May Trucking from the start

Hey jml2007...Your posts are awesome. TY. I'm a recent graduate out of SWTDT in Phoenix also and going with May with orientation on Dec 20. As you know with SWTDT a couple of their student rigs are KW T2000 with 10 speeds. That's all the big rig driving I have is with the school. Does May use 13 speeds on the driving test in the Phoenix yard and do they want you to double clutch and or split the gears? I've heard by many that most companies don't want you to double clutch in the real world. I've been checking out the videos on You Tube that shows you how to shift any type of tranny. Its pretty cool. If I was scared, I'd say I'm scared, and I'm NOT scared...LOL...It's no biggy but I just wanted to know.

Thankx again and continue to be safe.

 

I can't answer any specific May questions as I don't work for them, but I will say this. Always...always, use the clutch to shift on your road test.

 

Road test will be given in a 13 speed truck as that is all they use.
DO NOT try to float gears on road test.......use the clutch.
My test drive I drove as an 8 speed... split is usually for the upper
gears anyway, may not need to worry about. Pay close attention
to your speed and turning radius's. Put your head on a swivel, keep your eyes moving around at all times, and you should do fine.

 

I finished Orientation today in Brooks, and so far I am very impressed with May. Haven't had any staff or drivers. Everyone has been great. I was stressing about the road test, and skills test, as it had been about a month and a half since I graduated from school. Not a problem though, as long as you stay calm, and do what you know. It all went very well. Thank you May!

 

I was suppost to start May orientation next Monday, Dec 20th in Phoenix but got a call from Leona the day before yesterday saying that Phoenix will be short of staff next week due to Christmas. My orientation is being pushed back one week until the 27th instead. I'm ok with that. Just chompin at the bit to start my new driving career. I graduated Dec 11th from school. I've been alittle nervous also thinking of the driving test for May although I got a 93 on my driving test from the DMV examiner and a 95 GPA in the class and on the range. I've come to realize that I'm sure that May doesn't expect a newbie to be a professional driver right out of school. I'm sure they just want see that you can operate the truck safely. Keep the posts coming Dewboy as you got my front door on this. Stay safe when you operate.

 

I'll try to keep them coming when I do get out on the road. Somehow I have to convince my wife to let me take the laptop on the road with me. lol. May offered to let me roll out after christmas, as this is the first christmas that were having at our house. So it's going to be a little longer till I'm assigned a trainer. As far as the test, I haven't had much practice with floating gears, so I double clutched every shift. I only used the splitter once when I was on the highway. So just go with what you know, keep your head on a swivel, and relax. It will all fall into place. The skills part was a little more challenging. I just took it slow and easy, and got out to look, probably more than needed. I didn't want to hit anything, and didn't! It sounds like you performed very well in school, and with your tester, I'm sure you'll do fine. The testers out of Brooks, were great. Not sure how Phoenix is, but I am very impressed with all the people at May so far. They know I only had done schooling, and wasn't a seasoned trucker, yet. Good luck, and keep me posted with your progress, and experiences as well BrimyFiveEight, and anyone else.

 

Not being a May driver, I drove 13's all the time with my last company. 80% of my loads were over 95k gross.

The only bad thing about driving 13 spd: Once you get used to them, you'll never want any other tranny. The absolute control they give you will spoil you. May is real smart using them as the standard tranny.

 

I am getting ready to take the orientation in Oregon around the first of the year. I am familiar with an 8 speed trans. Since the shift pattern is the basically the same, could I drive the 13 the same as the eight and just not use the high on gears 5 thru 8 for the road test? Also, is the 45 degree back that difficult? I heard the space they give you is plenty big to back into. Was I misinformed?

 

You don't have to split the gears on your road test. In fact I didn't do it either when I took it 6 months ago. After few days with your trainer you'll be able to do it in your sleep lol.

As far as backing goes, just take your time and make sure to G.O.A.L. (get out and look). There is no time limit and there is plenty of room.

Good luck.

 

Not just a shortage of trainers for PHX. After jumping thru all May's flaming hoops backwards to provide paperwork proving work history and owning my business for 2 years, I got the call from Leona from Salem on Dec 6th that I could attend orientation in Phoenix on Dec 20. I was finally feeling good about at least taking my first step in the hiring process. Then I get a call from her on Dec 13th that because of Christmas and the shortage of personnel for orientation during the week before Christmas, that it would have to be pushed back a week until Dec 27th. OOOOK? I'm flexible. Then on Dec 16th, she calls me again and tells me that the Phoenix hub is going thru major employee restructuring and didn't know if it was going to be another week or even a month before orientation would take place there. She then offered to send me a bus ticket up to Salem, OR and attend orientation up there on Jan 3. I'm just hoping that these type of management problems are not what I'm in store for in the long run. I understand that all companies have issues from time to time and that I'll just take this one with a grain of salt. I'll continue to stay positive about this and anything else that comes my way with trucking and life itself. I'm now wondering if I'll be going out with my trainer right after orientation, or if they will send me home and wait for my trainer there. I guess it will all depends on scheduling and timing.

Be safe when you operate.