Ffe oriet monday

April 16th 2011





Hello Chefy79 and the Group:


Yes, Flying is a great Idea. I paid for my Airfare Online through www.airfarewatchdog.com and searched Expedia a Week or two in advance, so I only had to spend about $168.00.

I paid for some trip insurance in that package as well, they call that Aneminitizing the ticket with the Airline. It was completely worthwhile to do It because we had a little snow on one of my connecting Airports enroute and they shut It down and I had to wait for 2 days before they could get another Flight out to DAL.

Most of the Airplanes that You Fly on are "regional jets" not much wider than a Semi or a Trailer inside. They are really small and packed. They are no different in size than a Greyhound bus.

I bought a camping pillow in a drawstring bag from a local sporting goods store and that is always helpfull, but It is so cramped in the upper bunk in those Trucks sometimes, that It's Good to get a couple of drawstring bags: One for clean clothing, One for laundry, One for the things that You will need to put in Your pockets after You empty them the night before. It's Good to have a shower pack too, with enough room to put Your change of clothing in with a pack of liquid soaps and a shaving kit. A gym bag looks really cool to carry in.

I put together a separate pack just for the paperwork and the Books that they will give You at Orientation as well as for carrying my Log book in, and that will probably be in a case and something that You will need to buy on the Road. I would recommend buying a plastic case, because anything can happen.

You can't carry too many large duffle bags though I carried two black long GI canvas tent bags, and one collapsible GI "tube" backpack, just in case. Most people carry Gym bags and a couple of these would probably work nicely.

You should have a sheet for a "cot" width bunk because You will feel much cleaner if You do have It. The newer trucks have plastic wrapped around the mattresses so You will have to rip it off or to sleep on It.

There are not a lot of blankets and sheets available at the Truck Stops, so You should probably get a sheet ahead of time, and I'll bet that It will get Hot as Hell in the Tractor in the near future, in most places, so maybe You won't need any blankets, just an average sleeping bag. Try to get a few 12V fans.

You can charge the Laptop from the Lower bunk, the one that You will have to rest in, while the Truck is moving, but usually there is no charger available in the upper bunk, and that's just the way that they build the Freightliner Century. You probably will need one for Your Cell phone too. I think that it would be a Good Idea to get a 12V electric fan to hang on the cabinet in there as well.

They have AC in the back, but once the engine is off in the Truck nothing is going to work, except for the OPTI Idle every so often. The Top bunk has the ventilation system built into the wall next to It, but the heat also rises a lot.

The Grande Hotel charges You $24.00 per night for an upgrade to a personal room. It is Good to get a room overlooking the Hotel Atrium or "flag lobby" and It won't cost You more money. I would bring some dollar store soap for the showers because they will only give You a small amount of soap to use there.

Take Care. Have a Nice Trip! I think that You will Love the Training program, but If You don't just ask them if You can find some Trainer who really needs Your help and they might just have somebody. FFE is a Good company to work for and You won't be disappointed!

 

I work for FFE now went through orientation. Bring sleeping bag and stuff for road. You will take road test on Monday and Medical. Just a lot of paper work. All in all good company just don't listen to what you here on this board, what I mean is all the negative stuff people say. Good luck and welcome aboard.

 

April 17 2011





Hello Group:


Yes, FFE is a Good company to work for. All You have to do is pass everything.

The freight that I pulled was 100% no touch and we were running as many miles as we possibly could. A lot of It was drop and hook. It helps to know where to find an empty Trailer, but there are always dispatches waiting for You.

Keep Logging accurately and stay in communication with Your DM.

Stay healthy and get the loads in on time and enjoy the scenery!

 

My suggestion is finish the whole 6 weeks with the trainer you first get. It will go alot faster. Plus if you go home you will get a new trainer.

 

April 18 2011





Hello Chefy79 and the Group:


I kind of envy You for being where You are. I Loved to go to the Grande and the Dallas Texas area to go over to the driver's lounge, hike to the nearby Love's Truckstop, go to the Mexican restaurant at the end of Danieldale Rd. at the 35E and do some exploring in Dallas. This was my Idea of a quality place.

I Loved to codrive with my last Trainer. I think that sometimes You just have to be blunt with the Driving Academy managers there if You don't get what You would like to get in a trainer. Just tell them that You would like to be of service to somebody there that needs to have some help. I asked J.D. if he knew of any "diabetic" drivers. They will think about it for awhile and then help You through the program the best way that they can do It.

I'll be honest with You, I still hope that I could get back into that company.

There are many people in the FFE Training Academy who had a few trainers, so don't be afraid to ask for another one after giving Your Trainer "three strikes".
I have never heard of FFE allowing anyone to go home before their 6 week Training time was finished other than two people, One who had a disabled Father and another who had some type of Family emergency.

The only problem with these particular people was the fact that they decided after two or 3 weeks that they just did'nt want to come back to the Training.

I guess that they just did'nt think that OTR was good to them.