Ask A May Trainer

About to deliver a load tomorrow in Anaheim, CA from Dayton, NJ. The routing is planned by the planners, and the fuel stops are from your DM according to pricing and your current levels. Don't let your reefer run out of fuel!!! If it's getting close, request a fuel stop.

They don't like you to deviate from your assigned route, but it is sometimes necessary. For example; I ran out of cash in Oklahoma for tolls. Thought $40 would be enough. Nope. Had to cut the last part of a turnpike off the routing. Basically, they say if you deviate from the routing and something happens (low bridge, high railroad crossing, etc) it's on you; if something like that happens on your assigned routing, it's on them. I mostly stick to it, but I'm also not afraid to deviate if needed...

The most planning I do is how many miles I need to run with my available hours to deliver on time; and finding places to park for the night along those lines. Usually a Pilot/Flying J for the showers (we fuel there mostly, it seems). Sometimes the parking lot near a movie theater...

 

What is your opinion about all this?

 

Do you run a lot of the same routes or just never know what your going to get?

 

So far I've run a couple of routes the same, but I've been all over, with many new areas and runs. Now, ask me that in a few months...

I suspect that there will be some well-worn lanes. I have, however, been on a couple of runs where I didn't see another May truck for over a week, so that tells me there's a good chance of having new trips. Which I like...

 

yeah, once you get past CO/WY, the numbers of may trucks you come across drops like crazy. I did see a few going across 80 toward ohio, but the further I got the less others I saw. I haven't had many repeat routes, besides like denver -> layton and maybe payette. I just started this outting on the 10th, went from denver -> texas -> Idaho -> Ohio and now heading to georgia. last time which was my first time out solo was denver -> layton, UT -> Boise, ID -> payette, ID -> yakima, WA -> othello -> WA -> somewhere in wisconsin lol -> Georgia -> Ohio -> missouri -> Denver

 

and as far as how I feel about them doing all the planning, thats fine with me lol
if it was me, I'd be on interstates all the time, they like using state routes and country roads... which are truck routes but yeah thats not how my mind thinks lol and I don't have a truck approved GPS so I would have to do it on my atlas. as far as the fuel well Im surprised all companies don't do it that way... just let the drivers pick and choose where they want to fuel?? how much money are they waisting just letting people get it wherever they feel like it

 

I keep thinking about how quickly 1000 trucks fueling adds up if you aren't watching the pennies... Penny here, penny there, pretty soon we're talking a few million... Besides, my chance to decide whether or not I liked this way of doing things was way back during my conversations with Opal (recruiter) and at orientation. After signing on and rolling out, it's just how May does it. It doesn't bother me to have fuel stops and routing decided, that's just how it is. I'll enjoy making some of those decisions in the future, but for now, meh.

The only things I wish I could do now that I can't; modify the truck (better stereo), and go a little faster in short bursts (at least to keep the turbo boost up on the rollers and before a hill, as well as for passing that other slow truck!).

 

Good to hear some positive opinions. It's not an issue with me too much. One less thing to deal with just starting out.

Sounds like you guys come through Georgia often?

 

With May Trucking, what is the average time a student driver is accompanied by a trainer? In the various threads I've read, I believe I have seen everything from 2 weeks to 6 weeks. I understand it might vary from student to student...but what is the norm? Thanks

 

think they say avg is about a month, some are quick and get it in 2-3 weeks which I hear is kinda rare, and some require a bit more time. when I was in orientation a girl was testing for solo, I think I heard her say she was kinda told to test, figure 2 months out and they want to see what you've learned.

yeah, im in georgia quite a bit, Im here now! lol sitting in cordele, had a drop this morning and surprisingly they were done with me before my appointment time even hit. ran to the pilot at exit 101 on 75 and showered up real quick lol. This is only my 2nd time out solo but I've hit GA both times so far, and ohio as well.