A whole new world

Funny thing. Maverick called me about a week into the training, which makes it about three weeks after I applied, and said 'Everything looks good, and was I still interested?' I had to tell him that I was hired by TMC, and he was talking to me from their truck presently...He sounded like I just kicked his dog.....Man they take a long time to get back to a driver....Maybe that's a lesson for them....Anyway I thought I'd write that, I thought it was funny....


j-mac

 

Well, here I am at installment #3 and I already feel like I have seen and learned so much. I have so much more respect for OTR truckers now than I did as a local driver. My hats off to you guys and gals. As I learn what is involved it is truly alot.

Anyway, this week was a nightmare, but it ended good so here it goes. I started off expecting to get picked up Sunday night by another guy going to Des Moines also. TMC gave him a time to get the rental car that was too late, the place was closed. No biggie right? Just get it in the am and go right? eeehhhhh! wrong! As he was driving with his brother to get it in the morning, some kid ran a stop light and T-boned him in an intersection. Everyone was all right though. So through out the day it was a huge back and forth as to whether or not he could go. Finally, that afternoon my training coordinator told me to go get a rental, and just proceed myself the next morning, so I did. And 16 hours later I was in Des Moines, freezing my arse off at midnight, Tuesday night. By 6 am I was on the bus headed to the training facility to do finish paper work. All day for about a doxen pieces of paper, and then we were told that we were headed to Indy to get the truck....Man! 16 hours for 12 signitures? Oh well, at least I got to see head quarters and get my EZ pass/Pre pass, and meet my Fleet Daddy, so that was good I guess.

Off to Indy.....Got there and it took 17 hours to have all my stuff and get the truck ready for the road, but at 8:00 am Friday morning there I was off to pick up my first load solo.....And where am I going? ..........


Brooklyn NY!.........OH JOY! My fleet daddy told me I didn't have to take it being my first load and all, but I told him, I'd have to go in there sooner or later, so lets do it.....Plus I get $100. "combat pay" for going to NYC. So its ok........

I am offically back on the road people! Watch out.....


j-mac

 

First week solo done, and I am still here....heh heh.....Brooklyn was definately an experience....Got lost a couple of times, and got lucky finding my way back to where I was supposed to be. But got the load there on time and out of there as quick as possible.....In my haste, I took the wrong booth going over the BQE and you'd have thought I ran over the toll mans toes....But the Trans Auth Police man was pretty cool, he handed me my licence and registration back and told me to just go back over the bridge, turn around at the first exit and come back over.....Whew!

Then I went to NY and mother nature had a punch in store for me....Snow.....Which delayed me some in between loads and as a result I lost a load late in the week, that sucks, but I still figured I made about a thousand bucks in my first week solo, and the loads I did have all made it no problem to their intended destinations.....So all is good....

I am still getting a handle on routing though....My percentage is awfully high, I just hope they have a little patience with a newbee like me on that....

Anyway, TMC seems to be a great company to work for, quick dispatch, and good support.

j-mac

 

Yeah, that's right...I am hoping to save up after Christmas, and get a laptop with Streets & Trips so I can get my out of route % down.....

j-mac

 

Will Google show me truck routes?


j-mac