Attended 1 day of orientation, had to leave, scared of DAC negative now.

" leaving an orientation is kind of a bonehead play"

I know but I had no choice. Again, being new there is a lot of things that I've learned to ask up front that I never thought of. They have a no pet policy at all, that just doesn't work for my situation right now, its really the only thing that is a must have for me. I have set up orientation with another company that allows pets and I will be able to bring him along (charge me weekly for it). Down the road in like 6 months or a year I'm not going to be in the same situation and won't be the sole source of his care so it will be a different ball game. I have called the companies driver devolopment I left the orientation at and am going to make sure I'm leaving on good terms and leaving the door open in case I want to drive for them in the future. I didn't consider myself 'quitting' the company since I never even was officially hired in the first place.

 

Oh yea, two other policies weren't the best, firstly you couldn't bring a non-family member on board with you on a trip no exceptions. The company I am going with now is ok with non-family members no problem (with authorization of course). And I couldn't understand that they had some kind of 'sitting duck' policy in that you were immediately dismissed if you stopped on the side of the road, off ramps and even residential streets you have to be in a parking spot. I asked them what if you are getting fatigued, get sick or whatever and simply just have to pull over, park as safe and legally as possible and rest. They said doesn't matter. Did not seem that much safety oriented to me by forcing you to drive to a parking spot and dismissing you even if you were legally parked on a side street or something. I know I'm new and I expect to not get the golden treatment, but I don't feel I just have to agree to any randoms companies policys when there are other choices out there.

 

and another one I remember, they don't allow anyone to ride with you immediately after mentor training, like a month or so I would have to go out alone. I have a friend who is willing to come along and be another set of eyes and ears and spot me when I back. The company that I'm going with now immediately lets someone ride along with me and agreed that I have the right idea and encouraged my thinking.

The old Qualcomm system wasn't that big of a deal, but talking with drivers, its takes more time than the new system. Kinda like a rotary phone to a smart phone type of thing as one driver put it, lol.

So as you can see, it was more than just one policy type problem and they aren't business wide since I've found a company that has everything I want and need and they can expect BIG miles from me as I'm never going to need home time cause well, I have nothing to go home for!

 

Keeping names out of it. Things posted on the Internet can sometimes come back to haunt nowadays. If there is one thing I've already learned about trucking its covering yourself at all times.

 

Not scared just safety concious and having some extra eyes would be nice in my first solo driving is not a bad thing. More than one company allowed pax right after training so where an I asking too much. Also do you expect my rider to have no money to eat. Did by 6 post you already know i have no money to feed my dog? Do you know if I don't backpack and don't know how to carry sustenance without civilization for periods of time? Who said I have to take a greyhound bus to get anywhere and where did I say I'm a poor broke chump? I might be new but I wasn't born yesterday bud. Thanks for the advice.

Btw you could've answered your own question about greyhound with a simple search. Tough I know. Now I know why I don't go on forums because of the keyboard super stars. and talk about fancy boy, can't handle a little smell or cig smoke, bwhahaha man up son.

For those of you that gave helpful advice thanks. Out to drive later.