Fontana Orientation Sept 11th

you will have plenty of time.

 

You might want to get a good laminated Rand McNally truck drivers map, dry erase marker (blue works good usually) to use on the map to trace out your proposed route,a thin ruler, red ink pen and black, do they use paper logs only or elogs, if paper a white out pen comes in handy for correcting the line you put in the wrong place, a couple of notebooks, and maybe one small one for notes, a calculator.

Sleeping bag and blanket or bedroll of some type, pillow, an alarm clock of some sort (one you will hear). I believe some places want you to bring a set of work gloves. And if you are going by bus try not to take the whole house. Usually anything you take has to be transported in 2 suitcases or a duffel bag or something like that. Also the trainers truck may not have a lot of storage room either.

Your medications of course and make sure you have a current supply and refills for a couple of months at least (Walmart is usually the best place as to filling across the nation if you can change them to there), and it is easier to have this on hand then to end up running out and you have to go home because your dr won't refill until he sees you. I don't know what the recommendations are on taking things like over the counter drugs, but I think it is better to have a few supplies on hand just in case a cold hits, or the flu, acid attacks, whatever. Gatorade and pedialyte for dehydration are a good thing too to keep on hand just in case. Believe me my husband and student took turns passing the flu or a cold to each other.

If you can think of it, you will probably need it somewhere along the line. Don't forget the sunglasses, and hat if you wear one.

Suitable clothes, it won't be long till winter in some places and snow, so shorts may work if they let you wear them, but long pants may be best because of room constraints. Sometimes you may not be able to do laundry once a week even, so have things that can be recycled if need be.

I believe there is a thread on here somewhere on what newbies need to have, some of the stuff may be needed more after you are in your own truck vs training because of space limitations. I tried looking for the thread but couldn't find it.

I think most places having orientation have a shuttle or van that can drop you off to do shopping when there is time, so you can buy other things then, like possibly a cooler, some food supplies like lunchmeat, cheese, and bread, cereals like chex or miniwheats make a good snack food too, crackers, nuts, sunflower seeds, yogurt, drinks, bananas (these can be bought and sometimes apples at some of the truckstops like Pilot, or Fly J, they run higher on price but it is a convenience that comes in handy. You might want to do this soon if you can in order to save money eating out unless they feed you. If your on a bus you may need to make sure you have a carry on where you can bring sandwiches and snacks, etc. Laundry detergent, according to where you wash and what washers are around some if a front loader require the HE detergent, and you can also get the one with fabric softener in it reducing having to buy fabric softener sheets. You can buy some of the big drink containers at some of the fuel stops if you need a big drink.

I have seen threads where people have yea'd and nay'd taking the laptop, some schools have theft problems so I don't know if they will let you carry it in a classroom or not. If so that is great, take a couple of cd's with you if you have space for that downtime in the middle of nowhere and nothing to do on a 34, may also need headphones to hear it though.

Also stay away from the salty foods the night before and day of having any physical done, try to make sure the blood pressure is good, and stay away from sugary foods also (that can jack up BP also including raising your blood sugar. So watch those carbs and hefty hamburger if you can.

I hope this helps and I am sure there will be others posting also.

 

Oh and I forgot one thing a person posted somewhere else; you may need to take at least 3yrs of W2's with you to prove work history. If they haven't already requested those you might need to make sure you have copies on hand just in case so you don't get sent back home. Silly rules, but ones some stick to, I think they do this to prove that you have spent off time in jail.

Also have an unlaminated Social Security card, some may let you slide and get it to them after the fact, but... you never know.

Shoes should be boots if possible. Some wear sandals now, but that is according to what the company says. Tennis shoes also so you have a second set, water is a problem when it rains and feet get wet, there always seems to be a place where there is no way to get around it but walk through it.

A halfway decent rain poncho or coat. May need to buy if you see one, not sure if you can find one with limited shopping range at school.

Flashlight, small one of the LED type should be good. This could wait and be bought after getting to school, but it would be handy in the room also at night.

Locks for your suitcase for travel and school, remember 5 finger discount is a fact sometimes.

Laundry bag of some type that can be folded. Walmart use to have better selections a long time ago.

I would maybe wait to buy a GPS unit until you have your own truck. Make sure when the time comes that it is a trucking one not one for a car. A car unit can be used, but only as with even the truck unit, as a help since it will not be loaded with low bridges and roads you can't drive on. Truck units should also have the major fuel companies listed also.

In the meantime if you have internet aircard you can use google to map locations and routes. it is also easier to see the whole route vs 10 pages of road atlas. It is a good way to also get an idea of how long it will take to go from point a to point b, but you will have to have time added for fuel stops, traffic, heavy loads in mountains; this may sometimes add up to 6 hours or more difference. You can plot how far 600 miles will get you, where you may need to stop for a truckstop and all that in the course of a trip.


I also found at a truckstop large heavy duty paperclips, something like 3" which are good for paperclipping the road atlas pages that you will need to use while on your trip, makes it handy to keep in place.

 

I attended orientation at Schneider in Fontana last year. This is the email of final instructions my recruiter sent me before orientation. Of course your start date will be different but this is probably the email you will receive. If you have any questions about the orientation/training feel free to ask, I am not with Schneider anymore so I can't answer any questions about working for them (was with them for two months as a student technically)

Schneider National, Inc.​

Final Instructions for Orientation in Los Angeles/Fontana

Orientation Date: June 25, 2011 @ 0600 Sharp​

Transportation Details: POV - Personal Vehicle​

Training Center address: 14392 Valley Blvd.
Fontana, CA

1-800-545-5685​

Hotel information:Best Western Ontario Airport
209 N. Vineyard Ave.
Ontario, CA 91764
Phone: 909-937-6800

If arriving on Greyhound, please call Yellow Cab at 714-490-4444 to bring you to the hotel. If you are arriving a day early, please check in to the hotel and verify time of shuttle to bring you to the Operating Center. Please leave your personal vehicle at the hotel. You will be responsible upon checkout for any hotel charges other than the room and the room tax.​

Here is a list of items you will need to bring to your Orientation:

• CDL License & DOT Med Card
• Documents to complete your Employment Eligibility Verification Form, such as Social Security Card or Birth Certificate - including any Citizenship/Immigration documents. Please see the attached I-9 document.
• Boots or shoes with non-skid soles & money for miscellaneous expenses.
• Jeans, cargo pants, or work pants are recommended. Shorts, jogging pants, or sweatpants are NOT allowed.
• Classroom/driving materials to include pen, pencil, calculator, highlighter, gloves, and flashlight.
• Your laptop, if you have one.
• Your prescription medications and if diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, your CPAP Machine.
• For Direct Deposit - bring a "voided" blank check for checking accounts or a MICR sheet with the routing number (obtained from your financial institution) for savings accounts.
• Bring names, addresses, SS# and DOB of the people you will be listing as beneficiaries.

 

Sadwar,
Truth is, I wasn't ready to be a OTR truck driver at the time. I wish I had stayed though, been thinking about getting back into driving.

Good luck to you , if you have anymore questions ask away!

 

And a Toothbrush ! Dental hygene is everyones business

 

Been reading up on your guys, looking at joining either Orange or blue (GTI)