NC Truck Driver Training School

S.B.
I don't think that was rambling AT ALL. I loved every word of it. I think it's wonderful that you've taken to the road so well. And I love how you've taken a lot of stuff that you've learned from JCC and told us how it applies to you actually doing the job. Let me comment on a few things in particular.

I have heard lots of griping in my previous job at cubical farm #936 and never let it affect me. I almost always have a good attitude about my job. And I am always quite the professional when it comes to treating my co-workers, clients, supervisors, etc. with respect.

I am also very happy when you said "There's no fat in the curriculum." That to me means a great deal. I'd rather learn important stuff every hour of every day that I'm there (even if I have to sit and watch others drive several times) I've been taking a few notes on what you've said to especially pay attention to as well.

I found the packing thread in this forum on my first day here. Although, I've also added a few things to it since I've first discovered it, I also know better than to try to take everything and the kitchen sink. I'm a fan of the web site onebag dot com for packing tips and tricks. Is it true that I can count on messing up quite a few pairs of work gloves??

Thanks again for your insight. I hope to be as resourceful as you have been when I've been out of school for a month or two. When did you graduate NCTDT anyway?

 

Spacebat, how many times have you thought about Andy and him saying TEST DAY IS COMING! You have said in your post alot of good points about things that I couldn't figure how to post. I am sure their alot of good instructors out there at other schools, but JCC NCTDTS has the best. Everything they do and say is for a reason. They truely want every student to suceed and do well, and will do their best to give you all the tools you need to do so.

 

I think they do a great job of preparing you for your next learning experience.

And, yeah, I hear voices in my head, but in a good way...I hear Sherman, and Bill, and Andy...all of 'em...telling me this and that. Mostly I hear Sherman. "Handle your bidness!!!!!"

A funny thing happened tonight. We're in TN, a few hours early for an appointment at 11pm CST, so we fueled up the tractor and reefer and planned on parking for a bit. My trainer was outside the tractor, walking inside, and motioned me forward. I interpreted that as "go park".

EEEEEEEEK!!!! First park without the trainer sitting next to me, at a truck stop where things are a bit chaotic with people looking for a good spot, some people parked weird, and expensive stuff everywhere that you don't want to hit. Not quite like the orderly layout of a terminal or DC (though they have their own pressures when people are waiting for you to park so they can get to another dock)

No kidding--I actually circled the lot once sorta praying that there would be an earthquake or tornado or meteor strike so I wouldn't have to take the one really tight spot left.

A nice older guy in the Volvo to the left of the spot got out once he saw me (wide eyed and looking like the newbie I am) set up after scouting the space. He began to guide me in. Everything went fine, but I have to say that I was a bit nervous. My trainer walked up and said "what the HECK are you doing?"...laughing. We both got a kick out of me misinterpreting the "go forward" motion for "go park". I was feeling like Supertrucker until that moment! Then I went back to feeling like my first day at JCC.

Anyway, I've found that there's SO much to learn, and one of the interesting things is when I'm turned loose to do tasks on my own--even simple stuff, like hooking and dropping a trailer for the first time, fueling, backing, and so on--that my response has varied from super-confident to "YIKES!". It's exciting and sometimes scary but very much like those days at JCC.

As for the gloves thing - if you are fingerprinting loads, you'll go through gloves. If you're not handling boxes, then you'll most likely end up using those cheap, ugly, big gloves that are in 3-packs at truck stops for $4 or so...striped canvas, some lining...for refueling and your PTI. I wouldn't over-equip yourself. Any of that stuff is available at the truck stops and MallWart, and your trainer will have it on the truck already. See what's being used, then buy based on a bit of experience. But a $9 set of leather gloves won't hurt if you want to have something along from the get-go.

Packing for me was easy since I do a lot of travellng on motorcycles (my other home is www.advrider.com). About the only tip I'd add is that in addition to whatever main bag you have for your clothing, bring a small duffel or bag of some sort to get your stuff to and from the shower. I've also found that a pack towel (camper's towel) is enough...no need to bring a big fluffy bathroom towel that takes up space and mildews in the truck. If you're showering mostly at truck stops, most like TA provide the towel.

Today's 9 hours in the saddle went really quickly. I had to crawl through the mountains at 35mph since we were loaded to the gills, but even that was fun in its own way. Some of the busy traffic was a challenge since people were driving like idiots--you have to stay focused because people will do their best to create havoc. Despite the hardships I am having a great time (except for missing home/family) and love it.

So far, no horror stories from my time with Werner. Very happy. If I could get a regional gig like this one, I'd be happy as a clam.

 

Yeah, I've got in my notes about Werner as one of the companies to contact about employment after I get started in classes. Where do you normally start/stop your over the road trips with them? Do they allow you to bring the truck straight to your home or do you have to park it at a terminal and catch a ride with somebody when you get some home-time? Not trying to get too much in your beeswax, just curious how it might work assuming I get a decent job..... come December.

 

I'm out in Knoxville, Tenn about every Friday. If you see a blue Volvo with a Lee's Farms sign on it, give me a shout. I was nervous the first time through the mountains, but now it's just taking care of business. I'm glad this are working out for you at Werner. Sounds like you're gaining alot of valuable experience with them. Keep up the good work.

 

Just trying to keep the post near the 'top of the board' as new JCC students might wander in here. We'll see what happens....

 

David - I'll keep an eye out for you! I love TN...there are some pretty sights to see in that neck of the woods. I drove through some VA mountains and down through the Mt. Airy area earlier this week and hit some really thick fog, but it was pretty in its own way. By the time I thought to reach for my camera, we were out of it.

Sam - it probably varies by assignment but Werner will let you take your truck home. My current dedicated run is with a trainer who lives in his truck, so we just run constantly until we hit our reset--no actual home time, just a layover at a truck stop somewhere, though he does occasionally put in for some down time. With the trainer I had before my break, I was off on weekends, essentially. She left her truck at the terminal, which was just 10-20 minutes from her house. IIRC she left it there because she didn't have secure parking where she lived.

There's a good chance I'll take my tractor home but it's not 100% engraved in stone. Right now I'm hoping to get a certain account...keeping my fingers crossed. I really like the account I'm on in terms of the pacing of appointments--steady enough that you don't get bored, but the occasional layover so you can do some laundry, get online, and so forth in between resets--but not so often that it's hitting your wallet too hard. I think it would translate into 3 weeks out/2 days home...something like that.

How are things going at school, gang? What are y'all doing?

 

Sam...about the start/stop thing...

If you are running a dedicated regional account for, say, Sara Lee, if you had to pick a starting point (it's like jumping into a blender running at full speed when you are a student) you generally start at a distribution center, make a few deliveries (stops) or one stop, then back to the DC, lather, rinse, repeat. You may leave a DC in Georgia, go to a destination in TN, then back to GA, then to a place in MS, then hit another stop before returning to GA...then back out to Alabama, back to GA.

On the Dollar General account I was delivering directly to stores, and I was back at the DC in Alachua, FL every day (every 24 hours..."day" and "night" sorta lose their meaning), then needed to be at my first stop around 6am...then 3-5 more stores through the day, then back to the DC usually by 11pm...drop and hook...then be at my first store by 6am...repeat. The stores I hit were in GA, FL, and AL. Every time I hit the DC I could shower. Keep in mind that these DC's are not Werner terminals; they are the DC's on the account you're with. You might get routed to a terminal, but mostly you're running back and forth on the account.

This will most likely vary according to who you work for and what kind of driving you'll do (dedicated, regional, 48 state, etc) but it's a snapshot of my day.

Sorry to hog the thread...never was my intention. Hope some students chime in!

 

Well, that gives me a good idea of one possible way I'd be running, anyway. I hadn't read a lot of drivers comments about the logistics of running OTR as far as where you spend your time for layovers. I've read enough on these threads to know that I wouldn't have the luxury of being home everytime I had a couple days off. But I'm ok with that too.

 

Thank You SpaceBat

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