New Career ... From the beginning.

So, SNI has evidently changed the formula for training newbies fresh from the CDL garden... everything is intensive... everything is well documented...they are very careful. I am not complaining... not at all. They hav shortened the time with the training engineer from 2 weeks down to 1 week. My week with my driver has just ended. It was very short... here's why. Even though we have a 2011 Cascadia...we had 2 breakdown this week.. Air Hose cracked at a glad hand... and we had a wheel seal burst... each of those incidents took over 6 hours to remedy. That's an entire day. An entire day that I did not drive. The first day, my TE drove...that was fine with me...I wanted to observe.. I drove about 4 or 5 hours each of the next 3 days... Friday came... it's Christmas!! we went home early. I did 2 dockings... several drop and hook..and a few hundred miles... city , country, freeway... but, I know that my report shows i'm behind where they want me to be... I need to work on gear recovery, tight turns and backing. Anway...it's Christmas... back to Carlisle for a third...and maybe final week of training. Except for the work with qualcom and trip planning their way, I feel I could do the job now...it might not be too pretty to watch... but, I welcome a few more hours in the truck with a TE next to me. Merry Christmas everybody!

 

The essence!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

 

Christmas is over...our class is gathering again for week 3 of our training.i'll be interested to hear how the other guys did on their week on the road with their TE This week is polishing driving skills and learning the Qualcomm communication system. I imagine well meet out DBL. (dispatcher and his team) and get into the details of being. Pumpkin patch kid. Having dinner (with iced tea) at the diner next to the motel

 

Good question...one that I asked myself. I'll let you know when I find out. SNI is not a slipshod organization. I have been impressed with their training process so far...they know what they're doing.

 

We're back at the Carlisle OC for the final week of orientation. We started out with eleven in our class...one got cold feet ( I guess...he just left!). Two got washed out....then we went on our road trip....when we re assembled ....3 more were missing. That time on the road is an eye opener....sleeping in the truck, not getting showers like you do at home...and realizing that you're really going to be away from family....I don't know why those guys didn't come back...Schneider can't tell is...but...we're down to a class of 5. Trip planning , Qualcomm scaling. Fun fun fun...we're all anxious.....and scared to death to get our trucks and solo.

 

I had the same concerns....I don't think age is a problem. Call Schneider..