New Career ... From the beginning.

The pretrip will take care of itself. SNI has their own way of doing things .that includes the order and grouping of pretrip items. My take on orientation is that the instructors make the time seem rough and impossible...but that's to see what you know, how you adapt and react and they look at your attitude and potential. It may seem like you can't do anything right. But they are not looking to waste your time or theirs. Our group numbered about 10 when we started. One by one some left....one guy didn't k ow how to shift at all...and was so nervous that he came up missing on the 2nd day..my roommate decided that the lifestyle wasn't for him...after a week in the truck with a mentor, another guy just couldn't back up and lost his nerve after some many attempts...so, we graduated 6. Study your Pre trip ...but not necessarily the strict list in order... But try and understand the various categories. Best of luck....as Winston Churchill used to say....."nevar give up".

 

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 6:33 AM
Norwich, NY. I was to pick up a load of dog food yesterday from Chenango Valley Dog Food company....I got there late...because my truck would. not start....too cold. I waited until 11:30 to get it started by the starter crew...they had several no starts to deal with. Anyway, my appointment in Norwich was 10:30. I got here at 1:30...checked in with the shipper...who told me that I would have to wait...there were 2 more trucks in front of me.
I waited 4 hours. The shipper was pretty disorganized.....when it was finally my turn, they realized that they didnt have the goods in the warehouse that I was supposed to have. They apologized....and told me that there would be no shipment. At this point it is 6PM. I called my dispatcher....who pulled my next job from me...and said to wait until the load planners had a new assignment for me. I fell asleep.....finally about midnight I decided that nothing was gong to happen...my 14 hr limit was nearly over...so, I put my jammies on and got under the covers for the night.
Now...I'm waiting again....hopefully my dispatch crew will give me a good load to make up for yesterday.

 

You can tell I'm sleeping in the truck...I'm filing these posts more often. It's true! You do learn something new every day. I was sent to a paper manufacturer today to take a load (a very heavy load) of paper to Baltimore. I was given the paperwork and the seal and told where to find my trailer....I found it and starting the coupling process....when another driver stopped and said I was taking HIS load. He showed me his paperwork... sure enough we both had been given the same trailer number.....we checked. And there had been a mistake..then I was told that I need to (at this customer anyway) always open the back and check the paper roll serial numbers....they must make these mistakes often. I never knew anything about distribution before taking this job. It is fascinating...these big box stores like Walmart and Home Depot sell an amazing amount of merchandise...and the people who have devised these complicated systems to keep all the stores stocked must have amazing minds to have created such a complex system. The big boys like Walmart doe it best..they have rules thar no one dares brake. Then, there are the small guys who don't take distribution that seriously... They will always be small guys .

 

Ha! Had my first encounter with a lot lizard last night...she was great.....no....no just kidding. I was sound asleep when I heard someone knocking on my cab...I got up and peered thru the "drapes" it was a woman who just sorta has a question on her face...I just shook my head no...not interested...she nodded and left....I went back to my bunk.

 

Well, I was down south in Maryland...and it was quite balmy...nice night for a walk! I'm headed back north now...New Hampshire....if it were last week I coulda voted in their primary.