EPES TRANSPORT-Greensboro, NC

Hi all.
Finished with day 2 of orientation.
I got to meet Sherman today, thanks for the walk around and introductions.
Everyone here has been real nice to work with.
I don't think I'll be meeting with my trainer this week since orientation started on Tuesday. I'll know more tomorrow after I meet the DM
One of the guys in class was told it would be Sunday when he meets up with his trainer.
We had 13 in orientation, 5 of us are trainees, 1 L/O and the rest company drivers. I think they get their trucks tomorrow or Friday.
Everyone stay safe out there.
I look forward to meeting more of you.

 

Day 3 driving on the road...

I got another hour on the road this morning and it's getting much better. I practiced downshifting and the instructor today was telling us different than the other instructor I had yesterday. That's not a surprise as everyone has their own way of doing things. However, the instruction today was much better and I think closer to correct. Anyway, I don't have it mastered but I do have a better grip on how it's done and started getting into a rhythm.

Also I made a suggestion to the lead instructor about our range time and how much of it we were spending sitting waiting on a turn to practice our backing. We had one spot set up for a 45 and another set up for a straight line back. We have 4 trucks on the range running laps, but it all bottle necked waiting on the 45. It was in the the path of the lap traffic. I suggested she set up a second 45 at the other end of the lot, partly because we weren't getting much benefit at this point driving in circles and not getting out of 3rd gear. We're getting the changing gears practice now while out on the road. The other reason for the suggestion was because we needed more practice backing that we weren't getting while sitting so much. Today we had the other 45 set up and we had...
1 truck doing straight line backing
1 at the 1st 45
1 at the other 45
1 on the move to the next station
There wasn't any congestion and we all got a lot more practice. Yesterday I had 1 hour on the range and had maybe (4) 45 backs and (2) straight line backs. Today I had 1 hour on the range and I got (10) 45 backs and (4) straight line backs.

All in all it was a much more productive day!!! I also got the backing down pretty good as opposed to yesterday. It just clicked and I changed the way I was doing it. I was backing straight back until I thought I was in the correct position and then I turned sharp right, jacking the trailer hard. Then I had to counter that just as hard. I would either over correct or under correct and my swings were to big. Today I started back and began a gradual right turn toward my spot and then continued to follow it with smaller moves of the wheel. I was able to get the trailer into position sooner and eliminated the major corrections. Small corrections gave me all the control I needed and was even able to get it in with the tractor straight. I only had to do one pull up in my (10) attempts on the 45.

 

Well folks,
Orientation is finished. Got my driver number, met my DM and now I'm back home.
Will be in contact with the trainer tomorrow and DM said I should meet him and head out on Sunday from Greensboro.
It's about an hour and a half from here to the terminal.
Everyone I met at the terminal really seemed nice.
I talked to quite a few drivers there and over at the Citgo grill.
We started with 13 and ended up finishing with 11 in class.
I hope everyone stays safe out there and look forward to meeting more of you.

 

I know this is an Epes thread but I was hoping some one could shed some light on Cargo Transporters out of Claremont NC. You know the usual information would be helpful. I am asking because I see Cargo up around Pittsburgh more than I see Epes. I was hoping you Epes drivers would know a thing or two about them since they are close to each other and you might have talked to them (drivers)?

 

oh yeah...Cargo...I know that ALOT of their drivers were killed by running the truck into stores and blowing up stuff!!!! lol Seriously, I, personally, have not heard of them!
Congrats on getting through Orientation!!!! So far, welcome to the club.....did Bob make you strip in front of the class and face the wall? haha Just kidding. What a HELLUVA DAY I've had! Who's your DM? I have a CLOSE Keg run in the AM and if it's not there, in Charlotte by 1200, company has to pay for it! Since I'm Republican, and Slick Willie's fans drank all the kegs, should I get it there in time? OF COURSE! Just because I'm a good company guy! Well, seeing as I'm in Norfolk, at 1900 and hafta do 10 and then pick up and drop....it's gonna be a CLOSE CALL for me! lol Hope everyone has a great weekend and picks up a lizard or two for me!

 

man...I remember school! It seemed hard...until you get into a dock.....just wait! Your first week out with a trainer you'll think backing is the enemy! But, looking back, just keep in mind how you turn the wheel and the trailer moves. TRUST ME, it'll all make sense, in the end! Glad to hear your schooling is going great! How many more weeks ya got left? I hope I can meet ya sometime...I just always leave in the middle of the night! Guess I'm like Death! haha I come and go like a "thief at night"...not like I'm a thief, but I sure do like Batman! Well, Superman is more my kinda guy tho! haha Have a good week at school and smoke something for me!!!!! Thanks to my "other" neighbors, since I live in a townhouse, they ALL wanna go in on a butt...so guess I'll be bbq'ing on my day off! ########! haha

 

Thanks,
Traci was running the orientation, Bob wasn't there.
My DM is Susan P.
Make sure you get the Charlotte run made in time, I don't leave until Sunday, may have to help drain some of those kegs you bring down tomorrow.
Stay safe out there.

 

It's been great so far and today was the best...and the hardest!! I was humbled today to say the least. Up until now we have been pulling empty trailers and no where that was very difficult. Today, however, was a different story. Today I had a loaded trailer and we got to go up 321 from Lenoir to Boone. Missing some gears trying to downshift going up the mountain resulting in a complete stop and start over. Then it was the tight turns before and through Blowing Rock trying to keep the trailer in my lane without falling off the side of the mountain. Then maneuvering through the tight area behind the hospital in Boone before my turn was up. I know....I haven't seen anything yet. But, it was a big step up from empty trailer on easy roads. It was a GREAT learning experience and it put me back where I need to be in terms of perspective. Now I don't want to run without a loaded trailer and I want to hit that same run again and again until I nail it!!!

If you want to get more detail about my day go check out my youtube channel. I'm uploading a video now about this week and today. It will be up in a couple hours. The link is below.

We need to hook up one Saturday when you are home and do some "Smokin" which also includes eating!

Stay Safe Brother!

 

well, i only have my notes from last year when they came to class recruiting and overall impressions from the recruiter:

good pay...as good or better than ours

HS diploma required....because "we have so much technology in our trucks"....whatever....didn't see really they have anything more than we do

fully automatic fleet....but i heard this may be changing

weekends home

8 week training time out with the trainer

got the impression they micromanage and scrutinize your every turn, shift and braking event as well as fuel and idle numbers. recruiter was kinda snotty and gave the impression they follow the UPS/OD/WalMart/TMC school of thought and his words were "you make the cut and you're one of us or you don't and you're just one of the rest of the masses at those 'other' companies" and stress the condescending tone when he said 'other'..... okay thanks but no thanks....i can think for myself thank you and don't need someone looking over my shoulder every mile of the way. sounds like a good company and #### good benefits, pay and equipment, but also sounded like it would be a little too much like being in the military and i have just tooooo much of an issue with authority for it to have been a good fit for me. still, if you can handle that kind of corporate culture, it doesn't sound like a bad gig.

i could be completely wrong and readily admit that, but know what the pitch was from the recruiter and the holier than other companies attitude and script he brought to class was......

 

on the other hand......lol.....

even for a company with 800 trucks, for me to walk into dispatch on friday at 1645, when everyone is trying to hit the door home, to have multiple DM's, who I don't even work for, greet me by name and know my truck number without asking says alot about the company and the corporate culture......

Dinky I never did see you the other night coming out of conneticut but was looking......did you see that fedex at the 5 on my side once you got into ct? that was a bad one.....tire tracks went up the embankment beside the ramp and then looked like he fell over left and rolled down the hill.....10 feet to the right he'd have stayed on the pavement going up the ramp.....if he was wearing his belt he may have had a chance but if he wasn't doubt he made it through that one.....alot of standing water on my side it poured from Mass all the way down to stamford....was another bad one on my side at the 91/95 split but at least they stayed upright.....looked like a slow one in front got run into by a fast one coming from the rear......one in front got pushed into the bridge and jacnknifed and one in back had his front end taken off.....just gotta slow down and drive for the conditions, not the schedule....

ended up with a solid week but got a bunch of short hops midweek.....but also was able to manage the time where i got 2 in one day and then within 30 miles of the 2nd one on the 2nd day so i was able to finish it early next morning.....

got a trip picking up in ladson, sc coming home for the weekend but.....'go by kaptsone in north charleston and swap for a trailer they rejected first then go pickup'....I hate those because of course there's going to be something wrong with the trailer you're picking up......and of course i had a brand new trailer with me that i was going to have to give up for a piece of junk....

get there and yep....piece of junk....not sure how it even got in there because they do a nitpicking inspection of them before they even let you drop....it must have been raining when it came in or there must have been someone there who just didn't want to be bothered and/or get wet and dirty in that mudhole that is the parking lot in front of the transportation center because they really go over them every time i've been in there before you even get to go into the drop yard...

hook to it and it's beat up....torn walls inside, light out, mudflap hanger bent up into the floor and mudflap hanging up at a 45 to the road, one tire completely missing the center tread section all the way around and 3 more flat spotted.....couldn't even tell from the sticker when th elast PM was the writing was gone but at least the federal was good. until the end of this month. only 14 miles to shipper so go ahead and make the call to breakdown tell them about the complete junk i just picked up and where i'm going go ahead and get the service truck rolling because this one isn't going anywhere loaded until at least the tires are fixed....

get onto 26 heading back to shipper and even with the windows up hear shhhh SHHHH shhhhh SHHHH shhhhh SHHHHHH that rotating air leak sound when you know your day just got alot worse.......pull off the tiny shoulder....in 7am charleston traffic......the RF inner run-flat tube broke off at the fitting on the valve stem.....great....rusted through and no way to cap it or stop the leak so now 2 flat tires as well when i got to the shipper......always on friday and always on the load home lol......

finally get loaded after 3 hours of waiting and still no service truck. call breakdown again they said he should have been there an hour ago.....finally 30 minutes later he rolls up.....what a moron....i knew more about this trailer than he did.....i was clear the run flat was the problem and it needed to be replaced but he showed up with no parts on his truck for the system and looked at it like he just saw a martian....said he'd never seen anything like that before.....just took the rest of the pieces off.....or broke them off is a more accurate term, then just put a valve stem in the center hub fitting and let it go at that.....leaking....i had to tell the guy to cap the valve stem he forced into the hub just so i wouldn't lose air from his makeshift solution....

at least he knew how to change 3 tires......

get to the scales to weigh......paperwork says 42,360.......but ticket says 79940 gross......with half tanks....think they fibbed a little on the weight because i know my truck and it sure doesn't weigh 37580 empty with half tanks......and then couldn't get the axles to slide on this piece of junk....weight was good for both nc and sc to get home but really front heavy so i wanted to even it up a bit. finally got them slid forward but they absolutely refused to slide the 2 inches to engage the pin. try rocks. bricks. metal bars. anything i could find to try and chock the wheels laying around the parking lot. nothing worked it just rolled over them and the brakes wouldn't lock enough to do the trick......they worked, and would lock just enough to stop the tires from rolling, but not enough to try and drag the axles into the hole....finally alot of sweat, 45 minutes and a overheated temper and elevated blood pressure later, a guy with a lowboy pulls in and there is a beautiful 8X8X12 block on his rack lol.....ask him if i can use it and he says yeah.....that did the trick. click goes the pin and home i go with 4:40 to go and 4:55 on the clock and almost max gross......

and another item to add to the toolkit.....i've got many pairs of chocks at home from my airport days and in retrospect don't know why i haven't foreseen this issue and put a pair on the truck but already got a pair of 727 nosewheel chocks in the trunk of the car going back out with me sunday lol.....

so, once again after that long, slow, excruciatingly labored trip up 52 through the woods with all the weight i finally get to the yard and pull the brakes with 0:03 on the clock......

and get a grand rapids going out sunday for 5am monday delivery....one of the other DM's sitting in the back hollered my name when he saw me as i walked in to hand off the paperwork for that load as it was t-called and asked if i wanted the grand rapids run......said he knew i could get it done and he trusts me to take those and likes to put me on them......and i don't even work for him.....evidently they've had some issues of late on that run getting it there when it's supposed to be.....but goes to show handle your business, don't complain and do the BS stuff when they ask and you establish yourself as someone they can depend on and then they take care of you as well.....it's really a 2 way street......was really hoping i'd get a little more of a weekend than that after running the holiday but at the same time that will put me over 3000 again for the paycheck and 3 checks in a row into 4 figures hehehehe gotta love it.....