Roehl EVO I starts tomorrow 12/28

hey dennis, happy to hear all is well and you're having fun. About the stamina concerns, I found that while training with a home-time driver, the days were longer. The trainers on National seemed to have shorter days.

Behave yourself here, okay?

btw, was that a 'Packers' hat in your photo?

 

I'm no trucker, i'm not even really a newbie given the amount of time i've been watching these boards wishing I was writing a "from training to trucking" diary. Dennis.. or Jasonb, why not stick it out another 10 days? You've made it this far! Heck, half of us newbies would just like to make it through school, let alone get the chance to go out with a trainer.

 

You can do it your almost there. Your post are the reason I called roehl.I have to wait until I have 6mo experience to work the northeast division. DONT GIVE UP WERE PULLING FOR YOU>

 

Dennis,

Anything specific about the DSR (dispatcher) issues? In any given week you'll easily have contact with 3-6 different people (DSRs). I too spent over 25 years in business being self managed, and relate well to the challenges of going from manager to that of being managed. It is VERY difficult, and is compounded by the fact you have experience in managing yourself.

My EVO III Driver Manager was a sharp gal and adjusted quickly in her manner of dealing with me. With the exception of one night DSR, all others were somewhat condescending and treated me like a child. Sounds a bit early in the game to even be thinking about owner/operator or leasing on. Get through EVO II and look no further for the time being. It is normal to ask frequently, "What the h.... am I doing here?

 

Rare, yes, but I hauled frozen pizza's down to Austin and had to unload the trailer Sunday morning with an electric pallet jack. Very interesting experience, as there was nobody there to check me in or to show me where to put the load, just a voice on the phone saying "Ya'll just put it in the freezer, there oughta be 'nuff room fer it," and I had never even SEEN an electric pallet jack before. Took me a while to get the hang of it. Those things can do a lot of damage quickly if you aren't careful. Fortunately, "Careful" is my middle name.

 

Wow, that must have been an experience!!! LOL I've seen them but never used one. And, of course, using them is not hard manual labor so you can have a bad back and still use pallet jacks to load/unload.

Well, I guess they trusted you, eh? LOL Glad you didn't put one of those thingys through the side of the trailer - seen the result of that many times!

 

My greatest fear was putting one of those thingies through ME. lol

I learned that they require a gentle touch on the controls, and are designed to trail behind you whenever possible, rather than being pushed ahead of you. They'll turn in their own footprint if you have room to do it. An interesting and valuable experience. Unfortunately, I then had to sit for three days waiting out the New Year's lack of freight, then waste another being loaded with fresh chicken bound for Chicago. What should have taken no more than a few hours burned my entire HOS for that day.

Then there was Chicago. I'd rather not talk about Chicago. May God's infinite mercy keep me out of that madness again, Insh'Allah.