Central Refrigerated Truck Stop

Thanks for the reply, Road Runner. That 3 month winter driving requirement helps set my mind at ease... a little. I'm glad someone in the industry agrees with my approach to learning in the winter. I'm a huge believer in hands-on training. I figure if I can handle this, I can handle the rest.

I'm in the pipeline as well, sailorman. I'm expecting to talk with my recruiter again on Monday to get specifics.

Ah, good for you then! I've looked at other options for entry into the industry, but every company has drawbacks. I'm about an hour south of Indianapolis, but I lived up there for about 15 years. Sorry to hear about the breakdown, btw, I didn't mean to come across so flippantly. Sometimes I forget I'm not posting on Fark. I hope Werner at least offers enough breakdown pay to cover a decent motel room.

Or do you live out of the terminal when the truck is in the shop?

 

what kinda info do you need its pretty self explanatory you just start unbolting stuff and then put on the new pump just remember what goes where and what bolt goes in which hole and you should be fine also you will need to drop the turbo on that one to make it easier. just replaced mine last month.

 

Werner is not the greatest company in the world either, but they have treated me good, and I like what I'm doing. Yeah I am getting breakdown pay but mostly will just stay in the truck. They are actually working on the truck right now, so hopefully pretty soon I will get it back and get out of here.

Since I am on a dedicated account I can't really comment on the OTR. When I got bored with this I went OTR with a small company which I loved, but they had problems getting me home for hometime. I have done this too long and no offense I'm not a rookie, so I refuse to put up with that crap. So I am back again with Werner doing the walmart thing, not as much money, but I only run 1500 miles a week, and still make decent money due to multi-stop pay. No headaches, I don't work hard, and I like what I'm doing. Heck if I run out of hours, I just take my break at a Walmart even if they don't normally allow truck parking. Pulling a walmart trailer has it's advantages, LOL

 

Tell the folks in the office that you want an experienced veteran trainer and they will more than likely find one for you. When you are at the terminal during training, ask current drivers about trainers or whether they train and try to locate one that you think would best suit you. There's no guarantee but you may be able to request a particular person and wind up with them. Trainers and trainees are matched up during orientation so talk with the person heading that up on the first day when they are compiling a list to match you guys up.

 

If I was broken down and the truck was in a non-Central shop. I never had a problem getting them to pay for a hotel room. Had this happen 3 times. Water pump once and hold over for EGR twice.
All times I was not near a terminal. So went to Volvo, and Central paid for hotel room, and I got my breakdown on top of that.
The rule is (or use to be) that if you could not stay in the truck, due to it eather not running or it is in a garage, they would pay for a hotel room.

 

Thanks for the replies, helps a lot! It looks like I will be in Salt Lake City in two weeks on the 12th. I faxed in my paperwork to the recruiter today and sent him an email asking if I could get reimbursed for a Greyhound ticket if I took Amtrak instead. Same arrival time and terminal and I'm never doing Greyhound again. I took it to Baltimore when my wife was at Johns Hopkins several years ago, 36 hours and absolutely no sleep possible under those conditions. I'd wash out immediately if I showed up to licensing class like that.

I already practiced packing my stuff into a single bag acceptable to Amtrak/Greyhound + laptop bag, largely following the lists on the "What to pack for training" thread in the newbie question forum.

I feel like a kid again Haven't been this excited since I returned to school for my degree. My wife can't wait to get me out of the house, I keep breaking out into Billy Idol and Manowar tunes.

 

Most companies will reimburse you only what it would have cost to take the dog. Anything over that is on you.

 

Anyone else playing in this Cali I-5 fog?

 

Nope hanging out in Northern PA rain...blah...at least not white

 

Me neither.. I am trying not to play in the Indy Snow...