Help with time management!

Safety first policies at alot of companies are talked up in meetings to cover the co's butt, once you are out of the meeting all of that talk is just that. Be safe and do your best, speed comes with time and practice. And from where you said you are the 10, 60, 215, and 91 area no amount of practice will speed up the traffic around there...

 

The worst mistake u could ever do is rush. U will get better on relating to customers the more u go there but until then u use as many straps as u want because its your license if something go wrong. As long as u are being diligent in getting load strapped down correctly and not being rude to shippers/receiver keep doing what u do it will get better. THE PEOPLE IN OFFICE NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT WE GO THRU TI PICK UP AND DELIVER LOADS that is why they think the way they do if they never drove before they don't get it. They make all suggestions they want but it don't work for implementation. Head up your doing fine. Just keep on being safe you can't go wrong

 

I would let him read this thread then maybe he would get it !

 

I remember when I first became a driver the thing my trainer told me about this business is to accept no intimidation. I'm a woman and we generally are tried more but regardless of gender there are people out there that will try to push you around and intimidate you. Ultimately you are responsible for your load and for any citations you might get. Sometimes you just have to stand up for yourself. Ask the boss if he will be willing to pay your speeding fine (ca is still a 55 mph state for anything towing) or come out to help you pick up steel and pay those fines too. He'll either back off of let you go. It's a risk but good drivers are hard to come by.

 

90 shoot I ain't even in the big hole yet hahaha.

In all seriousness. OP take your time since you're learning. The boss has no clue so educate him. Tell him how long it rakes them to load and unload a trailer and tell him you're not the only truck in there either. Usually it should take about 20 minutes to throw and secure 15 straps depending on how its loaded. And what is required. If possible throw straps while they're loading strap winder is a good idea to keep with you at all times and saves you a lot of Tims if you store your straps on the winches a cordless drill and an Allen wrench will wrap them really quick.

Loaders will get to know you over time running locally same way with receiving people. Be courtyous to them all the time they'll get to like you over time no need to bribe them just be yourself and treat them with respect joke around wiht them talk to them and have fun. That's how you build a relationship with them and get them to get off their lazy butts and get you in and out. That's the best advise I can give you. My dad ran local for year. He delivered to the same places over and over and that's how he did things. He was usually in and out faster than most drivers were because of how he treated people.

 

If loading /inloading is the reason for not up to your bosses standards,then you need to call him and tell him the customer is slow.Communication is the key.Soon as they're done with trailer call your boss and tell him you're done and leaving now.Keep in close contact with him till you learn the ropes.

 

A couple things here. First, try put yourself in the boss's shoes. He has a new, slow driver who's learning the ropes and he's let you know that he needs a pick up in your route times. Speeding, cutting corners or rushing is not the ticket. Your number one job is to protect your CDL, get your job done safely.

A pick up in your route times will come in time. Hustle, yes; rush, no. A thicker skin may help endure his complaints. Insist that you're learning, want to keep the job and are determined to get better. Leave it at that.

It just takes time to develop a safe, push driving style.

Don't push it. It'll come. You need determination more than hurry.

Used to have a run out to the San Fernanco Valley. Knew the customers, the 'best' ways to get in, bump the dock and to the next stop. Very, very good at backing. That didn't happen in any 5 days. It was like job security when they sent someone else out into my area when I was gone. I knew that, too.

Did your trainer give you 'a line' on the boss? Has anyone else been hired for a while? Have you followed up with your trainer, that the boss wants you to pick it up some? Your trainer may have some suggestions. And maybe help you with a few phrases in Spanish.

Also, learning a little Spanish (especially in Southern Calif!!) and the culture would be a smart investment of your time. There are cultural differences. We walk into a room, we don't feel a need to 'announce' ourselves; in the Hispanic world, that's just rude. Being comfortable saying, "Hi, mi nombre es ... puede ayudarme?" (Hi, my name's ... can you help me?) is a good thing. Ask. Work on a few phrases and learn to say them well.

A couple well-pronounced phrases (without our super-long vowels, for example) with super-short clipped vowels help. In my case, my vocabulary is limited but my accent is good. Always complimented on that. Remember: At every stop, you need to introduce yourself every time, every stop.

My favorite phrase, 'Las lunes, ni las gallinas ponen'. 'On Mondays, not even the chickens put out'. It's a very familiar street dicho (phrase) that Hispanics would not expect you to know. The Hispanic community is very sensitive about being considered flojo (lazy). Maybe you could learn how to say that you need help because it's a new job and otherwise your boss thinks you're flojo.

"Necessito ayuda porque es un trabajo nuevo y mi jefe pensando que estoy flojo." Or something like that. I'm guessing. I'd ask the trainer what he'd say and work on the accent. Record him say it. Pronouce it right. Break it into phrases (Necessito ayuda... porque es un trabajo nuevo... y mi jefe... pensando... que estoy... flojo.). Learn and practice just that much and I think you'll be surprised how it helps.

 

There is a reason he hired someone with no experience. To me it sounds like he is money hungry. Pay cheap and push them to make as much as they can for you. Someone like that is never happy.

Routes take time to learn. It doesn't matter the product. There are shortcuts to learn. You might not see them now but you will. Are there any co-drivers that you can ask for pointers that know them customers and job?