On the road with Millis

You as well sir

 

Typically, yes, I decide when I run. However, the load will dictate how your day will go. When my dispatcher assigns me a load, it will have a delivery time. It's either a specific time OR it's a specific window of time. Winter weather changed how I drive. But my preference is to be rolling by 3am. It saves you from dealing with traffic in most situations. Once I go on duty for the day, I have a maximum run time of 14 hours by law. That means I have to be parked at 5pm. I do that for a very important reason. I never have a problem finding a place to park. After 5 it's a crap shoot, unless it's the weekend. You can pretty much always find spots on Saturday and Sunday.

 

I should also mention that I run those hours for another reason. I am very fond of my dispatcher. I like to run on his schedule. Not only am I getting the benefits of lighter traffic and an abundance of parking, but I have the added benefit of knowing that my loads are coming from him. All of the dispatchers at Millis do a great job. But my relationship with Opie is a good one, and I like the way he runs me. I try to put myself in a position to delivered and ready for a new load while he's on duty. No matter who your dispatcher is, you'll feel the same way. You will naturally develop a level of comfort with them. Other drivers at Millis that DON'T have Opie feel the exact same way about their dispatcher as I do about mine. It's a very symbiotic relationship. No matter who you get, always always ALWAYS make sure you are taking care of them. Don't be difficult, don't turn down loads, be punctual. If something happens that messes up your schedule, communicate with them immediately. Things will happen out here that can't be helped and delay you. It's life, stuff happens. They understand that and they'll work with you. Just make sure you communicate with them immediately.

 

No, you don't have to have your permit before you enroll. You will need to get it before you go to school though. And your DOT physical has a maximum length of 2 years. I don't know how other companies work, but with Millis you'll only have to cover your first exam. They take care of any following DOT exams as long as you remain employed. Mine is only good for one year, so I'll have to get another one in June.

 

Always I can't overstate it enough, this is a fantastic place to work. Keep us posted!