Bulkmatic, as it happens...

Week 2 of training in the books and the most important thing I have to report is that my brain has officially turned to mush. Started Monday morning with a fresh 70 and finished up this evening with an hour and 52 minutes left on it. It's been a long ### week. In all honesty today was pretty much a waste for me, I started out so-so and went down hill from there fast. A weekend off to regroup and let some stuff sink in and also unwind a bit will be helpful.... I hope.

All Calcium this week and we trans-loaded all 15 plus 1 Dextrose. I have a fairly good understanding of the loading and the unloading in general terms. Learned how to dynamite after incorrectly starting the unload on the Dextrose. Had to switch trucks due to mechanical problems and the temp truck we were in had a suspension load gauge that was about as accommodating as my ex-wife so I got an unexpected course on loading trailers by sound (pounding on side with a rubber mallet) for the last 2 days.

The paperwork procedures and Qualcomm crap is fairly down pat but next week I get to have a scanner thrown in the mix also.... Oh, the joy.

This was first week with raised pay scale. It doesn't matter to me yet because during training I get paid the same every day I work no matter if it's 14 minutes or 14 hours but I did some real quick math and I think it's about a 7% raise when all is said and done.

Not sure what next week will bring, but hopefully I will be able to pull things together into more of a cohesive thought process as opposed to being crystal clear on something at 10am and totally lost on the same thing at 10:01, and also start to build up more of an ear for what is happening, right now that's one of the hardest thing for me. While I don't see myself ever being as fast as some of the guys I see there I an confident I can learn the job well enough to at least be proficient at it and earn a decent living.

No complaints as of yet about the company overall. Nothing is ever 100% as you want it but seems like I could have picked a lot worse. Trainer is a great guy, knows the job inside out and always willing to take the time to explain and show you anything, even when I plugged up the bottom air line 12 and a half hours into a 15 hour day he didn't rush thru what we had to do or just push me out of the way and do it himself to get it done and home faster.

As usual, here's one to help you pass a few miles this weekend @Steelersjunkie

 

After a weekend off to decompress and let it sink in a little things this week, thus far, have been making much more sense overall. On the other hand yesterday and today were pretty easy paced days. Tomorrow we get thrown to the wolves again so I'll have to wait and see...

First adventure into flour last night/this morning. What a pain in the ### that can be. Took forever to load from railcar, screen kept plugging up every few minutes then had to stop and disconnect hose and clear screen and restart again.

Today was the first day I felt I had a decent handle on things from start to finish with the loads we we did. Not to sit here and say I know what the hell I'm doing but I'm feeling like my brain at least understands what is going on and I'm getting a little more comfortable/confident with hooking up. unloading, making adjustments while doing so and the like.

I do have to say that in my short career in trucking I have been lucky enough to draw 2 really great trainers. My trainer at Millis was top shelf in every way (we still talk almost every day) and my trainer here is right on par. Always teaching, always ready and willing to take the time to stop and explain in detail what is happening and why (even 13 hours into our day he still stops and takes how ever long is needed is get me on the right page) and also a really nice guy to boot, we get along great, which is always a plus.

One clarification of information screwed up from orientation: I was told that we get $20 a month to wash truck. Found out today we are allowed to get our truck washed at any Blue Beacon twice a month (they have an account) and we get paid $20 an hour for that time, so if you sit in line and it takes an hour to get thru you get 20 bucks. If you're in and out in 15 min you get 5 bucks.

 

First off, to any that might read this in or that have been in the military... Thank you for your service, it does not go unnoticed, at least by me.

If things go to plan one more week of training left before I get kicked out of the nest. Other then the 1 flour load we have been on calcium all week and will be again at least next Tuesday if not longer. They are long ### days (almost 15 hours today) which doesn't bother me but even though I know I can't get it/see it all during training I was hoping to get a slightly more rounded feel for all the different materials we deal with. Apparently there is a boatload of Calcium business out there right now, and it probably isn't helping my overall training that my yard is currently down 4 drivers for various reasons.

No real complaints other then that.

Fairly confident with loading and unloading in terms of basic starting points for valve settings and whatnot for what we have been doing but still having a hell of a time figuring out what is going on in the trailer by sound changes.

I do get to try and learn how to load plastic tomorrow, we have to go in to load a couple trailers that other driver's are going to be taking off with after then will be off until Tuesday morning.

@Steelersjunkie

 

Well here's a first. Letter in the mail today that basically said unless you take the time to opt out you are automatically enrolled in the company 401K starting at 4% of gross and it will increase by 1% a year for 2 years when you reach 6% then remain there. It's always been the opposite, you have to take the time to enroll. A company that wants you to save some money for retirement??... I'm not sure I can wrap my head around that one.

Loaded our 2 trailers this morning. A totally different deal then I'm use to since it's always been using the blower to pressurize a railcar and this was reverse, using it to create vacuum and pull material from the railcar. Took a boatload of notes again and hopefully will be able to remember from them and pictures I took of the set up what I need to do once I'm on my own since I don't think we'll get anymore of this particular one before my training wraps up.

Anyway, pretty boring to read as of late, the only 2 things I've learned for sure is that I am much weaker then I thought I was and that the difference between being out in a Pete all day vs a Mack is about the same as the difference between a a great meal and a night of steamy sex with a hot woman vs getting a root canal without Novocaine. I hope to hell my trainers Pete is done in the shop Tuesday before this F'in Mack destroys us both.