I always tell new drivers to carry a disposable camera, or a telephone that has a one. Perhaps the one item I do not leave home without is a back-scratcher. Kind of a bad deal to be driving in traffic and get an itch you cannot reach.
Good point, mine finally broke after 6 years of regular use...looking for the extra keep at home one now!
Well, I got my driver code, but not going out with mentor until Monday. They sent me home for the weekend because they could not find a mentor with a CPAP machine. Some points that I noted during orientation was: 1. Invertors are not allowed, even the plug in kind unless you have sleep apnea, then they will install a small one (that I have to buy). 2. Trucks are governed at 62 and if you go 67 for more than one minute you will get written up. 3. Cell Phones (Including hands free) are not allowed while driving. 4. You don't get paid until you are on the mentors truck and do a Mac 27 every day. The orientation really could be done in one day, but they are pretty inefficient. The staff says to ask questions, but good luck getting a real answer. No one wants to commit. I ask a lot of questions, but got few real answers. A lot of sitting and waiting in Orientation. The lunches were paid for and were pretty good overall here in Lancaster. Wish me luck with my mentor.....
No inverters? WTF? How are we supposed to cook? Refrigerate food? How are we to charge our phones and laptops? I cannot afford to eat in a truckstop twice a day on $450 per week. Gotta charge my electronics.
They were very strong about that one in orientation. Several people ask and they said company drivers can not use them in the truck.
Why do you need a mentor with a CPAP machine? You should have your own. You just need a non smoker, if I remember right, and one that will let you bring your machine on his truck. You better get that requirement straightened out pretty quick or you will be waiting a long long time. For you newbies worried about the inverter deal...most of your electrical stuff can be charged on the truck if you have the right cord that has a cigarette lighter type plug on the end. Also the plug in inverters...I'm plugged into one right now, I never go to sleep with it plugged in, and I never leave it out when the truck goes into the shop. Don't sweat it guys, NOT a big deal! Also orientation is 3 days so that the experienced drivers, and drivers from other schools, that come to Swift that did not have to go to our school, get the benefit of learning a little bit of how Swift expects some things done.
I said CPAP, I meant that I need a mentor with an inverter. The mentor I got has sleep apnea also, so they matched me up very well. A couple of other things that they mentioned at orientation is that we have to GOAL every time we back. If we have a backing accident and do not GOAL, it is grounds for termination. I found out the idling policy is just a target. If you are under a load you can idle to stay comfortable. If you are not under a load they will nag you about idling too much. The reason is they can bill the load for the idling.
A couple of other things that they mentioned at orientation is that we have to GOAL every time we back. If we have a backing accident and do not GOAL, it is grounds for termination. Sorry but I don't understand
We have to send a qualcomm message GOAL (Get Out and Look), then get out of truck and look. If we don't and have a backing accident, it is grounds for termination. That is what they said.
