Bruce Oakley Trucking (Bulk)

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by Lug-Nut, Feb 8, 2015.

  1. kc8yhk

    kc8yhk Light Load Member

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    Nov 26, 2008
    Ohio
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    Orientation day 2!

    Safety safety safety! Then... more safety! and some hazmat! Haha seriously though it's been a long day of just safety. I understand it is important, and to be honest it gave me an opportunity to refresh on a lot of things that I have either forgotten or I have gotten lazy about over the years. The guy that does the safety portion has a good sense of humor, very laid back, and does a great job of making a boring topic enjoyable. I can't stress enough what a great atmosphere it is there.

    Most of the guys got to meet their dispatchers, except me, mine is located in New Mexico. I got my wet kit installed today. We also went out to the shop and got hands on training on how to adjust brakes. I already knew how but they give us all a chance to do it so we can be "certified brake adjusters". For lunch they gave us the keys to the company vans and we went down the road to a place called "White Pig Inn Barbecue".

    A couple of the trucks there had issues they needed fixed before they could get wet kits/blowers installed, so they ran their trucks down to a local shop. Oakley is big on the appearance of their drivers and equipment. If you like to run illegal or get lazy with truck maintenance, you aren't going to have a very good time here. They flat out tell you if you don't have hours, park it!

    I can't wait to be done with this process and get on the road.

    halfway there...
     
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  3. Lug-Nut

    Lug-Nut Light Load Member

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    Jan 31, 2015
    Tijeras, NM
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    Thanks for the info kc8yhk and once again thank you for taking time out of your day to post. So your dispatcher is located in New Mexico ? Did they say what city in New Mexico ? If the opportunity arises for you to talk with your dispatcher, I would be very interested in knowing what kind of work they have located in New Mexico and the surrounding states since I live in New Mexico.
     
  4. kc8yhk

    kc8yhk Light Load Member

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    Nov 26, 2008
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    I believe Farmington NM is where they are located. I haven't been able to talk to him yet but I am looking forward to it. The southwest is my all time favorite part of the country. I live in Ohio but they can run me to AZ and NM as much as they want! As soon as I get to talk to him I will let you know what I find out.
     
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  5. Lug-Nut

    Lug-Nut Light Load Member

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    Jan 31, 2015
    Tijeras, NM
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    I live just outside of Albuquerque and heard they had a terminal in Farmington but the funny thing is that I run up in that area all the time but have never seen any of their trailers. I'll be interested to see what they tell you about loads in the Southwest.
     
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  6. nantney-joe

    nantney-joe Bobtail Member

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    Apr 19, 2010
    houston ms
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    Im interested in reading about all yalls experences there. I had a friend that worked there end dump. He tried to get me to come there but i have a ticket on my record. Hes not there anymore but id still might be interested in oakley once that ticket drops off in june.
     
  7. kc8yhk

    kc8yhk Light Load Member

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    Nov 26, 2008
    Ohio
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    Orientation day 3!

    Today went much easier than yesterday. We finished up some safety stuff. Had to watch the typical horrible orientation type videos about "slips, trips, and falls", Seat belt use, lane changing, stopping distance, and did some safety test's as a group.

    Guys that want to run elogs got their qualcomm installed, and they have been pushing them pretty hard. I'm on paper but I can see the benefit, I'll probably stay on paper until I have no choice but run elogs, even then I won't complain. I log it as I run it and I never run illegally. We all got the key to access the drivers lounge 24/7, which is pretty nice so you don't have to stay at one of the N Little Rock truck stops. Nothing real fancy about it, just a trucker lounge. A few tables/chairs, sink, microwave, vending machines, washing machine and dryer, shower rooms, and TV.

    We took the vans out again today and got lunch paid for by Oakley. After lunch we got our permit packs and signed our lease agreements. It was a relief! I don't know about other guys but when I show up for orientation I have this constant feeling like "AM I DOING THE RIGHT THING???" I can tell you I really believe I have done the right thing. I still haven't talked to my dispatcher but I expect to real soon. Tomorrow we hook to our trailers and get a "demo" on how to operate them (I have a couple years of bucket exp so it won't be much of a demo for me). Then we road test and get a dispatch out of there.

    I hope I can be running miles over the weekend to make up for this week of not making any money. I will update even after I am done with orientation. In the meantime I would suggest that anybody that is interested give Oakley a call and ask for Jeremy or Randolph. When I called, Jeremy never once tried to "sell" me on the company, I asked questions and he answered them. There was no pitch involved.

    One. More. Day....
     
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  8. Lug-Nut

    Lug-Nut Light Load Member

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    Jan 31, 2015
    Tijeras, NM
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    Nice job kc8yhk ! Sounds like you well on your way. I wish you the best and continued success. I look forward to hearing more about your experiences with Oakley in the coming days and weeks. Thanks for the updates !
     
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  9. kc8yhk

    kc8yhk Light Load Member

    57
    70
    Nov 26, 2008
    Ohio
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    Orientation day 4!

    Today FLEW by. Everybody was in a mad dash to get everything finished up so we could get OUT! I had a few final things to sign, and get the lettering done on my truck. Other guys had to go pick up their trucks from the repair shop. By the time that was all done it was already lunch, so we piled into the vans and got lunch again paid for by Oakley. When we got back we were assigned a trailer. I went out into the trailer lot but couldn't find mine so they had me hook to a trailer just to use to do the road test. Passed that with ease.

    We each got a one-on-one hands on demonstration of the trailer. Tomorrow morning my trailer should be washed out, inspected, and dropped in the yard. I talked to my dispatcher today finally. He said he's never dispatched end dumps before and our orientation class will be his first end dump loads. He isn't sure right now how much end dump work there will be around the southwest but said there are regular runs between Texas and Phoenix for the pneumatic guys.

    Done done and DONE! Tomorrow I go to work!
     
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  10. Lug-Nut

    Lug-Nut Light Load Member

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    Jan 31, 2015
    Tijeras, NM
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    Thanks again for the updates. Wish you the best of luck out there on the road. Let us know how things continue to go as you start moving loads and how the miles are adding up for you. Stay safe !
     
  11. jpracer1

    jpracer1 Medium Load Member

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    Nov 26, 2009
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    if any of ypi guys go there,i love it by the way,during orientation you have to go to the burger place by the clinic and must have Randolftake you to BJs for lunch
     
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