Well, another update and another change...

Thanks everyone... woke up pretty excited and now I am off to do my drug test and orientation..

Yeah... yesterday he stressed that you have to respect the stuff... not fear it but respect it... and, we do have to keep a resporator witn us.. clipped to jeans or a belt at all times.. not near you or around.. but on your person...

I will know more after orientation today.. and will let you know...

I forgot to mention.. being a home daily I figured it would be a day cab... but it is a sleeper and has an APU...

 

Okay.. so at orientation.. taking a lunch break...
Now, those who know me know that I am straight forward and not a negative or dramatic person.... I also, was pleased with werner for the 18 months that I was there.. after all.. I had little to know experience and needed to get some.. and werner gave me that opportunity... so, I am not bashing them at all... after, because of the time and experience I got at werner is why I was able to apply for and get this job... I am sure the crazy backing situations I experienced on the dollar general account is why I nailed the backing test they gave... also, shifting.. they were very particular about shifting.. and it is because you have to be able to shift smoothly so as not to have the liquid in the tank sloshing back and forth..

So.. again, this is not to bash werner at all... but, already I can see some differences between the smaller tanker company I am starting with now.. and big mega werner....

My orientaion is just that my orientation... I am the only new driver and so the only one... which, with all that is involved with this new tanker gig I am gratefule... turn this valve on, that one off, bleed pressure here before opening this... werner orientation classes can be large.. upto 15 new drivers.. so a 1 to 15 ratio vs the 1 to 1...

The terminal is smaller with far few employees and departments.. so, everyone knows eachother on a first name basis... they dont have a cafeteria like werner... but they have a really nice break room stocked with all sorts of things to eat at a much lower than vending machine cost... for example, a grab bag of potatoe chips which was $150 @ werner from the vending machine is only .50 cents...

They really went the extra mile in getting my PPE... theirs ran way too big for me.. and so instead of having me make do with a large which is the smallest they had.. one off the office guys went and got two.. a small and a medium.. the small fits perfect...

Well... back to orientaion....

 

Well done with orientation for today... we went over a lot of stuff... but again, with it being a 1 on 1 orientation I feel very i formed and not overwhelmed...

what is super nice.. I got to go over and over, step by step the load and unload procedures on an empty tanker.. but we went through each step.. and he had me go through it a few times.... even threw in some trouble shooting...

Obviously the jump from werner to HazMat Tanker is a big jump.. so I am so glad for the thorough training...

I will do more of the same tomorrow.. and then Monday the main Boss will take me out and we will do some local deliveries.. so I get a chance to load and unload a few times.. Tuesday I may do local again with him, or if he feels I am ready I will go with another experienced driver who will train me further...

one thing I really appreciate.. is there is actually no set time frame for the training... meaning, if I have a handle on it in two weeks then I will go on my own... if I need more training then they will keep with the other driver....

After all the mock loading and unloading today I feel really good about this... Glad I got to handle and hook up the hoses and open and shut valves when their was no bleach... also glad I got to climb up and down the tanker...

of course the safety videos were a bit unnerving.. and i got to talk to a couple of our drivers who had a mishap... one got blown off the top of the tanker.. and the other got a chemical burn... they both said it was due to being in a rusn and not paying enough attention to what they were doin.. they had got complacent and forgot to respect the chemical, the procedures and basic safty stuff...

but, they were not trying to scare me.. just make sure I really understand what we are hauling and what could happen if I take safety and procedures for granted...

I am still really excited about this.. and glad I know I can handle the hoses and opening up the valves and all...

 

I am a bit nervous about the driving.. although they did give me a road test, although pulling an empty trailer.. but they felt confident in my skills...

i just have never pulled a tanker full of liguid.. let alone bleach..

 

Well.. I am really excited... orientation is done... Friday was more of the same.. just practicing the load and unload procedures... however, we did a more full dressed rehearsal.. meaning they hadme put on all the PPE... whoa.. those chem suits and gloves get really hot.. and of course they do not allow shorts and flip flops... it is jeans, steel toe boots, and a work shirt... add the chem suit, rubber over boots, rubber gloves, safety goggles, hardhat with face shield and respirator if needed.. and you are sweating...

but even so.. I am still really excited and looking forward to tomorrow... will be doing local runs with another driver.. so I get to load and unload as much as possible...

 

Wow.. first day under a couple loads... really like it... Fortunately we were fully loaded... but, you can really feel it... when it hits the back wall.. then the front... shifting is a little different...

got to unload twice, and load once... did really good... and tomorrow I solo.. for the most part.. ne wants me to call him when I get there.. and will be on the phone witn me as I do everything...

it is a much much smaller company that werner.... no automated phone answering of phones... no press this number to talk to safety, this number ckr that.. you have everyones direct line or cell number...

also.. every knows I am new.. and look out for.. they all are just super nice... and there is a real team environment there..

Tne trucks are nece and clean.. not brand new.. but taken care of... and the boss.. is a nard worker.. he runs loads... and definitely takes care of his drivers....

just super pleased...

yeah they are strickt about PPE.. we wear goggle and a hard had with a face shield.. as well as a chemical apron and cloves, with rubber boots... they provided everytning.. even the resporator...

we are on paper logs... which I actually like...