Starting at May Trucking...

dbook-

it's all a carefully orchestrated conspiracy to fool you - and just you.

These past two weeks training with May are my first two weeks, ever, on the road. I got my CDL via SAGE - the one in Henderson, CO - on April 28 of this year. Had been accepted for orientation at Watkins & Shepherd, but ..let's just say I screwed up and didn't make it. May was second choice, and it took another month to get hired...(no biggie, I was being patient).

So far, I can't say that I have any complaints at all about May. Only seen the one terminal so far, and it's similar to what I hear about W&S - NOT state of the art steel and glass. In fact, I think the term building in Denver was built about 75 years ago. I love it.

Anyway - one thing I **really** like about May and training - they have no set time period. Some do it in a week, some in 2 - most in about 3 - and some longer. If I can't get my shifting down, I'm gonna be longer (I have yet to develop the knack for changing the pacing of the shift, depending on the load. So, when not under load, I tend to make a lot of noise)

Once the trainer passes you, you go to one of the terminals - usually Brooks yard in Oregon, where the safety office apparently gives you another drive test (you have to pass one to even attend orientation - but they make a LOT of allowances for newbies. Basically, don't bend the truck and you are fine). Pass the second test and they get you a truck. It may be in Brooks - or it may be in one of the other terminals.

All the tractors I've seen have been.. 06 or later Pete 378s. The one I'm training in just turned over 120K miles. It's in excellent shape, and the trainer is fanatic about keeping it clean. Good habits to instill, I think.

In the past two weeks, I did 80% of the driving and about 85% of the docking (the ones the trainer did, HE had problems with)

I drove a total of 5500 miles in 16 days (that's an average of 343 per day)
Long day was 554 miles (Grand Island NE to Wanship, UT - just outside SLC) Shortest day of driving was day 2 - 285 miles. Obviously, trainer did more driving early on.. it took getting used to, and finding the right posture/position where I'd not cramp up took a few days.

Truck drove 6951 miles.

I keep all my .. stuff .. on my bunk, though I can spread out if I want to. I put a few items in the trainer's cooler - but I asked permission first. It's his cooler, after all.

We're both adamant about showers. Preferred every day, but absolute MUST every other day.

When dispatch sends you a preplan, one of the questions that always accompanies it is "can you do this legally?". We nixed a couple - got one where my trainer wrote back "only if you let us run team". Took about an hour- and we were on the road. 600 miles deadhead to pick up the load. That was fun. Fed and state highways - mostly 2-lane. Finally got the load while fighting the deerflies.

Oh - you are paid practical dispatch miles. So, you are paid a few miles less than what shows on the odometer, but you are also paid to run around empty. The load from KC to SLC, the hub miles were only 13 more than the PC Miler miles. Not worth getting in a snit about at all.

I'm digressing, and lest StoryTeller climb in my shorts again about being long-winded, I'll shut it down here.

I can't say if May will be a good fit for you, of course, but so far, they seem to be an excellent fit for me.

 

If you keep castin these one liners out......... I'm gonna start biting........

 

it's all a carefully orchestrated conspiracy to fool you - and just you.

Well you wouldn't be the first to try and I'm sure not the last. But your info is good and it does keep me informed and it keeps me on my toes! Not wanting to make a big mistake, I finding it real hard to decide which co to go with and whether to do an outside school or not. But I will this week, have to! Again, thanks for your info.

 

lurchs,
Were in kc did you pick up at.

 

Stuffin-stone..

Well, that's close to the name. I don't have the documentation. Just off of Exit 3, 635, as I recall.

90 degree back, off a two lane street. (If we'd been on time, we'd have been in the regular dock, which is an easy shot)

 

That sucks, It's those dictrion from your dispact at work again,

 

nah- directions were only a little off. Took us maybe half an hour to find the place. Fault was at previous stop, where they unloaded us in about 2-3 hours, but sat on the paperwork for a further 2 or 3. Kept us there 6 hours, which, of course, made us late for our pickup.

 

oops

We have a new dispatcher! yay!

Went in this morning, keyed in "ready for service" on the Q.. Dispatcher took about 2 hours and found us a load. Pickup tomorrow morning. Heh - deliver in PA on Tuesday, and in MA on Wednesday. Dunno if we can drive that.. slow. I think we have an open window on delivery - that is, we can come in early. Else it's going to be a long, slow drive.

Of course, we WILL be crossing Iowa/Illinois/Indiana.... we've requested pontoons and an impeller drive...

 

GOOD TO HEAR YOU ARE LIKING IT. I THINK may MIGHT BE MY NEXT CO IF AND WHEN I LEAVE usa. THEY HAVE A TERMINAL 45 MINUTES FROM MY HOUSE. ARE YOU ALLOWED TO TAKE TRUCK HOME THERE?

 

lurch, are you and your mentor team driving or are you doing it?

you might very well past me as i am heading east as well.