Starting out with Quality Carrier's

Thats the terminal I will Be working out of 1Laidback. as of the week I talked to them they were still looking for a couple. If I were you and know where the terminal is go by and talk to terminal manager and see. You will have to do an online app.
I have just gotten home from Orientation and tank training and will post more on that when I get the chance maybe tomorrow. All is well in my world and I think I have made a good choice in companies. As RickG has stated they are very strict on logs and a few of there polices. We spent lots of time just on logs. Oh and as far as my experience goes never pulled tank before and it was a cool week, But I can now say Chemical suits...........SUCK SUCK SUCK. LOL But are good at what there made to do. Just gotta figure out how to install a/c. More later all i am out.

 

OK I have a little time and hear is a brief description of how the week went. I left home Sunday afternoon around 5, arrived at motel around 8:30. Checked in and got settled. Was nice that they don't give you a roommate.

Monday day 1: drove over to training center it is about 5 min from Hotel. Met the other guys and Instructor. Day one consisted of Introductions followed by a run down of company polices and who to call with problems. After lunch we tried on Chem suits for proper size and had them ordered and started discussing logs and Haz-mat. Drivers who were not given road test at terminals were given road test while everyone else had a nice little break. We were also told that instead of a five day week it was changed to a 4, 10 hour days.

Tuesday day 2: A Little more of day 1 mixed with alot of log stuff and locating 14 hour violations. Seems that is where most of there violations have been. After lunch we received our chem. suits that were fed-ex'ed in. We were also fitted for our respirators. That wasn't so bad till the smoke thing that was used had to be used with out respirator to show us it was a real irritant and we were not being lied to. That is a D.O.T. reg that has to be done. Wasn't to bad just coughed like hell for a min. Went back to log stuff and got some sheets for home work to find 14 hour rule violations on.

Wed. day 3: We worked on log stuff and more Haz-mat stuff up to lunch. After lunch we went to the trailer mock up in classroom and went over all the valves and vents and connections on the trailer and how and when to inspect them. Discussed safety when airing a load off and when pumping one off, then the fun began. We put our nice new chem-suits on just as we would for a load of corrosive material. We then went outside to a truck and trailer used for training. It was an old Mack with a 3 compartment trailer. We used 2 compartments and pumped compartment full of water to another compartment then aired it back to prior compartment. between each we had to unhook and re-hook and vent or close hatches just as we would on the job. we each did both 2 times. Thankfully there were only 3 of us in class. It wasn't bad when we started sort of overcast then a slight rain shower. after the rain it got hot and humid, I discovered then I really dislike the suit. It is one hot mother. That was the end of day 3. (also they had a small fridge in the classroom with bottled water and you could and were encouraged to take a couple with you outside. You could get water or coffee anytime thru out the day on any day.)

Went to room and took a nice cool shower ate and studied up for final test.

Thursday day 4: Arrived at class and we discussed all the things we had covered in class. We did a mock call to safety to see what it was like to report a spill and an accident so we would know what to expect if we ever had to do it and what info we needed. They knew it wasn't real before we called as all new classes do it on the last day and were told we would be calling.After lunch we filled out some final paper work and took our test. We all passed. All in all it was a very good and very informative week.

If anyone wants to know you will get a breakfast voucher for breakfast at Hotel. It is a buffet and is alright not great. Lunch and dinner are on you. On Tuesday you get a com-data check for $200 and get another one on Thursday for $200 more so a total of 400 for the 4 days. The website has not been updated to reflect this as they just started doing it a few weeks ago. I know my trainer sent there web guys a e-mail asking that it be updated. I will post more on how my training goes once I am out with my trainer and keep everyone updated as I go.
Hope this helps with anyone thinking about going to work for them. I think I made a good choice, and am looking forward to getting on the road now. well enough for now, I'm out. Hicksie

 

Update..... Left Monday morning to meet up with my trainer. We met at the terminal and chated for a little bit and off we went. Our 1st load was cooking oil, Chattanooga to Augusta Ga. He drove down to the truck stop and got coffee and we switched drivers. I drove on down to Augusta and we were unloaded in about an hour. All we did was hook hose and open valves they pump. Got that off at 7 tue morn as it loaded around 10:30. back to Tank wash Chatt. to drop trailer. At the terminal I was given my temp home to sleep in when we were there. Trainer slept in his truck I slept in motel Hicksie.(spare truck)none of the trucks are double bunks.

Tue. Night we got a preloaded trailer going back to same place. So same deal back empty. Wed morn. Wed night got a preloaded trailer going to Concord NC.(cooking Oil) Del it early thur. morning. and back empty. When we got to terminal we were told we would get a preloaded trailer going to knoxville and when we got back Fri. we were done till Sun. night. Another cooking oil.

Picked up trailer around 3 and made del. point at 5. to find out a line was down and the guy who handled unloading was also maint. man. Got Back to terminal around 11 and did a little paper work and headed home. They have longer loads but the trainer I have is needing to stay close to home. I will do a full week of training next week and get a couple chemical loads in and will be getting my own truck at the end of the week. I hope. All in all It was a good week and not at all what I expected. As far as pay it is %. as far as miles go in the four loads we did it was around 2400 including the deadhead miles. I cant tell you what i would have made on it due to I am getting training pay. But rest assured I will know when I start getting load pay. From all the drivers I have talked to they all seem happy and happy with what they are making. well That is all for now and I will post more as my training week continues next week. Till then Im out.
Hicksie