Follow me through Central Refrigerated training

I would agree with looking good while at the shippers and recievers. I have noticed that drivers that look and act professional, no matter what company they are with, get loaded an unloaded more quickly. Also don't be afraid to ask questions as a new driver. A lot of the bigger docks assume you know where to go what to do and what the rules are for their dock. However, I tell them I am new my first time here and ask for information and they help me out. I have been to one shipper 3 times now and by the third time new the guards name and the recieving clerk and as I pulled up or came to the window greeted them by name and asked how they were doing and that put a smile on their face and a better tone in their voices as I checked in and out. When at the terminals always look good. The only time the company is going to see you is when you are at the terminal. If you always look dumpy at the terminal they will assume you always look dumpy out on the road.

As Chompi said the equipment is in great shape. They don't keep old dumpy trucks around. Whatever truck you do get keep it looking nice and clean. They check out how your truck looks just like they check out how you look when you come into the terminal. Central is big on image and if you project the image they want you get treated better.

 

Finally have my own wifi so I can have internet any time any where in the truck. Things have been busy for me last paycheck had 3000 miles on it so has been good. Have heard lots of drivers say they are not geting any miles because frieght is slow. I don't understand this because I ahve been getting plenty of miles. So here is what I have been doing to get miles and is working for me.

1) Become "friends" with your DM. I talk to mine at least every other day. No long conversations and no complaining just how are you I am doing good and here is my status.

2) Always do your Macros. I do a Mac 9,5 & 6 every time I start moving and every time I park for the night. I found out from my DM that they don't have as much control over loads as the planers do. So If you are constantly updating your status as you go the planers see it and plan thier loads accordingly. I have had several drops or appts moved up because they knew I was going to be early.

3) If you can NEVER do a 34 hour reset till home time. For the last 2 weeks I have been runing off of whatever hours I gain back. My 70 hr was down to 2 hrs left. My next load came in and I looked at it and figured out I could make it without a full 11 or 14 so I took it. Even if you can only drive for 5-7 hours for the day you still can drive. So I drove enough that my 70 never reached zero then parked. Now my 70 is back up to 8 hours and I'm still going. If you sit for 34 hrs your not making money.

So far this has worked for me so wanted to share it with you. You can make money out there if you keep moving. I don't know how sound my advice is but I know it is working for me maybe if CHOMPI reads this he can tell you better.

I was at the terminal in GA a couple of days ago for a brief time had to pick up my ne registration for the truck. It is not a bad terminal more laid back like Fontana is. Currently in VA going to deliver in the morning in PA. Then my next load is in NY and take it to UT. All of you stay safe out there and enjoy the trips I know I do.