Hear Ye Hear Ye

Good move opening driver schools, because that's the only way they're going to find people desperate enough to overlook the low pay and empty promise of a retirement plan. As soon as those new drivers get some experience and move on to a better paying job, their replacements will also come in through the school.

 

Heh. Doing a swap at a warehouse last night, saw a guy driving a Yellow tractor with a Roadway trailer.
Just looking at that tractor made me appreciate the crappy tractor I'm currently driving.

 

It really is a shame because Yellow, Roadway and Holland were all 3 premier companies to drive for when I started driving in the 80’s. You couldn’t get on with Holland unless you knew someone for many years. YRC still beats many Mega OTR company driver job’s in my opinion.

 

They've been slloooowly updating their linehaul tractors to something made this side of the 21st century. Mostly Volvos for some reason.
City tractors are still a mix of trash, trash, and slightly newer trash. Trailers are pretty old and beat up too.

 

Upon graduation do they receive a tool kit and roll of duck tape?

 

On da indeedz.

"Reddaway, under the Yellow company, will train individuals interested in becoming Linehaul drivers and obtaining a Class A CDL at the Yellow Truck Driving Academies. Yellow’s CDL training programs are a US Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Program. Academy classes meet 8-hours a day, 5-days a week for 4 weeks. While at the Driving Academy, students earn a wage and travel is paid to the academy site, if over an hour from home. After successful completion of the Driving Academy, students test for a Class A CDL with Hazmat, Tanker, and Doubles/Triples endorsements.

The Yellow Driving Academies teach students skills to be the one of the safest drivers on the road. Our instructors, many with a million miles or more of safe driving experience, actively engage all students in the classroom, in the practice yard, and on the road. By joining Yellow, you attend our Best in Class Truck Driving Academy/Apprenticeship and enter a fulfilling, dynamic occupation.

Before attending the Yellow Driving Academy, potential students must get a Class A Learner’s permit, Non-Excepted Interstate DOT Medical Card, and start a TSA background check with fingerprints. (Students are responsible for paying for their Class A Learner’s permit, state Class A CDL and hazardous materials, tanker, and doubles/triples endorsement exams.)

Once a student successfully completes the Yellow Driving Academy, they are trained at their home terminal for another 4 weeks. Once they are signed off to drive solo, their responsibilities include

• Operating a tractor-trailer (single, double, or triple trailer combination) in various driving environments and weather conditions between company facilities
• Driving for extended periods of time
• Maintaining truck electronic logging device (ELD) logs according to state and federal regulations
• Performing Pre-trip and post-trip inspections of tractor/trailer(s) and En Route inspections with authorities
• Dropping and hooking trailer(s) and changing equipment configurations as needed

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Comply with all company policies local work and safety rules, and federal, state, and local regulations that govern the industry.
• Follow company procedures for properly and safely loading and unloading freight. Safely operate an industrial powered forklift to load and unload freight.
• Take and verify dispatch instructions.
• Operate a tractor-trailer combination (single, double, or triple trailer combination) in urban, suburban, and rural environments and in all types of weather conditions between company facilities and various customers.
• Drive truck to transport materials in liquid or packaged form to and from specified destinations, such as railroad stations, plants, residences, offices, or within industrial yards. Verify load against shipping papers. Drive truck to specified destination, applying knowledge of commercial driving regulations and roads in area. Prepare receipt for load picked up. Collect payment for goods delivered and for delivery charges.
• Load and unload freight in varying weather conditions at the company and customer facilities, using the same procedures and techniques as a Dock Worker.
• Safe operation of equipment and on-time movement of shipments between company locations and customers, meeting established run times and schedules.
• Drop and hook trailer(s) and change the configuration of equipment, as necessary. Connect air hoses and electrical lines, install, and remove tire chains, and manually crank dolly wheels.
• When hauling hazardous material, verify the hazardous material product description, determine any discrepancies in the paperwork, and verify proper placarding.
• Conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections. Inspect the operating condition of the tractor and trailer(s) before and after trip, and when stopped enroute. Take responsibility for reasonable and customary care for the security of equipment.
• May maintain truck electronic logging device (ELD) logs according to state and federal regulations. May maintain telephone or radio contact with supervisor to receive delivery instructions. May inspect truck equipment as supplies, such as tires, lights, brakes, gas, oil, and water. May perform emergency roadside repairs, such as changing tires, installing light bulbs, fuses, and tire chains.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Must be age 21 or older.
• Class A Learner’s permit, Non-Excepted Interstate DOT Medical Card, and start a TSA background check with fingerprints.
• Consent to and complete a DOT drug test.
• Must have the ability to read, write and speak English sufficiently to converse with the general public, understand highway and traffic signs and signals, respond to official inquiries, read a bill of lading, and make accurate entries in daily driving log.
• Ability to work various shifts and days of the week.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Environmental working conditions vary and employee may encounter vibration, noise, odors, and extremes in temperature and wind as well as exposure to varied weather, varied surfaces, varied lighting and confined and congested areas and occasional exposure to petroleum-based products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, oil, and grease.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Must meet Department of Transportation (DOT) physical requirements.
• Ability to sit for extensive periods of time. Ability to walk, stand, and maintain balance.
• Ability to seldom lift up to 70 lbs (to apply tire chains).
• Ability to push/pull up to 148 lbs (connector kingpins, dollies, jiff locks, gates, etc.).
• Ability to bend and stoop and maintain a crouching position for moderate amounts of time, to inspect the underside of the equipment, check tires, apply tire chains in winter.
• Ability to climb ladders on the tractor and/or trailer(s) and frequently enter and exit the tractor cab.
• Manipulative skills and dexterity to control an oversized steering wheel, shift gears using a manual transmission, and maneuver a commercial motor vehicle in crowded areas.
• Ability to couple and uncouple combination vehicles, which requires the ability to repeatedly turn a crank and operate a release lever.

Yellow Corporation, along with all subsidiary companies, are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer"

 

LOL, I thought the Yellow tractor was bad. This afternoon I saw a Roadway tractor.
May the good spirits watch over those poor drivers.

 

I think YRC trucks are the worst trucks I see in Chicago area and that says a lot.