Central Refrigerated Truck Stop

Central no longer allows pets for anyone. The hometime policy begins the day you upgrade. With a max days of 4 (unless scheduled vacation after your year of service) more than that they reseat your truck to another driver. Remember everyone is in this to make money those trucks have to stay on the road for Central to make money.

 

Any solo O/O's here? How is that going vs when you were a Company
driver? TIA

 

What I am trying to ask about home time is how many weeks in a row are you out before you get home time?

 

That is your choice. You put in for your hometime on your qualcomm 9 days prior to the date you want off. And they will either grant it or deny it.

 

Bootlegger: It was indeed an honor to meet you, and I enjoyed our conversation, albeit brief. You seem to be "One Cool Cat from California." We'll have to keep in touch and drink a beer or some coffee one day soon. I truly appreciate all your input and the possible assistance. All is good my new friend. Had a blast going through pre-trip, and backing; however, at the end of the day my instructor gave me "One's" which I believe means "needs improvement." Improvement I say, #### it was the first time I performed the pre-trip inspection, and quite frankly I could call myself a lot of things, but truck driver would not be one of those things, at least for the moment. Regardless, he (instructor), Lawrence I believe, was a really great instructor, much better than the others, so if he didn't like what he saw in my abilities, I humbly accept his professional integrity and experience. The whole training has been strange, but fun. I will endeavor to hang in there and become a "professional truck driver." It beats unemployment (without pay) anytime, I think. Stay safe, and right between the lines. Tell all my friends and family in California...Hola! You got my real info, numbers, etc...keep in touch. For the rest of you Central Lovers out there, "Be good, Be safe, Be Real... Peace, Scott

 

<soapbox>
Hang in there, don't worry about the scores as long as they improve each time. Improvement is the key. Think back to your evaluations in the military. If your supervisor gave you straight 4.0's all the time, where can you go from there? Nowhere but down or the same right. So your first time on any of these exercises will always be low. Next time you'll probably get a 2, then a 3, etc. This way they can show improvement. They have the option to drop a student who does not show improvement.

Pre-trip is the hardest part, but it isn't that hard, just alot to remember. Memorize and visualize the different areas of the truck and what needs to be inspected. For airbrakes... every step must be in order and the expected results must be verbatim. Study for 10-15 minutes then take a 10 min break and do something else, then study for 10-15 minutes more, 10min break......

From experience... when you lose everything going down the Grapevine and all you have is your airbrakes, having those air pressure numbers branded onto your brain does help you quickly realize exactly how much control you have left so you can manage what little time and air pressure is left. And the other pre-trip stuff helped afterwards to determine what if any damage was done.
</soapbox>

It was nice meeting you too. The expression of surprise was priceless when I asked if you were Deacon.

 

No worries Mate: All is good. After surviving Nam, life's good, and quite frankly, I don't sweat anything. When I got qualified in submarines, it took me 9 months (they give you a year) to earn my dolphins, and to me submarine qualifications was much tougher than SEAL training. I'll get it soon enough. Look forward to seeing you again in the future. Give me a call when you're not swamped. Not tonight though. If the trainer thing works out, give me a buzz. Peace and Rock and Roll, Scott

 

Im in the Fontana yard training. I fly through the walkaround part of the pre trip but the applied brake leakage ALWAYS gets me. I'm good on all the other air brake tests though...Pre Trip test on Monday better get over what is making me nervous on that one air brake test.

 

that is kind of what i thought thanks Widow

 

Your welcome. I try to help where I can.