Okay...I hadn't seen/heard that one before. But since we're doing thus, let's run thru them all (trust me, this happens on TMC's campus, as well—most everyone already knows these): - Turtles Moving Cargo - Two Men Cuddling - Too Much Chrome - Truckers Marine Corps - Tarp My Cargo (there's others internally—or were, as of 2014—but I'll stop here.)
20230802_132828 by newhorizions469 posted Aug 9, 2023 at 7:34 AM 20230802_132844 by newhorizions469 posted Aug 9, 2023 at 7:34 AM this dock in Centralia Missouri was my second day on the road. i guess i cant compare their training to much because this is my first driving job. they do require 60+ backing maneuvers before being released from your trainers truck. i have approximately 50 right now and have put on almost 4k miles since last week. im satisfied with the training im receiving. i also cut my teeth with a small construction crew that learned self awareness comes before everything. if we broke it we bought it. so i apply that principle to most things in life. i cant afford to fix a dumb blonds car nor can i afford to replace freight or a truck. so i definitely consider myself a turtle moving cautiously for the time being haha. yesterday i had a perfect day of driving and was able to get a full 11hours in. today we are in Ohio heading to west Virginia to pick up a coil of steel heading for Texas. that should be fun.
Good thing you got exposed to/experienced on a dock that tight so soon...it'll prepare you well for docks just as tight (& one or two even more so) at several other places you'll eventually find yourself—like the paper roll docks at Continental Bldg (used to be LaFarge Gypsum) down in Silver Grove KY (and the one up in NY just north of NYC, can't remember the place name right off hand), GP in Cumberland City TN, the drywall docks at Edmond OK, if you ever get there the Firestone docks in Bristol CT, and several other places. And oh the fun and joy of dragging big ol' single coils...I've pulled more of those than I care to remember. (And in four years' time I think only one of those was a no-tarp coil, 48K). Provided they haven't changed it up, that coil test they put you thru in orientation will serve you well for those. I highly doubt you'll be pulling anything heavier than 47K with the newer trucks, since those are heavier than the old 379s (that we were pulling 49K with at times), but if you do, for whatever reason, go over 46K, add an eighth chain. You'll already have a seventh if over 40K plus the 4" strap over the top plus the 4 coil racks/mats under the bottom. And speaking of those mats, here's a little tip I learned: being that you could possibly get mats od uneven thickness, rather than laying four of them across the 4x4s parallel with the rocks, I just used two and turned them parallel with the 4x4s; that way it wouldn't matter of they were uneven thickness or not. As long as the coil was at least 1" off the bed when sat in the saddle, I was good. (Do they still teach y'all between 1" & 3" of space between deck and coil, or have they changed it up any?)
i dont think much has changed with them training wise. i have 2 skidded coils on right now that we picked up in west Virginia. coil stock for roof panels it looks like. im looking forward to seeing what challenges await me haha. i have a feeling ill be smoking cigs again before too long. ive only been quit for a couple months lol
