Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

That was probably Johnboy passing you BB.

 

Hang in there. I was in orientation with Tim. He was rather quiet and unsure. Give it a couple more students before call in it quits.

E.L.

 

Ditto that

 

Hope that screech doesn't get too bad. That high whine will drive you up a wall at the least and end with a bang at the worst.

 

The Pre-Trip is just like a Pre-Flight. As for the rest it is too difficult to get a set list. For my trip plan I use my GPS and look at faster time or shorter route then also consult my map. Sometimes I get get there faster or shorter by using my map or knowing the previous route. The time of the year could also dictate my route. I was just telling BB the other day I had to go out of route a few extra miles once as if I didn't I wouldn't have made my 2nd pickup. (Not enough time the night before to make it from point A to point B but no pull over point for a 10, so I had to at least start the run going down a highway route for a place for a 10.)

A lot of this industry comes by experience.

 

I think what he was after was reminders of all the things he should check, remember, no matter how basic. Even pilots with thousands of hours go down a checklist every time

 

My grandfather was a military pilot for 25 or 30 years. He certainly had a list to follow. Similarly, before we do our route checking, verifying bols etc we already have a checklist. It is just so routine that after about a month on the road we have it memorized. It is just that-routine. You don't need a checklist to tell you to shower, or fuel, or whatever. It just gets done.

 

John, you do a great job, you should see how the industry has changed, this has become a job to new drivers, an easy way to make money. they aren't prepared for the realities of life over the road. you have no get away, and you hold a lot of responsibility. somehow, that is not being made clear to people who are looking to get into this. unfortunately, its not for everyone, and as a trainer you will see that first hand more often than others.

 

Psycoblue, I couldn't have said it better. Trucking is a lifestyle not a job. Unfortunately these new drivers don't see that.