Question for Company Drivers

May as well ask for some nice polished aluminum wheels while your at it. And decked out with chrome trim and chicken light package. Don't forget the built in XM Radio, Satellite TV with wireless Internet, too. Awe what the heck, through in a couple of sub-woofers, too.


Just kiddin with ya!!

Good luck to you and Happy New Year!!

 

The leasing office in the main building controls all company truck assignments. No... you won't be asked to sign a lease.

Yup, the leasing office will give you an inspection form. Be very picky about it. You turn it in to the tractor shop - they'll get anything fixed that needs it. If there isn't an APU on the truck, you need to visit the APU shop - far side of the garage away from the main building, and get on the list for an installation. If it has one, make sure it works - the tractor shop does repairs on installed units.

That's all done by the detail shop in the same building as the wash bay. I don't think they charge the company guys for that, but it's been awhile since I was on the company side. You also get a real matress from them as well - it's free as long as you get it before you leave on your first dispatch. If you want a flat screen TV mount installed, you need to buy one from the company store.

First off are going to be tire chains/cables, load locks and an Abloy lock set - you won't be allowed to leave the yard without that. You get the chains and load locks at the outbound side of drivers lineup. You'd be well advised to get a tire gage, RM Motor Carrier ATLAS - aka maps, and jumper cables too. All of that stuff (and the lock set) you get at the company store. A CB is high on the list too, unless you plan on hanging out at the receivers office a lot - and/or walking to check on load/unload process... you can talk a lot of places into calling you on your cell. You may want to spend a little time figuring out what this stuff will cost, and see if you can talk your FM into some kind of payment over a couple of weeks.

BTW, if your Garmin is a 4-wheeler GPS, throw it in the trash. It'll save you from explaining to safety why you tore the top off a trailer.

When you can afford it, the truckstop guides and a copy of the "Next Exit" are really invaluable to planning your trips. One of the gland hand to tire chuck air lines is something you want to get too. Many truckstops don't have a air line that's worth a dang. Some basic tools... vice grips, a pair of cutters for metal seals, screw drivers, a wrench set. You don't have to fix stuff, but it sure helps get you going faster than to wait for 3 or 4 hours to get a bolt tightened by a truckstop mechanic. A can of WD40 and a roll of duct tape is pretty useful too. Don't forget spare fuses.

When I started out, I went over to the parts window in the tractor shop, and asked them for some spare light bulbs, glad hand rubbers, etc. They were happy to hand me a bag full of stuff.

The detail shop installs CBs... but it's simple enough that one can usually do it themselves. Power leads and antenna connections are already in the truck.

You should have a set of privacy curtains in the truck when you get it. However, you may not have the kind that goes around the windshield. You can get a cloth curtain that goes around the windshield from TA/Petros - its about $30. Well worth the increase in space, and helps keep the truck warmer.

 

hey man make sure you ask for a sink ta wash your hands and face super trucker, keep on truckin and just enjoy the ride


happy holidays





SPEED KILLS SO HAUL###!

 

All of those trucks with no skirts around the sides and no markings are retired from the fleet. Most of what is available to take out is south of the main building as you go into the trailer yard - row P, I think.

 

Every second counts, Dont forget to slip a mechanic a few bucks and have your truck turned up to do the speed limit, just joking.

Good luck