Squire/Knight Journal

(apologies if this should be posted elsewhere.)

There was a thread a few years back that I found both informative and entertaining called "Good Knight My Young Squire". It went silent. I've been documenting my career since the first day of CDL school and taking a lot of notes. While going over my notes, I thought it may help other drivers if I made a similar and updated review.

I hope this is enjoyed.

Cheers all,

 

My 4 days of orientation was preceded by a sleepless weekend. I had a great deal of fear and anxiety which were compounded by family problems. Which I may talk about later...

The Day Before Orientation- My father agreed to drive me from Vegas to Phoenix. We had some things to discuss and I was happy to forgo the 12 hour bus ride. We made great time and the Sunday drive was pleasant. I had a hotel room waiting for me at a nice 3 star brand name hotel that I do not have to share (there are 3 Squire/Knight drivers here and we all got our own room).

Orientation Day 1 - The previous night was very sleepless. I'm very anxious, and frankly, scared. I'm excited, but also and praying I made the right choice getting into this field.

In the AM I had breakfast that was provided by the hotel before going outside to wait for the shuttle. I met two other drivers waiting outside. One was a rookie like me, the other had been in the field previously and was just getting back into the industry. We have a cordial conversation and hit it off nicely, both were younger gentlemen, no older than 35 (I'm 29). Our conversation goes on long enough for us to note that the shuttle is 5 minutes late.

We are picked up by private vehicle by the recruiter who took on the experienced driver. She apologized for the delay and noted that one of the shuttle driver retired over the weekend so she swung by the hotel just to make sure we got in.

The other rookie and I enter the orientation room and join 3 others that are waiting. Orientation is held in a conference room usually with no more than 4 students at a time. This is a welcome environment compared to a larger room with more people. We will be in class for 4 days and should then go out for 4-6 weeks with a trainer (10,000 miles).

Orientation begins with a introduction by everyone in attendance including the class trainer. The trainer is down to earth, funny, and likeable. He tries not to be boring, but is still capable of driving home important points about safety and company policy.

Early in the day he tells us to let him know when we have to "go" so we can do our urine and hair drug test. I volunteer to go first and donate some pisch and a few locks.

Tomorrow we will be doing an extended "work steps" physical.

The day is filled with a lot of boring though informative info about Knight and Safety. Most are boring because I've seen the videos before in CDL school. I still pay very close attention, participate and ask a lot of questions.

Copies are made of this and that, documents are signed, we are served a gracious lunch and I'm back in my hotel room at about 330.

Positives of the day- A lot of the anxiety I came in with has left my body as I hoped it would by this point. The company has done a very good job making a first impression. The class trainer is down to earth and not a salesman trying to convince me how great the company is. There were no O/O pitches. I get the feeling that I am at the right place at this infant stage of my career.

Negatives- The last stretch of the day was very boring and I wasn't the only one having a hard time staying awake. The combination of a poor nights sleep, a big lunch, and a few hours of repetitive videos will do that... Though much better, I haven't rid myself of all the fear and anxiety I brought in...

 

Slept great last night! The anxiety is clearly going away and I'm feeling a lot better.

In the morning, the bus took us to the wellness center for our physical and to do our "work steps program".

No big deal. Usual physical procedures- Tested vision, went over health conditions, blood pressure, hearing, tested our pisch for sugars/proteins.

The work steps deal was a series of relatively simple series of performing different lifting and walking up stair simulations. I didn't see anyone have a problem, though some of the gentlemen on the heavy-obese side were sucking wind a good lot, but no one failed so far as I would assume. I think it's good that they do that. It avoids putting disabled people in an immediate risk of injury.

This took most of the morning...

When we got back to the barn we noticed we were a man short.... The trainer acknowledged that indeed someone was sent home. He was respectful and took responsibility for the incident...

He respected his privacy enough to say that there was a driving issue on his record which he (the class trainer) thought would slide under the radar, but safety said no. He clearly felt bad about it.... I hope the gentlemen who was sent home does ok, he seemed like good people...

Lunch again was served and very good. We went over a few more items and slides. A much better question and answer environment than the video laden one of yesterday.

When the clock struck 3, I thought it was no later than 1:30!

Tomorrow we will be going over Qualcom, how the reefer system works, and doing a on road exercise called the "smith system".

I feel one hundred times better than I did a few days ago and look forward to another productive day tomorrow!

 

Thanks Harvey. You have been a huge help for me through all this.

I'm very good and confident. I will keep my journey up to date on this thread.

 

Also, their trucks are governed at 66 to begin with. It goes down from there if you idle too much.

 

I most certainly will sir.

 

Days 3-4 of orientation were pretty much more of the same. Boring... But necessary...

Day 4 felt good because we got our company badges and there was a nice sense of accomplishment.

They wanted to send me home to Vegas for the weekend while my trainer came down through Oregon/N. Cali. (about 3-4 days away)

I preferred to stay here at the hotel and offered to pay for the hotel but they would insisted that they pay for it. Another great impression made.

I will be here in the hotel likely until Monday.

My trainer is supposed to be "probably one of the best they have", though I was warned not to take his tone personal... I am very down to earth and hope we get along well, and more importantly that I'm able to learn a good deal over the next month.