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

Jrdude5 · Jun 29, 2016

chralb said: ↑

Thank you RC and I'm really sorry to hear about your mom. Believe me, I can relate completely.

In my first year with WS I lost my dad while stuck in a motel in Missoula, MT while my truck was in the shop having major work done for it's annual. That was Sunday morning October 12 2011. That left my mom alone for the first time in 58 years. After all that, I called her almost everyday to see how she was. On May 5 2012 while at our shop in La Mirada, CA I was getting ready to haul a load to MT. I called her and instantly knew something was very wrong as I could hear the pain in her voice. She told me she hurt her back (her DOC said pulled muscles) and I told her I'd get back to NJ ASAP. Dispatch gave that MT load to another and set me up to get back. I got there Friday MAY 10 at midnight. Long story short it turned out to be a compression fracture in her L1 and 2 herniated discs. I knew right then I'd have to be with her for months as it healed. After 6 months it was beginning to heal but like your mom, she had many other issues as well and her health began declining quickly. Turned out to be terminal breast cancer that nothing could done for. An almost 4 year battle she finally lost May 2nd. Hence the 4 year gap in my driving after just 2 years.

Lot's of those following my thread wondered if I'd ever post again. I finally did to summarize everything.

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/posts/2916403/

I'm so very grateful Abilene is giving me a shot to get back to work now.
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Sorry to hear about your mom and dad I know that was a rough 4+ years glad to see you getting back out.

Finfn1372 · Jun 29, 2016

EU its very possible I go home every 3 weeks and put my hometime in for Thursday,and never miss a beat.
Matter of fact got unloaded this morning,and dispatch told me to go on home,hey don't have to tell me twice.

RebelChick · Jun 29, 2016

ExtremeUnction said: ↑

Here's a question for you AMF folks:

I live in the Richmond area. I'm divorced, single, and my kids live with their mom. They live 2.5 hours away. Currently, I see my kids once every three weeks, on the weekend.

I already don't see my kids as often as I like, but once every three weeks is all I can afford for gas there and back (twice) and upkeep, plus taking the days off work to see them. (So I'm paying extra to see 'em and keep 'em and also taking a hit on the ol' paycheck because I ain't working those days.) I would love to do OTR, but I'm not willing to take a job that would have me seeing my kids less often than I'm already seeing them.

I've heard really good things about Abilene. Do you fine folks think it would be possible to drive OTR for them and get Friday-Sunday off every three weeks? I feel like that's not asking a whole lot, but I just got my CDL on Monday so I know almost nothing about the trucking industry. Maybe I'm asking for the moon and stars and I just don't know it. I'll happily drive wherever the hell they want and haul whatever they want those other 18 days, if I could just get those three days off every three weeks.

Thanks.
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I don't think there would be an issue. And if you live in Richmond and leave a vehicle at the yard, plenty of chances to get back for a night at home or maybe even a reset or two in between the weekends when you go see your kids. Now when you're with your trainer, you might have to sacrifice seeing them a time or two, but for the greater good, it would be worth it in my book.

Finfn1372 · Jun 29, 2016

Rc sorry to hear about your mom,mine has dementia so I know how hard it can be.

5speed · Jun 29, 2016

Prayers for everyone's family. Also prayers for all my friends and family who lost everything in the wv floods.

Sitting in Petersburg waiting on a load to Groveport. Got my truck serviced yesterday. Didn't have to wait on it all day like we thought. Just 6 hours.

ExtremeUnction · Jun 29, 2016

Thanks to the folks who replied. I called AMF today and talked to Rusty and he said it was absolutely possible to get a full weekend off every three weeks.

My next question: He said that starting pay for Stage 1 training was $71/day. Will that be 7 days a week? How does that work? Seems a little low, and would definitely be a cut in pay vs. what I'm making now at my non-trucking job even if it was 7 days a week. How long does that stage usually last?

chralb · Jun 29, 2016

Just guessing here but I imagine as is says on their site,

http://www.abilenemotor.com/drive-the-green-2/training/

It "varies" and will depend on the individual student's road test performance during orientation and how the trainer feels about letting folks go solo. I don't know if they have a minimum amount of time folks have to do. Best thing is to ask them directly.

It was pretty much the same at WS when I started right out of CDL school. They had a 10 day orientation for new grads and you either passed or failed. They didn't send you out with a trainer for X number of weeks. However, if you showed improvement while there they would keep working with you. I went there with 3 other grads. I finished it in 7 days and was issued a truck. They spent an extra two weeks or more getting better at their skills. (Don't know their outcome)

I have 2 years OTR experience with WS but haven't driven in 4 years so I'll be part of the "refresher" training. I have no idea how long I'll be with a trainer until they feel I'm good to go. Whatever they say is the way it will be.

JohnBoy · Jun 29, 2016

ExtremeUnction said: ↑

Thanks to the folks who replied. I called AMF today and talked to Rusty and he said it was absolutely possible to get a full weekend off every three weeks.

My next question: He said that starting pay for Stage 1 training was $71/day. Will that be 7 days a week? How does that work? Seems a little low, and would definitely be a cut in pay vs. what I'm making now at my non-trucking job even if it was 7 days a week. How long does that stage usually last?
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Here's the training breakdown. There are 3 stages. Graduating from each stage is dependent on your learning and input from your trainer. Each stage is 1-3 weeks each. Stage 1 is $75 per day, stage 2 is $85 dollars per day, and stage 3 is $100 per day. There are new drivers on the blog that have been sent solo after 3 weeks, there are others, like my last trainee that took 2.5 months. I won't set you loose just because of your financial situation, just like I won't keep you one day longer then you need.

I will tell you this, you want proper training? Take care of your finances to allow for the worst case scenario, if it's shorter, it's a win for you. Our trainers, including myself, will do our damndest to get you out solo. But you must understand, when I cut you loose, what ever you do, is a direct reflection on me. And to be real honest, I need to look good, so you will get the right training.

My last trainee is a member of this blog, so is his wife. They both will chime in and give you whatever info you might need. I too will do the same. Just ask.

JohnBoy · Jun 29, 2016

chralb said: ↑

Just guessing here but I imagine as is says on their site,

http://www.abilenemotor.com/drive-the-green-2/training/

It "varies" and will depend on the individual student's road test performance during orientation and how the trainer feels about letting folks go solo. I don't know if they have a minimum amount of time folks have to do. Best thing is to ask them directly.

It was pretty much the same at WS when I started right out of CDL school. They had a 10 day orientation for new grads and you either passed or failed. They didn't send you out with a trainer for X number of weeks. However, if you showed improvement while there they would keep working with you. I went there with 3 other grads. I finished it in 7 days and was issued a truck. They spent an extra two weeks or more getting better at their skills. (Don't know their outcome)

I have 2 years OTR experience with WS but haven't driven in 4 years so I'll be part of the "refresher" training. I have no idea how long I'll be with a trainer until they feel I'm good to go. Whatever they say is the way it will be.
Click to expand...

If you are a refresher, the driving part is the easy part. As a trainer, someone like yourself will be handled differently. My job would be to see how you drive, back and handle the truck. The biggest job for me with a refresher is teaching them policies and procedures, and the Qualcomm. That should amount to a round trip to the west coast, about a week.

JohnBoy · Jun 29, 2016

Got empty in Antioch Ca this morning. Drive over to the J in Lodi, got fuel, cleaned out my trailer, which consisted of pulling about 100 nails, and had to do a minor repair on my truck, which I did myself. Grabbed a shower then came out to the truck to find a deadhead move down to San Bernardino. On my way down my reload came across, pick up a loaded trailer there and bring it to Staunton Va for Tuesday, except I have hometime next Wednesday so I'll be dropping the load in Wytheville Sunday night. Right now I'm taking my 10 here at the Loves in Tehachapi.

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