CDL A Dry Van NOOBS: Shipping and Receiver process

Then flatbedding would be for you my friend.

 

Sssssshhhhhh! We don’t want to scare away the help! Lol

 

Like someone else said, you might want to try flatbed work. There's a good bit of physical work involved in tarping and load securement, but you will rarely have to actually unload anything.

Pay attention when they teach you tricks about how to tarp loads in high winds though.

 

I’ve a friend with 30-years in. He’s happy at Millis the last couple years which makes it a very good recommendation in my mind. Understand that he’s seen it all and is incredibly efficient in all that he does.

Trucking is Ten Thousand Details. Don’t let that scare you, it’s that it’s impossible to write it in book form.

A big help to me is to arrive with the least amount of stress. I can’t control conditions, but two tools that are invaluable are:

1). Studying satellite pics of receivers location. Always.

2). A very good CB Radio System.

The last few miles from an Interstate or US Highway can be the hardest driving of the day.

Knowing 5-10/miles out about problems decreases the stress when encountered. Phone apps are barely able to convey what you may need to make choices.

Having a mental picture of the receiver layout will ALWAYS help. Especially when directed from one place to another on arrival.

Last, your trip plan needs to take into account how far out you will be the night before. Don’t expect to be able to park within 100-miles if the day ends past 1800. Maybe not 1500.

Easing on into the location with time enough for problems the last miles is what makes my day’s easiest.

As said above, don’t pop the brakes unless you’re out of the way. Even if that means circling around.

Know the territory.

Set your moving map GPS at the exact CORRECT entrance once you know it. And while unloading, update your telephone contact list with same map data and company website info. Names and direct extensions. This is backup info. Add to NOTES section what you dare not forget for future arrivals. You may not be back there for six months or a year.

Some guys take pics of site. Entrance. Offsite parking. Etc.

As a side note, the last couple of weeks I’ve noticed a majority of drivers moving too fast at truck stops, receivers and shippers. Don’t. Ever. It’s always walking speed. Their yard dogs do what they do. Not you.

Trying to be cooperative doesn’t EVER mean making that rig scurry along.

And as a side to that, it takes a number of attempts to get all the mirrors “right”. Ask for help. Don’t get used to bad positioning.

Daily: side glass & mirrors cleaned. Windshield not that important by comparison.

Arriving, without being stressed, and maneuvering at customer is almost the whole game (as I see it).

You’ll know you’re improving as these BIG (but invisible) transitions move smoothly one into another. Changing mental gears.

A guy who gets a paycheck for holding the wheel dumps his problems on others. Everywhere he goes. All the time.

A (real) truck driver is almost invisible.

Good luck

 

A side note on the job well done by someone. It is not noticed by those in power.

The moment you crack a dock angle guard....

 

I thought it was a matter of mixing typing with bourbon?

 

I left where I was after writing the above. And was reminded that friend at Millis called yesterday. He’d arrived 1.25-hrs early at a receiver. Not always a good idea.

The place opened for receiving at 0630 on Monday morning. One truck ahead of him. At 0600 he walked in to check in. Was back at his truck at 0620.

Twenty-two trucks had arrived between 0600 and 0620. There was a Pilot 2-miles away. Those guys had all arrived there Sunday afternoon and shown up “30-minutes early”. On-time, in other words.

You’ll learn.

And if you’re truck No. 23, well, it’s a good time to clean the interior. Arrange laundry. Etc.

Even with years or decades there can be just no telling when at a new place.

My friend could have been turned away by a gate guard. And no street parking anywhere in town. No standing on highway shoulder. Etc.

This time it was funny. I asked him, “Did you wave to everyone as you went in? Or do what I would and get on the radio to tell everyone that three dock workers were out sick. Get ready to wait”.

The back & forth with other drivers is half the fun. And who you might want to ask how to get back to southbound IH75.

There’s a flow. A tide in the affairs of truck drivers (Ha!).

 

In my experience pulling a dry van the process greatly varies every place you go. My company generally goes places that doesnt have strict appointment times (doesnt mean you can be late) but generally we can show up early. My company we all have an app and we rate places and drivers give us helpful information. But generally regardless of where you go they will have some kind of check in place whether it be a guard shack or the office. I tend to like the smaller places better because they are more laid back and I've found they are usually quicker at getting you unloaded. Being respectful goes a long way. I try not to complain if they are taking to long to unload me. I just politely ask them my dispatch would like an update.