BTC Memphis, TN orientation and trainer experience blog.....

BTC seems to be very family oriented. They just sent everyone home after the Trainers got done with their meeting today. Good news. The company will purchase 50 new 2008 freightliners this year. They won't get rid of their 2005s, which are the oldest in the fleet (my trainer is keeping his 07). No automatics yet. That may change in 2009.

The owner actually didn't want to grow the company at all. But some of his crew convinced him otherwise. He is happy with the progress. The amount of students that are co drivers went from 25% to 41%. So the student program is working really well. And they are driving "BTC's way" i.e. securing properly, getting decent fuel milege, reduction in DOT incidences, etc. Right now over 450 trucks and the owner does NOT want to be a TMC. He wants no more than 800 or so so that he can remain a family oriented company. Well, each time he said he didn't plan on growing the company...............

BTC should be getting back the prepass if company-wide we can keep the DOT infractions score below 75 or something like that. EZ-Pass will come sometime next year.

Overall, freight is good, incidences are down, maintenance is also down. You can 2800/week and even 3000 if you want. You will be home just about every weekend unless you want to run over the weekend. Breakdown pay is $150/day after 24 hours EXCLUDING weekends.

I unfortunately didn't get paid the $175/day (3 days) the trainers did for taking time out of their training and listen to execs. I still got my measly $350/week. But what a week, eh All that work checking in and out of the hotel. Only for me to have to check back into another hotel while my trainer goes home for the weekend. Hopefully he gets loaded tomorrow. Either way, we won't be leaving out Sunday evening. It will be Monday mid-day. He is really big about not working Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, or Christmas weekends. He specifically clears it with his dispatcher not to have to deliver on monday these weekends.

Obviously during the winter months, expect shorter miles. But if you don't mind running, then you can still get 23-2600 miles.

Trainer gift: 70+ piece craftsman toolkit w/pouch. Every Trainer meeting it is something different. Normally it is a gift they can keep. This one was geared for the truck. Looking forward to my truck next Wed.

 

New Trainee rule. 4 hrs/week backing practice. I'm exempt. It's somewhat good for the trainee. But good luck squeezing 4 dedicated hours to backing, and staying legal trying to manage pickup and delivery of freight at the same time.

 

Plane? I thought they only paid for the bus ticket and cab fare. Or mileage if you drove. Wasn't aware that BTC would fly you over and pay for it.

Anyway, you won't see me until tues or wed. My name is Josh.

 

Well, I heard they sent home a few students in a previous class for lack of trucks. But they continue to pay you trainee pay. They also pay you 100. Don't quote me on this, this is what another recent student told me who had to do the same thing.

I returned to the yard on Wed late afternoon. It turns out that my truck was in Birmingham terminal anyway. So I stayed in a hotel wed, and came in Thursday when all the day people are there. Picked up my fuel card, spoke with fleet mgr and my dispatcher. They really had nothing to say. Dispatcher said that the Mon morning delivery is the key (trainer said the same thing); be there when the shipper opens! It can mess up your entire week. Monday morning delivery is the key.

I drove down with another loaded driver Thursday afternoon, and Friday ended up speaking with one of the Vice-Presidents Friday at the Birm, AL 'terminal'. Got my truck. It wasn't trashed, but it needs to be detailed. It looks like it was in an accident. The driver door won't close properly. There is a bend on the frame on driver side. The psgr windshield has an 8" hairline crack. A/C doesn't work (freon probably low). The Birm, AL is just a yard with a daytime trailer house for local dispatching. Everything maintenance and equipment-wise was done at the Memphis terminal. So I will tough it out until then. Got my first load and I finally made it home. I was told by the VP that BTC does a lot of freight near where I live, which is a good thing.


Now I have to find a CB radio, inverter, and a few other accessories to make my life easier. I've been looking around online, but it seems that with shipping, you actually make out alright at a truck stop or walmart. You start eBaying when you want to get cheaper accessories like for your cell phone.

Oh, and I picked up CoPilot #11 Laptop edition (newest one is 11) over at Flying Js. $300 and it comes with a GPS receiver for usb port. AL is 10% sales tax. It would be cheaper for them to ship it directly from alk. I can save about $20 and return one to Flying J.

When I install it, I will let you know how well it works. But just my first day driving (and I had an additional pickup). I definitely saw the usefulness of a GPS unit (or at least some type of mapping software). You keep your print Road Atlas tucked away just in case.

BTC does seem like a fair company to work for. I will obviously miss my weekly bonus this week, but I'm already at 6.8 mpg. Freight is doing very well now so you can get 2800+/wk if you want it. My goal is 2600/wk. Those with kids may say otherwise You only need 2200mi or $3000 in revenue to get the .03 weekly bonus.