TransAm wasn't too bad!

dkota the time he was out was in school or trainer most compaines dont count that. they want you to hit the ground running before you go home the first time it sucks but what can yea do
good luck

 

I put in fot home time as soon as I got my truck. Not getting to go home for 2 months sucks and they shouldn't be giving a hard time about nothing!!!! He's earned it and deserves it.
Thumper, was rereading thru some of these posts and wonder, did You ever become a trainer? Talked with another L/O today as we were going thru Ks on 70, and he is quitting T/A. Tired of not making any money. Going back to Werner where he started. Was a trainer there, a trainer here, and guess he's going back to training there. Says he at least made money.

 

CajunTexMex, I just can't top your story and am #### glad of it. Never want to be that cold. When you talk about having your girl with you, all that was running thru my brain was that line about the room smelling of sex and candy. Can't remember who does that song.
Thumper- -what an elegant solution. Will have to remember that if it ever happens to me. Getting ready to go to Ga. tho so heres hoping they ain't cold. Got a 3 drop load. !st place has no directions so hope the GPS is good. Thought gas up in the north was supposed to have additives already in it. Was it being to cold even for that?

 

Just don't look in your mirror the first time you pull a trailer leaving from the yard. Tires get mighty close to the New Jersey barriers they have up. They have a different guy down there now doing orientation than when Thumper and I went thru there. Went down there from Olathe. Seems cool and is at least interesting to listen to.
Motel is going to SUCK!!!!! Am sure I've stayed in worse but can't remember. Will have to walk every where you go once the bus drops you off but there are several resturants within walking distance. DON'T BELIEVE THE CABBIE IF YOU ASK IF A WALMART IS CLOSE. IT AIN'T UNLESS YOU CONSIDER 2 MILES CLOSE.
If your into working out, there is a gym behind the motel that supposedly you can use. Also a brand new library if your in to that

 

D'Kota, how do I go about doing a friends network?

 

Thanks everyone for the replys about rockwall. I will be going there as a CDL student grad. I havent been in a truck in about a month. Panhandle and Thumper: Did you guys go there as students or experianced drivers. If you went as students did they send anyone home because of a road test. In school we pulled a 48ft trailer. Transam has 53ft trailers. Im nervous about bumping a curb with the 53ft trailer. Is there room to make wide turns on the road test route.

 

SCnewtrucker, don't worry bout the road test. Mine lasted about a mile or so and they'll take you on an easy rte. They mostly just want to see if you have some clue as to what your doing. Think all the roads we were on were 4lane so they'll be no problem with turning. It will be up to your trainer to actually give you the training needed.
Trainers-you'll fill out a piece of paper on what kind of trainer you want. Hope you get one with experience and that is good about imparting his knowledge. Request one one that has at least a years experience and hope they honor it. For some reason, T/A thinks that someone with 90 days is experienced and they really aren't. Mine had 6 months and I was only his 2nd student. Kicked his 1st one out. He hasn't had another since me. Hehe-was I that bad? READ THE POLICY MANUAL AND KNOW THE PAYSECTION FWD AND BACKWORDS!!!! They WILL use that to take pay away from you. Know that your FM will know it. Ask questions of your trainer!!!! Thats what he's there for. Ask him to let you do everything from backing to the Qualcomm. If you don't understand something ASK!!!! You'll find your Qualcom calls to be confusing at first. Don't worry about it, it will come to you with time. Look in your packet for a little 4x6 or so laminated card that has all the calls you'll need and use the most. Its a life saver. Wish i hadn't left mine in the other truck when I swapped.
Learn to log and hope that your trainer is good at it and does it right. T/A will NOT give much of a class on it and what they do give will be fast and furious. Keep samples handy to look back on.
Practice backing, backing, and more backing!!! When ever your stopped and have down time, practice!!!! Back into one spot, pull out and do another. Leave the CB off while doing it so that you won't here the cat calls from other truckers and if you do have it on, don't let them get you frustrated. We all have our bad days and I don't care how experienced you are. Get and look all the time. Would rather get out 25 times to look than back into somebody. Most truckers will understand and be patient with you. The ones that aren't, tough!!!
If you look in the upper right hand corner of the posters, and if they've filled it out, you can tell how much experience they have. Thumper is an experienced trucker.
Hope I've helped out and will try to continue to do so. If I wasn't such a loner, think I would make a good trainer. Have the patience, just lacking on the social skills.
Oh yea- - pack as light as you can. You'll have to move your stuff each night to be able to sleep. Good luck with your training . Hope this has helped and will try to answer any other question you might have.

 

Panhandleflash, thanks for the info !!!

 

No ive thought about it a few times just found out today my dispatcher quit so will have to see how it goes with some new guy

 

Panhandler

I clicked on my name D'Kota and my statistics came up then I went to friends and added you as a friend.I guess it worked your listed on my friend list. I'm no computer genius.