Intermodal Truck Driver - Chicago

Some of the rails in Chicago suck big time.

It takes a long time looking for 1 box on the “list” out of 10000.

They were putting them in rows and sections last time I was there, a ton easier than “It’s out there on the yard, go look.”
That was the CN/CSX Memphis ramp until last year.

 

1. Schneider will give you a book titled "Highway to Success ". It contains everything you need to know to do the job. All the important company policies are there. Read it in it's entirety. Then, over your first few months, reread chapters. You'll be reminded of things that you were taught ane have forgotten, you'll learn things that you missed the first time, and things that you thought you understood will become clearer. So many guys just toss the book in their bag thinking they can just do what their trainer says and they'll learn everything they need to. It doesn't work that way. Your mind needs to see things multiple times in different formats to internalize they knowledge.
2. Understand that there will be a lot of repetition. We are aiming to build good habits. We have a policy for EVERYTHING, becauee we've found it's the safe or efficient way to get things done. Do things the same way every time, that way you don't miss steps, or do things twice.
3. Listen and take notes. Then go back and read your notes.
4. You will be given a packing list - read and follow.
5. When with your TE, be hands on and active. Learn how to trip plan, use the tablet, etc. Poke around the tablet, get comfortable knowing where things are and how to find things.
6. GOAL. So many guys are going into the hole perfectly, but feel they are "off", and do something less than helpful. If you aren't sure, get out and look.
7. Give yourself time - time to trip plan, time to couple/pretrip/etc properly, time to get to safe/legal parking, time to eat/take care of you. The extra time you take early on will make your paychecks smaller intially, but in the long run it will pay off.
8. Think ahead. Think about how many ho7rs you have, where you're going to stop, how the customer is laid out, where/how you want to maneuver. If you have a plan, it's easy to change things up on the fly. If you're just flying by the seat of your pants, things get tough.
9. Even if you're supposed to be home every night, always have a warm coat and a change of clothes. You never know when you'll need them.
10. Stay off your phone.
11. Pay attention.
12. Don't hit stuff. If you do, take responsibility and don't lie.

 

We have a new app where a driver can type in the box number and it will drop a pin on google maps. Accuarte to within 100 feet. Its wonderful for the "your load is in either row A or row Q, or maybe R, I don't know, it's there somewhere."

It's especially nice when the customer gives you the wrong trailer number and you can show them that 30 minutes ago it was tracking three states away.

 

I agree. I just got out of the training two months ago. It's a thick book but full of excellent resources. Keep it. I read it for an hour the other day cause I forgot how to do something. You'll see stuff as you look back at it and think, "oh yeah, that will make my life a lot easier".

Right now I'm OTR. Switching to intermodal in a little bit.