Orientation for and older driver..

Just got back last night from my orientation.
What a long day that felt like it would ever end!

First time since 1984 that i had to go through all of this for a job.
The day started with the road test.The instructor was a retired Virginia DOT officer. ( I thought oh hell, this should be fun )
The road test was about an hour long. Highway,city streets,skinny country roads and blind side backing into a very tight dock.
Also the truck had a Road Ranger trans that i have not driven in years..
Oh well,aced the road test.

I thought that was the worst part of it but WRONG!

About 8 more hours of paperwork! Finger printing,mug shots,and computer training.

Then back out to the truck for Quallcom training.....I HATE THAT THING!

For us older "old school" drivers this was too much to comprehend in one day!

I am now hired as long as my FBI background check and drug test all check out..That should be no problem.

This is for a US mail contractor...So i have to wait for the Postal Service to approve everything too.

Just a heads up for any other of us older drivers who have not been through this in the last 10 or more years...Not a fun day!

Kinda wish i would have took an offer i had a few weeks ago from a mom and pop company....they did not do any of this.
I turned it down because all they ran was NY and Jersey at 34 cents per mile with 3 to 6 stops per load.The trucks were nice KW T-2's that ran triple digits but the pay wasn't there and i thought that run would get old real quick.

 

That's for sure Big Don! Glad it is over with.
Going to miss pulling a reefer but the money wasn't there.

This postal deal should be mostly relay,drop and hook,hub to hub.Home every day or every other day.
They said i should get a regular route after the Holiday rush if not sooner.
Good trucks,the oldest in the fleet is a 2008.

I'm hoping the hourly pay works out to be a good thing..

 

Every route or contract as they call it pays different. This is a non union company but from what i understood yesterday that everything is about 22 to 28 bucks an hour before they take the health insurance out.
I'm still reading all the paperwork over. It is kind of confusing the way the postal service has it setup.


Rambler,I hear ya man! Some of these young guys would die if they had to drive the stuff we used to years ago.
Most trucks i started in had no AC,no air ride seats or suspension.
I remember my old Brockway cab over....man that was a long time ago.
I even remember the old two gear shifters in the floor.....I feel old....lol!

 

Good to hear Krooser!....

I had the golden egg of jobs for a local Grocery chain. 4 on 4 off and was making 1200+ a week just bumping docks and drop and hooks.
Super easy work!

I had a 4 wheeler call in because i could not get over to let them on the highway.I was doing the speed limit and loaded heavy so i was not going to jam on the brakes to let him in front of me.
He got up next to the truck flipping me off and showing me his cell phone.
According to the safety guy i cut him off and about killed his whole family!
The guy was the only person in the car.Freekin liar...

Next day NO JOB! They were that strict! They never let me even explain what really happened....sucks!