Epes Transport 11.10.11

Finished up orientation today. Waiting on the drug test result before I can start my one day local training. Should have result in the morning I hope. Pay will start when I get in the cab. Epes is a top notch company, they leave no stone un-turned. I think if you have a kidney stone they would look under it or want a form signed saying they asked about it. lol Should go otr with a trainer on Sunday or Monday. Hard to look at all those trucks coming and going from the terminal today.

 

Motel waiting.... How long can it take to get drug test results? Took the test last Sunday. Especially knowing that I am 100% drug and alcohol free.

 

Drug test results finally arrived. I think it shocked them to see pee that was clean and clear as a mountain stream. lol
Start local driver training tomorrow at 7am. Also first official day on the payroll. Can't wait to drive the nice equipment and start learning to drive in the real world.

 

Completed local driver training yesterday. Joe, my trainer, was a REALLY great guy. Laid back, very helpful, very knowledgeable. We bobtailed (not a comfortable experience in the rain), delivered / picked up / searched for empty trailers and delivered a 42000 lb. load. He tried to make me a real truck driver all in one day and I loved every minute of it!! I did everything from backing, city driving, highway driving in heavy traffic and qualcomm entry.
Finished for the week, back in Columbia, SC waiting for instructions from my otr trainer. Supposed to leave with him Sunday or Monday and be back Wednesday pm or Thursday am early for Thanksgiving weekend. Epes is a fantastic company so far!!

 

Thanks for the reply Ten! Everyone I have met so far has had nothing but good things to say about Epes. Seems to be that most drivers I have talked with have been there several years too. I am realizing more every day how much I still need to learn and with the way the idiots in the 4 wheelers drive I don't think you will ever stop learning. lol Joe, my local trainer, was telling me that we have alot of dedicated stuff around South Carolina and suggested I look into it after training. I have a pretty bad situation at home and really don't want to be home EVERY night. He said that alot of dedicated accounts are out 2-3 nights a week and home weekends and run a 3-4 state area. Do you know anything about that? Of course with Epes hometime policy for otr drivers it don't sound like you are out much longer than that anyway unless you want to be. Do you drive a daycab running dedicated? I just can't wait to get finished with training and get started on my own. Training just seems too temporary. I'm ready to get settled into a truck and not have to depend on catching up with someone else. I know I have to pay my dues first but I'm more excited than a kid at Christmas. Be safe!

 

I saw somewhere yesterday that Epes is advertising for local drivers in Orangeburg, SC and Sumter, SC. My trainer last week was telling me about that Lowe's dedicated account out of Statesville. He also told me about the Family Dollar account. He said the two drivers he knows on the Family Dollar account make between 90 and 100k per year! I'm not afraid of hard work but after doing that kind of work all my life I think I would rather not have too right now.
There are going to be bumps in the road with any company you work for but that's the way life is sometimes. I really appreciate the positive things people have been telling me about Epes. I feel good about the choice I made and now I want them to feel good about the choice they made with me. I got some of my initial excitement back under control yesterday and woke up this morning feeling it ramp up again. I'm ready to roll out again today! Unfortunately I don't think it will happen until tomorrow. I think my otr trainer is supposed to pick me up tomorrow on the way to Tifton, GA. My driver manager said they were going to try to keep us in the south til Wednesday pm and then get us back thru here for Thanksgiving. I think I had rather be on the road than dealing with Black Friday nuts....