Buckeye hauling Maverick Glass

(Original entry date 10/14/11) I have received my invitation to orientation beginning Oct 16 and am commencing my famed bus journey from Columbus, OH to NLR. I am going to try to document the process as I go through NLR and Laurinburg, NC on the path to glass division. I have learned much from reading the writings of Jim the Hut, Sarge, Sewerman and numerous others and hope that my journal will help those who follow me in the future.


10/15/11 Survived the bus trip and arrived at NLR. Nice facility and the room is like an older motel 6 with 2 full beds, 2 work tables and open closets. Adequate. It reminds me of the barracks in the Marine Corps, Funny that my roommate is also a Marine. I was walking the facility grounds earlier and looked over 3 brand new Freightliner Cascadias, they smelled like new cars. It is a nce place that looks well manntained. I'm going to hit the bed early tonight as the overnight bus ride was not especially good for sleeping. Plus we have to be in the orientation classroom ready to roll at 7:00. Early is on time and on time is late is what we've been told. (More Marine Corps color.)

 

First day went well. Basic "Get to know the company and instructors" kind of morning, pizza for lunch and the afternoon spent on computer "paperwork" needed for the company. The only fly in the ointment was my recruiter had told me a deposit slip was all right instead of a voided check for starting direct deposit. It was not! I can have my wife fax it tomorrow so no big loss. After the computer time had 2 hours of map reading followed by the town meeting format with wives/significant others able to call in. My wife did so and has already noted to my oldest son (Marine), "Maverick knows your dad is a Marine, the instructor kept calling him "gunny" during the conference call". He had asked me what my rank was when I retired and I told him Gunnery Sergeant. He said "Gunny"! That was easy to remember and he has called me that since. Most of the other class members now refer to me that way. Truth be known, I am proud of my service and that I am the middle of 3 generations of Marines. My father was in WWII and my son served in Iraq. We started the day with 20, afew of which are former drivers. We also had 4 no-shows. There are 3 others going for glass, one of which is my roommate (another Marine.) Until tomorrow.

 

I saw that - Go Bucks OH...

 

Monday was a busy day. Started with physicals and agility tests with some computer videos thrown in. We finished up the physicals just in time for lunch - Sandwiches - pretty good but the afternoon was so busy with more computer videos and the vice president of safety intro talk (2 1/2 hours) by the time the day was over several of us were starving. The homework has been challenging with trip planning. Something most of us were not familiar with because it hadn't been taught (much) in CDL school. Trying to figure out a 1625 mile route with 20 -25 different highways, fuel stops and overnights is CHALLENGING even if you are familiar with maps. We did lose 5 of our number to various causes today so we are down to 15. The remainder of us got our badges today so we feel like we are almost there. Tomorrow is the driving test and I'm looking forward to driving an auto. This is the last major test before getting our offers Wednesday. I'm not sure who made the recommendation to bring a fan for "white noise" in the room at night but it has proven a good call. The rooms are cold due to the type ventilation unit causing both me and my roommate to use our sleeping bags/blankets brought for truck use. Until tomorrow.

 

I am pretty pleased with the route planning. We had an objective mileage of 1625 from our assignment I planned a route that totaled out at 1671 miles. Then I plugged the same route into google maps and it said it was 1674 miles. Thanks dad for teaching me the basics of map reading many years ago.