Good Knight My Young Squire

Well its official, I Think.. I will be attending the Squire Training program this coming Monday. I was supposed to be there this last Monday but as They only take 2 grads at a time, there were not enough trainers. My instructor let me know in advance and didn't give me a song and dance and leave me hanging. So, unless things change, I will be off on my new adventure.

The reason for this information is I thought it would be interesting to post my dealings starting from an unsignifigant pond dwelling 4 wheeler to an aspiring Squire studying under the tutelege of an over the road war seasoned wizard who will mold me into daunting Red Knight :smt065 that will conquer the evil trucking empire with a sharp blow to the head with a force unseen since Jean Luc Picard destroyed the Borg with...........

Uhhh....oops. Got a bit carried away

Anyway, I have found it interesting reading following students into their orientation and into the first month or so of driving and then never hear from again.

I will find it even more interesting however as I input my experience from day one of orientation with my hope of actually being employed by a company I have been wanting to drive for since my first day of truck driving school.

Will I still have the golden vision of Knight or will I fall under the disillusioned category as other new drivers have after a short time?

Will I post useless rants about how unfair I am being treated because I expect trucking to be easy peasy and will have absolutely no labor or work involved?

Will I turn down loads and and spend more time at home or taking scenic routes amusing myself with all the splendors of America's landscape and then blaming the company because I am starving and not making any money?

Will I suck it up and realize that this probably will not be the easiest thing I have ever done but listen, learn and do the best I possibly can to earn a living at something I hope I will enjoy very much?

Who knows....Good luck to me and carry on my wayward son..

Have a great day all. See ya soon

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If I were a mouse I would either be looking for cheese or pointing to things on your computer screen.

 

Cut & paste my friend...Cut & Paste....Whooohooooo.

 

Follow Up.

I made it to my orientation and was very pleased with the entire experience.
I arrived with my fellow student from Las Vegas with an open mind and a lot questions. Now I have never been a truck driver and this will my introduction into the world of trucking. However, the student I arrived there with had driven for 7 years in the early 90's and had gotten out of the industry for his own personal reasons.

That being said, we decided to rent a car and drive to Ontario instead of the usual Greyhound from hell method. So I was thinking this would be a good traveling partner because I would have questions about the industry that he would have prior knowledge.
(I knew this because our recruiter put me in touch with him the week before we were to attend.)

Now the things he told me about his experiences from the past was not very encouraging. But again...we had an open mind with the hopes this would be a positive adventure since we are both in need of a job.

We were both pleasantly surprised when upon the arrival of our motel, we had separate rooms and also as we both were nasty second hand smoke generating scum of the earth smokers, they actually had smoking and non-smoking rooms. WOW, in California no less....Bonus. Things are off to a good start.

Next day we go to orientation via our DOT physical and drug testing stop on the way. Nice to get the pleasantries out of the way first thing.

We arrive at orientation no worse for wear and received what was to become a mountain of paperwork. Squire/Knight is very big on safety and company policy. No worries..there equipment, their company, No worries.

Myself and my cohort were very impressed through our week of orientation. Our recruiter - DM - Dispatcher was a busy boy all week. While going through the usual orientation he was also keeping track of current Squire Trainers with Students as well as soloing squires drivers out on the road from their 1st week to their second month. He was excited and eager to show us what the new soloing drivers were averaging with miles every week.

Basically in a nutshell we are both very impressed. My partner in crime got on the truck with his trainer Friday and headed off. Oh yeah..his truck was shiny and brand new with the new truck smell lingering in the cab.

My trainer and truck will be ready Tuesday as the student that is currently occupying it is completing his load and testing out for his 90 days as a solo driver for Squire.

More to follow.....
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Just the facts mam...

I see a lot of questions about Squire and many many knowledagable answers. Hope this will help.

Squire is the training division of Knight Transportation. It was established in 2008.

Squire hires recent graduates from accredited trucking schools who have a current CDL. They only take the top students who qualify and will take 2 students at a time. ( This is how it is in Ontario, can't say about the Kansas City or Indianapolis ).

1 week in orientation. Paperwork, company Policy information, safety, ect...

Will train for four to six weeks with a trainer. Four weeks is minimum. Equipment is new and will either be a Volvo, Pete or International. ( Internationals are brand new complete with that "new car smell" Yummy ) You will earn $400.00 per week as a trainee.

Once you complete your training, you will go drive under the Squire name hauling Knight freight as a solo driver.

Trips 0-200 Trips 200-300 Trips 300-500 Trips 500+
Starting Rate 0.36 0.33 0.29 0.27
Level 2 0.37 0.34 0.30 0.28
Level 3 0.38 0.35 0.31 0.29

The following is a breakdown of how we will pay our trainees once they become solo drivers. We use a sliding pay scale. The drivers will have an opportunity to get to level 2 after 30 days. They will have to meet specific performance requirements to make this pay level. The driver will then have the opportunity to reach the level 3 pay scale 30 days after qualifying for level 2.

After 90 days as a Squire driver, you will then become a Knight Transportation driver.

As a solo driver for Squire you can drive regional or drive the 48 States.

Most Squire drivers who have been soloing for as little as 30 days are averaging a minimum of 2200 per week. Not the best but remember these are brand new drivers out on their own. A few Squire drivers were not getting that many miles, not because of lack of freight, but from themselves getting comfortable as a new driver. ( I actually viewed these records ). No B.S....

If you are not concerned about safety and have a cowboy attitude, don't bother contacting them. I just sayin.....

The driver manager does not B.S. He is genuinely excited about this program and all of the students that have attended. The students have all good things about Squire and are as equally excited. They also keep in contact with each other on a daily or weekly basis.

Yes...The owners of Knight used to work for Swift and that is were the similarity ends.

Knight/Squire is a debt free company. Hmm...they must be doing something right.

I hope this answers some questions.......


Thank you for shopping and come again soon