I am starting Dec 30th.

Can't answer your questions but good luck to you! ENJOY!

 

I went through OR1 the week before Christmas. Went home day after Christmas for some personal issues at home. When I left I would say about 25+ of my class of 56 where still waiting on a trainer. Lots of trainers where dropping there students off and heading home for Christmas through New Years. They have a pretty good shortage of trainers, but from what I gleaned from the office folks it should clear up right after the 1st. I will be heading back right after that to grab my trainer from my 5 weeks run. As for what to expect, long hours, Sunday 8 - 6 some paperwork, pretrip and then skills and road test. Everyone has to complete 4 skills( straight back, serpentine, 45 offset, 90 offset, HP(Hawthorne Point), Truck Stop(pull through), Shifting Track, Parallel parking, might have forgot some) and Road Test( not really scored just to see if you are trainable). Mon 6am - 10pm physical(there doc is cool but they have much higher standards than DOT, if borderline on BP, or blood sugar DO NOT CONSUME BAD OR SUGARY CAFINATED DRINKS, more paperwork and info then 5:30pm - 10:00pm skills and road test. Tues 8am - 10pm similar to Mon. Wed 8am - whenever Variety of classes dealing with getting your qual cards and badges and trainer assignments. All and all not a bad week you may have a delay on getting a driver but they should be getting more trainers coming back that week. I will probably be showing up right after the 1st so hopefully wait time is down by then.

 

Holy cow! The school I came from taught straight back, offset driver side and blind side, alley dock, and parallel driver and blind side. I was pretty weak on the parallel parking so I'm afraid of those other one's I see listed up there, the serpentine, 90 offset?, Hawthorne point?, Truck Stop pull through? Are they showing us how to do these or immediate testing?

 

It's Hunts Point... not Hawthorne, not that difficult all in all... they will show you how to do the backing and give you repeated practice... again they are trying to judge where you are at, they do not expect you to know how to do everything already.

 

I like the sound of this company already. I read a lot of negative stuff, I just need to free my mind of it or I won't make it!

 

Relax, you are being tested to gauge where you are in the process... you are not testing for a job.

You will have 5 weeks with a trainer to learn what you need to.

Just relax and you'll be fine.

 

When I worked on the hill, I showed the students how to do the skill, then guided them thru it.
It's skills testing and teaching. Unless you wreck the truck, it's almost impossible to fail.
If your skills are not as great as we want, we spend more time with you practicing.
I have never seen or heard of a candidate being sent home because they couldn't pass the skills tests.

 

I'm happy to hear that Steven's is putting America back to work and willing to train for the skills they need. I guess I come from a background where if you don't have the skills to perform, you're getting fired or don't get hired for the job. That's what happens when you work in a call center hell for 6 years!

 

I would recommend when otr with your trainer, ty to do everything as if you were going to be doing it alone. Use the trainer as much as possible. And I recommend that whenever you arrive at a shipper/receiver, always try to be the one to do the one backing. Get as much backing practice as possible. I just finished dumb and dumber. My codriver can't back to save his life.

My trainer had me at least try to back in to every dock. I knew I was improving when he didn't throw the flashlight on the ground and stomp on it.

IMHO, backing is a very important skill. I was paranoid for a long time that I wouldn't be able to cut it as an 18 wheeler driver. Now, I can't wait to see each receiver/shipper to see what the backing situation is.

Kmac, thanks. You were right about the skills coming up to par with practice.

Happy New Year. Out.