squire it is!

OTR isn't depressing if you roll every day and make steady monry. However, downtime quickly depresses me

 

I'm starting with Squire on Monday the 9th in Phoenix. Any insight, tips etc?

 

Unfortunately that is the number one reason for newbies quitting early. I try to tell them how it really is out there, recruiters and such seem to paint a different picture of what really goes on out there and embellish the home time thing a little too much. Also for some unknown reason newbies just can't fathom what its really like being gone for long periods of time over the road.

I always recommend if you have family or kids that it usually isn't going to pan out in this industry. Personally I have over 16 years otr experience and a wife and kid and I know it sucks going solo over the road. To me I know what it all entails and I know it just isn't worth it. To make any kind of money out there you have to stay out for long periods of time otherwise it just isn't worth it.

 

I don't really have any tips, but I'll share my orientation experience.

One... the orientation guy, who is no longer there, wasted SO MUCH TIME talking about pointless stuff and he wanted to skip over the stuff that mattered to me.

The other problem was that 4 out of the about 9 or so of us there were definitely too stupid to be there, and orientation guy bowed to their every stupid question. I don't personally believe in stupid questions, but these knuckleheads would ask a question that got answered already... over and over and over and auuuuugh!!!!

The only thing about orientation that wasn't terrible was the free lunch every day. They picked decent stuff, so I was happy, as I love to eat.

My biggest gripe was that they told me that once I finish with a trainer OTR, you get issued a truck and you're supposed to bobtail home and spend two days, let me repeat this... TWO DAYS, setting it up so you can get your personal belongings inside. This was a total load of horse puck. After being out for 3-4 weeks and getting my own truck, they forced me to roll out that day. I had to scramble to find a ride to go get my crap and I had to spend my 10 hour break putting things away and getting used to the truck. That was stupid. They told me at least five times that I could take my time setting the truck up. NOT!! This very same thing happened to three other drivers that I know personally. That's why I'm sharing this. So just plan on being rushed straight out. Knight is always having a "truck shortage" which is BS, because I see bobtails sitting all over the lot with drivers farting around in the lounge. I think they just want the lower paid drivers to go first.

Also, I had two trainers. My first trainer was this guy... man how to describe him. Very nice at first, but lied about being a non smoker and he didn't teach me a ###### thing. He tried to run us like a team, so I had to drop him. He also spent more time trying to get into my personal life than trying to teach me the art of good trucking. That, and we only showered twice in 8 days!!

Second trainer... great guy! Had no problems. We took a couple of days to find a teaching and learning system so we could understand each other and get along. He also liked to go no more than one day without a shower. Very clean, very funny and really cared about helping me succeed. We are in touch on a regular basis and if we happen to be in the same area, we'll try to get dinner and catch up. He only ran us like a team one time... but only because we did an albertson's run that a team usually does, but they were on break. I was never abused and I felt much better and more confident at the end of training.

Have fun at orientation. My single greatest regret is that I didn't jump out of my chair and tell that orientation trainer to get through everything, instead of catering to the needs of the stupid. My point about the "stupid" is that if you have to ask the same question more than twice (or six times), you shouldn't be in a class.

I've had my good and bad days... about 50/50 so far. I don't know that I'll stay with Knight after my first year is over yet, but I'm sure glad I didn't get stuck with some other nightmare bottomfeeder company!

If you run into me (I drive U2254) feel free to come introduce yourself. I'm based out of Phoenix, as well... The U2000 trucks are the PHX terminal, by the way.

The other giveaway that you've found my truck is the spikes on my wheels and the Angry Birds pig in my passenger window. He lives between my passenger arm rest and my passenger door window. OINK.

side note time...

I don't know what your prior experience in trucking is, if any, but if you're new like I was, you're quickly going to learn that most of anything you learned in a trucking school is totally useless in the real world. I'm actually considering filing to reduce or eliminate my student loan.... I'm sorry, but there isn't ONE thing from school that I learned that actually applies to my job. Seriously! I already knew how to back a trailer before I started school.

My main point here, is don't act like you know anything when you get on with your trainer. He will train you. Do what I did and ask questions and ask if something you think you know is real, rather than assuming you are correct. I learned a lot more in a shorter time this way. Knight has you train with a trainer OTR for 4-6 weeks. I finished with flying colors in 3 weeks.

I hope I don't seem too bitter, but I would be much happier if I earned a better wage... especially considering that I haul reefer. It's annoying. Other drivers try to get me to park elsewhere sometimes and it's really aggravating when the reefer is on cycle mode and kicks on and off every ten minutes, which I can never get used to. If I can't sleep, I put that bad boy on continuous. Fortunately, the winter months offer less run-time, so I sleep well!

Another sound piece of advice. GO SLOW. Don't let yourself get into the mindset that you're in a hurry. Never worry about people behind you wanting to go faster. They can wait. Take your time around corners. Treat your truck as if she were a petite lady. You don't have to shift hard, you don't have to throttle or clutch hard. Every control in the truck can be operated smoothly and effectively without using force. Take your time on your pretrips and I like to actually check ALL of my tires with a tire gauge in the AM before I roll for the first time that day. Then every 150 miles or so, I find a rest area or truck stop (I prefer rest areas, quick pull in/pull out) and bump ALL of the tires with my tire thumper. You will quickly figure out the proper feel. You will also notice that even on a cold day, you can set your tires to 100lbs and they will get to be around 120 sometimes.

MOST IMPORTANTLY...

I preface the next paragraph by saying this... Drop your trainer if you are feeling unsafe due to road rage or being "forced" to hurry in traffic or skip pretrips. Knight is super big on safety and they won't bug you are ask stupid questions if you need to drop your trainer. They will find you a new one. No questions asked and no penalties to you.

NEVER EVER EVER let your trainer try to rush you. I hear so many stories about trainees being told to hurry and cut cars off and having road rage if they have to drive. Do things right. If your trainer rushes you in an inappropriate manner, drop him and get a new one. Don't roll like a team and REALLY do your pretrips. Seriously. Don't skip things because it's rainy, hot or cold outside. Bundle up for rain or cold. Wear gloves. You won't regret it when you catch something that could have lead to an accident or break-down. I had a valve go that regulates my air bags. Those things were over-inflated and caused the front of my trailer to stand up by quite a bit more than the rear. You don't want those to burst on the road! Also caught air leaks this way.

Another thing I do on my pretrip. Start my truck. Let the air tanks fill until the governor kicks out (115-125lbs) and then I shut down and I pop my hood and listen for leaks. I do the same all the way to the rear of the trailer, stopping to listen. I leave my tractor brake valve out and the trailer air supply in, so that the tractor brakes are set, but the trailer are not set, so I can check those lines for leaks while the tractor is shut down and it is quiet.

I also feel all the lug nuts to make sure none are loose. I know that is a long shot, since they are torqued to over 500lbs if I'm not mistaken, but I'm always critical about this if I have a tire installed recently or B service recently.

I hope this helps.

 

Oh yeah.... call your dispatcher if you ever have a question. Even if it seems stupid. This has gotten me out of jams SO many times. I would rather ask about something than make assumptions and get written up or terminated.

 

SMAGGS - Thanks for the input man, really appreciate it. I was a flatbedder years ago, but ff the road since 2002 - Now that the kids are grown I'm goin back on the road. I started School the 9th, all is well so far, finished the physical and work test today, I'm in good shape for an old guy! LOL

I'll keep ur truck number and look for you when I'm at the terminal or out after training.

No company is perfect and I;m sure anyone can find something wrong with every company out there. Whats home time been like? Are you running just the West?

No I won't put up with a trainer who doesnt train, went thru that with my last company way back and didnt put up with it then. 2 SHOWERS IN 8 DAYS!!!! No way man.

Glad all is well, I will look for you out there. If you wanna drop me a pm i can give you my contact info and next time ur in Phx maybe I can buy you a burger.

John

 

Hey John,

At the Phoenix terminal now. Waiting for trailer blades and antifreeze to go in my reefer. Headed to Santa Ana, CA today.

LOL, the other driver that brought me this loaded trailer brought it with very low oil and antifreeze. Hur hur.

 

Sorry I missed you man, I was on the range all day. Have a good trip man. I'll keep you posted on my whereabouts. I'll be OTR next week then local for a week then out for my 11,000 with a trainer, so I wont be solo for about 6 more weeks or so. If ur back at the terminal thurs or fri look for me in the CDL classroom or on the range, I'll be at the safety meeting Friday.

 

Smaggs, I've been tracking your other thread, sounds like you have had a frustrating time. I finished class today and I'm going out Monday with a trainer. I've been off of the road for 10 years but I remember the challenges with Dm who has no idea how many ways the driver is stressed on the road. He's like a corporal in the Marines, high enough rank to get blamed when the @#@# hits the fan but no authority to fix a problem.
Keep thy head up bro, keep doing things the right way and by June you will have new eyes or a new job.
Your posts are great and well appreciated - an honest insider view is always really helpful to all interested. I'll start posting my experience after I go solo and see what the inside looks like.
Thanks again for the posts etc. Stay compliant and remember Safety is there if the shop wont fix a problem and if Safety can't help go to Claims, they are always interested in issues that can cost the company money.
John

 

Hey, try to have some fun with your trainer. I finished in about three weeks. I did really well in school and I found it easy to figure the rest out.

I'm always compliant, even if it costs me a day sitting at the yard... just happened to me on the 11th. Had to fix tires, skirts, oil level and antifreeze level and reset and double check alarms on a trailer dropped onto me by another driver.

This is a regular thing for me, but I'd rather do that work and roll with some peace of mind than be lazy and risk hurting someone else or myself.

Enjoy your training time. I suggest bringing extra padding, even if it's an extra blanket. If you have to ride in a Volvo.. the Volvo bunks are terrible (the top ones) for support. Hopefully you get into a ProStar for training. Both bunks are nice.

Stay safe!