Millis or Estes

Line Haul, usually terminal to terminal/drop & hook.
I know a couple guys doing that; home every day.

 

That’s the route I took and a year went by fast.

 

That’s how it was for me, also I went into it with an open mind. If I didn’t like it$2500 to buy out and go anywhere I wanted wasn’t going to break me.

 

I wasn’t confident at all. It being 3 years behind I can honestly say my trainer was excellent at teaching me how to drive the truck I learned a lot from him in that aspect of this job. It has surprised me how much I absorbed in the time I was with him.
He wasn’t one of those guys who slept in the back while I drove. 99.9% of the time he was in the passenger seat or every once in a while sitting on the bunk behind me.
My biggest gripe was I never got to back the truck when I was out with him. I did about 8 backs the entire time. He was go, go, go. Every time we got to a shipper or receiver it seemed he was always the one on the clock.
So speak up if you don’t feel you are being adequately trained. Talk to your trainer or head of training. When it comes to your CDL no one will care more about it than you do.
Most importantly use your mirrors. Learn to use all of them. Don’t focus on just one during any maneuver. There will be one that is probably going to be your primary mirror but you still need to take the time to glance at what is going on everywhere else. Especially when backing. Check your mirrors multiple times when changing lanes.
Safety is my biggest pet peeve. When I feel anxious because my clock is running out or I’m getting close to an appt time. I force myself to slow down. If I’m late I’m late, or if I go over my HOS it is what it is. Last thing I want is an accident. I would rather take a minor violation or a reprimand than hurt, damage or kill someone or something.
I plan on doing this till I retire so my main goal is to protect my CDL. Do your pre trip every morning, check your king pin, tandem pins and tires every time you stop. Be proactive with safety and cautious with your driving and backing. Drive defensively. Keep your eyes scanning the traffic in front of you and what’s coming up behind you.
2 weeks ago in Buffalo I was in the right most lane a trooper came flying up in left lane and right when it got behind the car in the left lane he put on his lights. The fricking lady bolted from the left lane with trooper directly behind her. They crossed through the center lane ended up in front of me as they were going for the shoulder then she stopped half on the shoulder and half in my lane. I had to come to a dead stop on the highway to move around them. So anything can happen at anytime.
Confidence is good just don’t be over confident.

 

You can't beat the training you will receive at Millis. Top notch in my opinion.. now for the actual operations side that's a different story for a different time. No doubt they'll teach you the right way though. Good luck!

 

What location are thinking of going to?