Coming to Maverick in a week or two after a long break from driving.

Well, I finished my TCD training and have been assigned a Road Instructor. He is currently home on days off so i will be out on Monday. They moved me the the motel next to the Pilot and so I just have to sit and wait.

Here is a brief recap of what happened at my orientation with Maverick.


I arrived in N. Little Rock Friday evening 2/22 via US Air. A little early but it was a good time to fly for the best deal. No hitches in the flight and the van was there to pick me up within half an hour. I was taken to WalMart to get a few items such as food and toiletries before heading to the "compound". The Maverick site is pretty big and it is secure. Upon arriving at the front gate I went inside and received my room assignment and some basic info. Then I went to the room and crashed for the rest of the evening.

On Saturday I checked out the training facility and walked the 1 mile track they have there on site. It really is a nice track. It is all paved and runs the perimeter of the back portion of the property. I utilized this track a lot while here.

Sunday 2/24 Day 1 of my orientation.

We reported to the training bldg at 7 a.m. sharp. We were warned by outgoing students that being late would get you sent home without question, so we were all there on time. We were met by the instructors and divided up between experienced and non experienced. By that they mean recent experience. We then went to class and learned about the "Maverick Way" and other interesting info on the company. We were warned about being late and other factors that could cause us to be sent home. It is very reasonable. You are on a week long interview. EVERY THING YOU DO IS SCRUTINIZED. Even the way you interact with other drivers and students. They are looking for a specific type of person and the process is very strict. At the end of day one we had about 34 in our class.

Monday 2/25 Day 2 of my orientation

On day 2 we started at 06:30. We had some instruction and then began the drug test and DOT physicals and the agility tests. This is the toughest day for a 61 yr old preacher. Every thing was routine, hurry up and wait and then go, go, go. The drug screens were routine pee in the cup and a hair follicle test. The agility test was very extensive. It went something like this:

- Stand do 20 'toe lifts' on each foot. (raise your heel of the ground and back down)

- Range of motion tests like joint strength and ability to touch your fingers over your shoulder and from the waist. (get your fingers as close together as you can by placing one over your shoulder and one behind your back. They measure how close you get.)

- next you get a back exam and they check your strength and have youe do a situp and several deep knee squats.

- Next you do the 3 min step exercise. to check your blood oxygen level and your pulse.

- Now you get to the side to side lift. That is where you move 10 10 lb bags from one bucket n your right to another on your left and back again. (They are looking for good body mechanics. Do you lift and turn properly)

- next you lift a 30 lb box from the floor to a table and back again (Use your knees)

- Next you lift a box containing about 40 lbs using the upper handles to your chest and back to the floor.

- Now you lift a 40 lb box from able at about chest height over your head and back down again, ( be sure you do it slow and with control)

- then back to the box on the floor. They add add about 20 lbs at a time and ask you to lift it from the floor to standing position using only your legs. You do this four times. The last time they add two weight bags. It was tough, but I did it.

- Climb up on the back of a trailer and back down again.

- Then you pick a box (40lbs.) from the ground to the top of the trailer and back again.

- Next they send you out to a flat bed trailer in the training barn to do some work. First you climb a ladder on to the trailer and then climb up on a box that is approximately 5 ft. high. There two tarps on the floor of the trailer in front of the box. You can use them as a step. The box is strapped to the trailer so you can use the strap to pull your self up. Then you come back down the sake way.

- Now drag a weighted bag by a handle attached to a rope on the bag about 40 ft and and back, back up the whole distance

- Next you walk a plank about 30 ft long and 18 inches wide. Down and back.

- Finally, you go to a truck and get in and then get out. Three points of contact. DO NOT GET OUT FACING OUT. Back out using three points of contact. We an experienced guy do this and he failed and was sent home. For this alone.

That was the end of the tests for the day and we had lunch.

I will post some more in a while.

 

I have been out of a truck since 2000. It is good to get some hands on training and ride with a good road instructor. I haven't met mine as yet but I think he will be a good guy. He is a Maverick, right?

 

I think I will start a new thread with my trainer experience in another area. Don't know where that would be yet but I will post it here where ever it is.

Here is the link to that thread.

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...ick-tcd-traniing-on-the-road.html#post3133411