The New FFE Driver Academey

wingnut1 that is crazy!! i was otr in training with an o/o so we didn't have preplanned routes or fuel stops. my husbands cousin went to work with calark about a month ago, he has preplanned fuel stops too. they also routed him into tennessee over the weekend and he had to park before the scales then get up the next morning and go like 3 miles past the scales to the truck stop..?? crazy huh. i don't understand why they would not let him just go on to the truckstop that nite. i don't think the dispatchers quite understand their own routes. i am starting orientation with transport america wednesday morning. hoping it works out. i still have not heard a word from FFE. i have been gone for 5 weeks. i have no idea what they will do about the payments for the school. like you said, i got my cdl! that is the main thing. i applied with every trucking company in america in the last 2 weeks. there are a lot of companies who will take you at 3 months of otr experience, you should look around. just check each companies website, look at what they offer, compare them all, then apply to the ones who have what u want. that's how i narrowed it down to ta. they are gonna let me come to orientation, work with a trainer for up to 21 days, then i get my own truck with full benefits, a rider program(my main reason for going there) and i will get .34 cpm to start. all the other places i checked wanted me to drive solo for any where from 30 - 90 days before i could let my husband ride. not ta, he gets to go the minute i get a truck! good luck and hope it all works out for you.

 

you grossed 82k? what's up with that?

 

I'm sorry you are having issues Wingnut. I went through that same reservation, I think, on the way from El Paso to SLC, UT. I know my tank is officially 200 gallons, but I pretend it only has 160. So, if I have 1/2 a tank, I tell them I have 80 gallons, not 100. I learned that trick from one of my trainers. I have never had a fuel issue. What's amazing is that it's pretty accurate. If they tell me to get a certain amount at a fuel stop, the tanks usually fill to the top at the amount they want me to get.

I have not really had any issues so far. Yes, payroll has been off a few times and I'm not getting even close to 3000 miles a week, but I'm OK with it. If I had a family to support I think I would have issues though.

Actually, today was the first time NaviGo screwed me. It took me into a residential area that had no outlet, so I had to back out of it. There was no other option, since there were cars parked on the side of the road and I could not make a right turn and continue going forward. It was NUTS! LOL, I got out and looked so many times I don't need to work out for a week. Thankfully it was around 11am on a weekday and everyone was at school or work so there was no traffic.

 

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dude if there is a truck stop 5 miles away, then thats where you go to finish out your ten, then fuel at whatever location they assign. dont run over your hrs! dont drive tired. why havent you contacted safety with your concerns yet? who the hell is your dm?

 

you wont hear from FFE. you will hear from a collection agency, to the tune of about 5g. sorry to be the bearer of bad news. good luck with calark.

 

You have to take control of your job. If you need fuel, stop at a truck stop, get their ID number, and call it in. If your DM does nor respond quickly, blow him or her off and call breakdown, or Brian Rhodes, or safety, and park your truck. My training DM was worse than usless. You are responsible for your hours. If you are routed in some dumdass way, do what you know is right. Preplan your trip, and check your route ahead of time. Truckers drove for ever without gps. If you drive blind following gps, you will get burned. Your road atlas has all the info you need. When you can afford it get a backup truck gps. I am closing in on my first year completed. I make more than I thought I ever would at this company, but I route myself. Dont count on others, educate yourself and take control. To be successful, you will have to do this wherever you work. If your DM ignores you all Brian, explain what has happened, and ask for a solution. And if you need to, call Greg Peace, he will #### sure make things happen. Trust me please, we want all of you here. Stand up, take control, and you will be glad you did. If anyone needs advice, email me your # and I will call you.

 

that sucks running out of hours at recievers well you can for sure go 4.5 miles before your clock starts my gps gives me truckstops ,wallmarts ect, most of the time i can get to one within the 4.5 miles i would never do it but i heard of guys pulling over after 4.5 miles setting the brakes and going off duty again and sitting for 10 minutes and that gets you another 4.5 - i think the actuall # is 4.75 dont make it a habit just emergencys i think each time you hit off duty it flags location so try to do it within the same city well sent me to plainview and gave me a load to montreal i was looking forward to it but cargill changed the delivery to guelph west of toronto well ok thats a good trip too still get the $100 crossing they sent the cleared for customs so thought i was all set but i didnt have a delivery time since they changed recievers so they didnt want it till thursday so dropping to detroit heading to bridgeview with a wont find out till i get there load or empty then taking a ltl load with a lot of stops -- guy at bridgeview wasnt sure yet how many but its going to the cleveland area should get a drive by or maybe a day or so at home wouldnt mind a reset been running out of my 70 everyday for over a week now