Ask A May Trainer

A Pete yes, a Freightshaker no.
Majority of the Fleet are Petes ( 387 & 587 )

 

the pete's are sweet.took my driving test in one.
nothing like the worn out crap at school

 

Had a second conversation with the recruiter, feel a bit more positive about them. I was told that the idle time was 25%. Of what? I wasn't clear on that. Also forgot to ask about whether they provide transportation to orientation. Also said 48 states you were generally out 17-21 days home 3-4. Is this what actually happens?

 

I believe May will provide transportation (bus) to orientation if it is out of your home locality.

You are allotted up to 25% idle time in the hottest month of the year (August)...less in other mos. accordingly.

The idle time % decreases (very slowly) as you drive. Get into very hot conditions and you can idle over 25% in no time.

Idle times at May are collected every two weeks on Saturday morning. The Idle % is reset to zero and you start over again.

There is a function tab on the Qualcomm that shows the amount of idle % and the gallons used while idling.

Any gallons used over 25% within that two week period is charged out to you at 75% of the fuel cost, which they calculate using the national average. Not their actual cost, but the national average which is higher.

As to home time, 1 day per week out. So, 4 days home time in 17 days out would not be accurate. On the 48 you are required to request time off at least 2 weeks before you want it.

Hope that helps.

 

This is excellent info and very well put, everyone needs to know this info. It is clear and in detail. I truelly wish I would of known about this in the detail you described here. Everyone needs to know this I will cut and paste into my topic so some of these guys can be aware of it. Good Job Scooter.

 

Platinum, you are welcome. Even though I'm no longer at May, I was a trainer there and thought I could provide some insight into how the system works. I spent many frustrating days having to learn things on the fly by myself, things that my trainer should of taught me, but didn't.

 

In addition, after reading my description on the idle process, I could be a little more clear on the charge process.

When the data on the idling % is downloaded on Saturday mornings, you will be charged. 100% of anything over 25%. Charged at the current national fuel average. This is of course unless you are authorized to idle and are communicating in writing on the Qualcomm with your DM all of the relevant information, i.e., date, location, temperature, etc.

 

And keep in mind, what you are looking at on the QC (under the SensorTracs tab - over idle %) is the extract from the ECM. This does NOT account for whatever idle time credit you have bee granted by your DM/OCM
Meaning, my idle time showing right now if 53%, but my 'chargable' idle time is within the 25% because of idle credits given (I sat in TN and ATL for two days, while they routed me thru P-Cola to get my student)

 

I guess that was part of my frustration. Noone was communicating back to me any info. When I asked questions (through QC as I was instructed) I would get no response.

I was told to supply...
Driver code
Trip #
city, state
Temp
Idle time

I sent this message 5 times in my 2 weeks on the road and never recieved a response telling me where I was really at with my percentage.

I guess that's why it literally pays to have a DM that's good.

 

Depending with how things go at the dmv the week of Aug 22nd, I could be headed to Brooks, OR for orientation as early as the 5th/6th of Sep. (Definitely NOT looking forward to a 12 hour bus ride!!)

We're hearing disturbing reports about a certain tester at our local commercial dmv going way beyond the parameters of the pre-trip test resulting in applicants spending an hour or more getting through their pre-trip. And since they only allot 90 minures for the whole test, they have to go back for the rest of the test. The last applicant failed his cola because the tester didn't like the way he did his Cut-in test. Not that he did it wrong, the tester felt it should be done differently.