Gone flatbedin with Keim

Well I figured I'd post some updates on my training with Keim.

Interesting is the best word I can use to describe what my training has been like up to this point. Last wednesday I started at Keim and did my one day orientation before spending a couple of days workin at GP learnin how to throw tarps and secure them onto loads. Mike helped a lot and I caught on quickly helping me speed up the process. And then the "fun" started...

On Saturday I talked to my trainer about the week and we took off on Sunday mornin for Wyoming. Now don't get me wrong here, the guy is nice and means well, but he's got more than a couple of loose screws. If I get some Wi-Fi I'll go into more detail than fhat but trying to type this all out on my phone kinda sucks.

But I digress... we made our load in Wyoming, brought one back to Kansas, and we are now en route to North Carolina. I've been behind the wheel the majority of the time and have quickly picked up load securing and tarping procedures. With any luck, fingers crossed, I'll get out of here and into my own truck in 2 weeks, please God make it so...I'm ttyin not to sound like a whiner because I know its part of truckin but I feel like the thing I've learned most about in the last two days is how to cheat the log book. He seems pretty adamant to make sure I'm well versed in that before I'm on my own.

Well there's my scattered thoughts for the evening. I'll do my best to keep updating this as I go. Lookin forward to bein out on my own runnin with all the other rabbits.

I'm out.

 

Ya the driving part I'm not worried about at all. I've done a few other driving jobs before this just nothin OTR. Gettin my trainer to focus on the main question I asked him, and not goin off on a tangent about something else after givin me half a yes or no answer to a question about what equipment is already supplied in the truck, is my main concern for now...

 

I get what ya mean Chinatown. I respect that and no way would I let his identity be known.

As for the rest though none of that, besides the conversation part, holds much for him. He's had his CDL and been driving just as long as i have although he has way more miles than i do. He jumped on with Keim straight out of driver school and now 5 years later I'm his first driving student. I've had to explain how the sleeper berth provision works, why I spit on the air lines, and the differences between a lot of different kinds of trailers. Like I said earlier I don't wanna sound #####y and I'm more than grateful about the help he is giving me in learning the flatbed trade but I feel like a few more years could benefit him greatly before he starts teaching. After that I think hed be a great teacher.

As for pay and what not .36 or 25% to start. They go pretty much anywhere really. They run a lot of loads for Georgia Pacific lowes and soe local companies in Sabetha. If ya want somw more specifics let me know and ill se how I can help.

 

Ya I guess it'll be interesting to see what happens with that in the future.

I'll say today was a hell of a lot better than it has been. My trainer gave me a bit more slack and let me run the operation a bit more on my own today, customer calls, load securement, tarps etc... he also finally gave me more of an indication that I might be out by next week depending on the loads we see within the next week.

Headin back west in the mornin to see all the lovely snow after spending the day in 60 degree weather today.

Time for some shut eye.