A running log with Gordon Trucking

Ok, day 1 and 2 completed.

Day 1
Go over application then off to drug test and physical. You pick your own lunch from subway. I will say that if you have a problem or a question they will try and answer or get the answer. They also take the initiative to help you when you have a problem. Pretty impressed.

Day 2
Safety. Goes over everything they think you need to know. Very laid back. Lunch of a sub platter from Jimmie John's.

They are very honest about everything. I'm used to the cloak and dagger and this place has put me back on my heels with the honesty. Shall see how everything pans out.

 

I will keep the log updated. I have to do a short refresher as I have not drove tractor trailer in a couple of years.

 

Sorry for the long delay .

Ok, so they sent me out with a trainer for a week for my refresher course. It was fun and helped me over come an issue i had with backing (set-up).

My trainer dropped me off at our drop yard in Sacramento, CA to pick up a "Sold Truck" that had to go to our Pacific yard. So, loads up there as follows.

Bobtail from Sacramento to Anderson, CA to pick up load.
Anderson, CA to Grandview, WA.
Bobtail from Grandview to Lewistion, ID.
Lewistion, ID to Pacific, WA.

I picked up a 2015 Cascadia Evolution with 30K on it. I left there the following day with

Fife, WA to Boise, ID
Boise, ID to Portland, OR
Portland, OR to (I forget the name of the town, 200 miles south of Portland)
Unknown, OR to Helena, MT
Helena, MT to Greatfalls, MT
Greatfalls, MT to Kansas City, MO
Kansas City, MO to Spring Hill, KS
Spring Hill, KS to Alachua, Fl
HOME TIME!!!! (3 days at home. I was supposed to have 4 but the load they gave me was short on time so I went out about 10 hours early. I could have made it if I had left as 7 a.m. if everything had gone perfect, but we all know the odds of that LOL.)

Ocala, FL to Jacksonville, NC.
Jacksonville, NC to Raeford, NC
Raeford, NC to Pontoon Beach, IL

They sent me to the terminal in Pontoon after I delivered because my truck was due for service. I went available this afternoon but I was told freight is slow and I have a load going out in the morning 225 miles away. See what I get after that. Next post will have some things I want to point out.

 

Pointing out-

1. Training here is alot different then anywhere I have ever seen. The trainer does nothing but set in the jump seat and watch/instruct you. They do no driving (Was told they can get in trouble for it not sure though.)

2. The Trucks are pretty #### nice, though they take away some things I wish they had kept. (They no longer do the sleeper doors, extra lights for backing up, fog lights, the top bunk, a few lights in the sleeper. They did put the decent shelves in with the actual doors.

3. All of the trucks have thermo-king apu with the 1500 watt inverter. .

4. My truck does a whopping 61 mph. They said there is some program in the ECM which is supposed to auto up that if I meet certain criteria with mpg, idle, over rpm. Not seen any increase yet and im getting 7.4 mpg atm.

5. They do NOT pay for truck washes. Most of the terminals have truck washes though I have been told. Only one I have seen so far is in Pontoon,

6. E-Logs. They do not screw around with these at all. If you go over it is a violation no matter if is a minute or 20 minutes.

7. When you start you get a *training driver manager*. Kinda sucks, you get to know someone and bam here is someone new. (I hate change).

I think thats it for now. Again, sorry it took me so long to update will try and do better. Any questions comments, feel free,.

 

It goes by your verified experience. For some reason they only verified 28 months for me which is 39.5 cents pm. You can Google and check it they have a pay comparison sheet. Also, no northeast. I think heartland side pays more but they do go up there.