My Millis Experience -

Sorry - havent had much internet lately as we have been rolling pretty hard and the last thing I have wanted to do was spend time on the internet at night.

My experience is just that - mine. Not going to be the same for everyone. I have been truly blessed to have a wonderful trainer that shows me everything - makes me do everything - watches me do everything and corrects me in a calm tone when needed. Without that - life out here would be unbearable I would imagine.

I have loved very minute of it. I have had nothing but a great experience with Millis even when we sat for 26 hrs on a load. But those things happen and you learn to make use of that time so when you get a load there is nothing holding you back. We are never late - Unless the load is given to us late and even then we run hard to at least try to make it or get as close to the delivery as we can.

I can say this - living in a truck with two men especially a T660 has it ups and downs. Being able to be able to actually sleep with my legs stretched out would be a blessing - but I am making it work.

I am on my last week of training and if all goes well will get my own truck on the 19th. I cant wait for that day. But also will continue to reach out to my trainer if/when needed.

I did loose my debit card in a t.s in Chicago two weeks ago. Got it canceled in time and no issues there. Also got a new card issued to my home - but havnt been routed back through Ky since to get it. Millis was more than willing to give me an advance on my comdata card so I would have money until I could get routed through home to get my new card. I cant say they dont do that for anyone - but they never asked a question and were more than willing to assist me. But I am sure if I was to take advantage of that - it would stop. I learned to never look a gift horse in the mouth and made sure I thanked them for it.

Sitting in a small t.s in VT for a 10am delivery tomorrow. Taking advantage of free internet.

You can discuss your financial issues with Mike Millis and I am sure there is something you can work out. He was more than willing to work with me also. But I make sure I repay him with good work ethic and making sure I deliver a great company image. (not to mention them deducting the money from my pay LOL). I think Spanky answered the question about the CPAP machine issue. Also - use my name if you want so I can get the credit for the referral - I dont get any money for it - just saying is all.

I treat this job as it's a career for me - not just a job and it's paying off.

Check out my FaceBook Page http://www.facebook.com/david.barill i have a ton of pics from my training and the last 4+ weeks on the road.

 

I dont have the tenure with Millis you are looking for - but welcome aboard. In my 5 weeks OTR training I have been through PA many times. So not sure that helps any but thought I would share.

 

WOW - what a crazy week this was. Was set to test out on Monday the 19th. Well - that changed quicky. On Thursday, while heading towards our delivery in WI - get a call to see if I can go to the Richfield terminal and test out immediately. No reason just go there. So we did.

No problems - tested out fine and got some great pointers also! Then my trainer approaches me and say's "They want to you rescue a truck in NY and bring it to Trenton"! If I want I can keep this truck they tell me. So need to get your stuff out of my truck and jump in with another driver that is heading to NY. So make the swap and off we go to NY.

We arrive in the "general" are of a t/s where the truck was to be off I-86. Took forever to find it but we did. I get the keys - open the door and was shocked/appalled at the condition of this truck. I cant even describe it and do it any justice. I get my stuff in it - slept in my sleeping bag as I was scared at what might have been on the matress.

The next morning - Scott (the other driver that brought me to it) and I check the truck out in the day light. Even worse that I first thought. Had to add 5 gallons of oil to even get it to registar on the dipstick. No water in the radiator either. Get comcheck approved to purchase everything to get it rolling and off I go. (Scott - cant thank you enough man! I owe you big time for helping me with that truck)

We'll - it runs ok - has an apu but it doesnt work either (duh)! Get sent a pre-plan to pick up in Sharpville PA and bring it too the Trenton yard. I get moving as soon as I had hours available and off to PA I go.

Get the load (was the fastest load I think I ever had. 20 minutes tops and I was loaded, scaled out and was on my way.

Get 5 miles from the customer and the A/C quits working. So needless to say - 450 miles with no A/C in 90+ heat - SUCKED but I made it too Trenton Friday evening.

I meet with the shop crew and explain the condition of the "rescued" truck and so on. During my trip there - I get a qualcom message with the truck number they have assigned to me since I wasnt about to keep this one.

So get excited that I am getting a T2000 - and was told the keys are hidden (left off for reason). I drop my trailer in the yard and complete my logs and walk over to see my truck. Look in the "hidden key place" and no keys are there. It's about 11:30PM and I am exhausted and sweaty due to no A/C all day I was in no mood to play "find the keys".

The shop guy tells me "oh, we cant find the keys either, so we are issuing you a different truck which was a 07 T600. They just finished getting her ready for me he says.

It's still in the shop bay so I walk around her and he's in pretty good shape so far as I can see from the outside. Climb in - still looks good so I am not too disapointed. Has 440K on her - but she has held her miles well. The last one who had this truck obvioulsy took good care of her as will I.

I get all my stuff in her and grab a needed shower and retire to my truck and sleep very well in the cold A/C. (thank God)

After I get available hrs I get a message - "grab a trailer and head home"! Call me on Monday and let me know how many days you want to take off! SWEET - so do the "Trenton Shuffle" looking for an empty. After 30 minutes I find on - hook up and I am off to the house.

I hit the Blue Beacon in KY - get her all washed up and get home! Spent the last day and half getting my stuff in her and setting up my satellite radio, then find out there's no aux input for the satellite radio. I head to WalMart - grab the prongs to pull the stereo thinking there might be on on the back of the radio, NOPE! So Satellite wont work unless I buy a one with a converter in it. I hope that they will allow me to swap this one for one with a aux connection - if not hell I'll buy a different stereo just do I dont have to the the "hunt for an available station every 50 miles". The readout on the stereo is also faded out so cant even tell what station I am on. I know it sounds minor - but got to have music! Anyway - finished getting TV installed new bedding and so forth. Got to get an inverter installed in the next week or so - for now will make due with a 100W inverter.

Hit the AutoZone and got some good wheel cleaner and spent (more time than anyone should ever spend) polishing my drive rims. But after seeing them now - it was worth it.

Will call my dispatcher in the morning and let him know I will be ready to roll on Tuesday morning. I sure hope I cant get something out of Trenton so I can see if they will swap or allow me to swap the radio out. I know the rescued truck had the aux port on it. I sure wish I would have caught before I left for home.

Exhausted so heading to bed - will update again once I am rolling!