Ask A May Trainer

go slow... mays policy is chain in slick conditions, and if its just too much, stop the truck, they cant make you do anything if you feel like its not safe

 

Wow.I.could have picked your brain in person lol

 

The rest of what I posted are I-84 from cabbage hill and West towards Portland.
The pic of my old May truck covered with snow is from the dead man pass rest area atop cabbage.

 

Generally if the road isn't closed due to blizzard conditions you can lumber along slow with chains on in snow, it's when things get covered with severe ice that it's time to get off the road.
Keeping up on weather conditions before you get into it is your best bet, knowing what you're getting into before you get into it is part of the job like trip planning your route.

 

I was out of a truck for a month after school, no problem passing the May course.
It's pretty basic and they don't expect new grads to be seasoned drivers, don't worry to much about shifting you won't have to split gears on the 13 speed just drive it like a 9 and double clutching is fine.
As long as you can find a gear and keep the truck/trailer between the lines on the road you'll be fine.
Backing up get out and look as many times as you need to, all they really care about is that you can do the job safely and without banging up the equipment.
They know you'll be out with a trainer for a few weeks where you'll learn a lot more than you did in school before you tackle the job on your own.

 

no load is worth your life no matter what they say. If you don't feel comfortable don't drive. Simple.

 

Here's a question for the Western-11 folks -- Which truck stops do May or May trainers recommend you completely avoid? I read about some places to stay away from in the South, but not too much about the West.

 

Me personally only stop at loves , flying j/pilot and TA and ive havent yet encouter any problems . One time with my trainer we stoped for a bathroom brake at a mom n pops truck stop and ohhh my lordie there was this lot lizzerd knocking on the truck doors tryna make money a group of guys n girls in one corner all kinds of people that look like they where on one and my trainer said be carfull at mom n pop shops cuz they dont have security n you get drug dealers nasty lot lizerds knocking down your door so after that encounter i dont stop if its not one of the stops i mentioned

 

I was W-11 and pretty much avoided all truck stops except to fuel and shower preferring to sleep in rest stops or anyplace I could find to park that was quiet.
Of course in LA and SoCal in general they would designate places to park sometimes due to high crime areas.

 

I don't ever see any kind of security at truck stops, no matter what brand.
And I also use them just for fuel and bathroom breaks whenever possible.
Rest areas are quieter and often have shade!