiarization does he require before the academy?

    If he doesn’t want to see you then they aren’t desperate and you have a hill of seniority to climb. If you get an appointment you can bet they need drivers and likely won’t require much dock time.

    Reddaway seems to be winning the dominance struggle so be sure to interview them as well if close enough to you.
     
    ozzyoztrucker and BennysPennys Thank this.
  9. RoadSideDown

    RoadSideDown Light Load Member

    163
    343
    Feb 26, 2021
    0
    I haven’t seen or heard of any. But as old and worn as the tractors are I don’t know if anyone would notice. The big thing is it can’t be a driving distraction and don’t be letting it out at customer sites. I would make my bones first as a reliable driver then test the waters with pets. Asking that upfront is likely a big no. We get complaints from customers if drivers are on their phones at customer sites. Huge safety issue. Lots of truck and forklift activity and industrial debris on the grounds usually. If the pet can stay in the cab until you are on break or lunch then might be quietly allowed. Barking at customer sites? Big no. Line haul would likely be a better fit for pet ride alongs. It’s like watching TV on the sofa compared to us working stiffs in P&D. LOL
     
    ozzyoztrucker and BennysPennys Thank this.
  10. Otr_tohru

    Otr_tohru Light Load Member

    125
    43
    Jan 15, 2022
    0
    Lol thanks for your reply , we have a cat so no barking or taking him for potty breaks lol
     
  11. ozzyoztrucker

    ozzyoztrucker Bobtail Member

    43
    47
    Feb 4, 2019
    0
    I contacted to the terminal which is in Irving, TX. They said this program is specifically for linehaul but there is a chance to switch to pd driver position when it becomes available. He said I can definitely switch to pd later. He of course doesn't know when that pd position would be available. But he says generally, in spring, there would be an open pd position. I asked like how long would it take to switch, like a year? Then he said no, it would definitely happen less than a year. There are also two seniority boards he said. If I switch to pd, I'll lose the seniority which I don't mind at this point. I'll keep this YRC school in mind. I have to take care of my dogs. So probably I'll try to get in a program which would be daily home from the start.
    Finally starting solo, having your own truck, I am really happy for you. Safe travels and thank you for the great write up.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.