Fontana Orientation Sept 11th

Another day in the books!!!

6 am until 9 am we had classroom training, learned about Schneider's maintenance policies, and all about scaling and transferring weight by moving the 5th wheel and sliding the tandems. We then split into two groups of 6 each, one group went out and saw how to physically slide the tandems and move the 5th wheel. The other group got to practice on the simulators: I got to experience several blown drive tire scenarios, black ice, rain with low visibility, and high winds. Very informative.

Lunch was 10:30 - 12:00

Then we got with our driving instructors and spent the rest of the day driving! We got to practice coupling/uncoupling, pre-trip, and air brake tests. We practice all the different backing types again. And we went on a 2 1/2 drive around town. Dolly said I am doing excellent. We got back to the hotel around 5 pm.

Tomorrow is 1 hour in the classroom finding out who our TE's will be and then all day driving. I'll let ya know!!

Any questions feel free to post them or pm me. Happy to help!! Very happy with my decision to go Orange!!

 

Bonchez - Why did you leave Schneider? And where are you at now? Just curious.

 

Day four done!!

School started at 6 am with a one hr class on what to expect when we go out with our TE's. We then got with our driver instructors. We spent the rest of the day with them. We practiced coupling, uncoupling, pre-trip, and pump down (air brake test). We then drove, I myself drove 83 miles total today, 75 of that was on surface streets, LOTS of shifting, bump and runs, skipping gears, etc... We then came back to the yard and I did four rounds of backing practice, each round consists of 3 different spots to back into and a drive through between two trailers, so 12 spots in all. I finished at 3:30. We also got the contact information for our TE's today, I have not yet spoken to mine to find out the plan.

My instructor is going on vacation starting tomorrow. She graduated me from driving, backing and all that today!! I got excellent on everything!! Woo hoo!!! So tomorrow I have to do some computer training in the morning and I am done until my TE picks me up!

Till tomorrow, later.............

 

Week one is done!!!! Now on to the TE's!!!!

We lost one guy today, he did not move on. He simply could not get the backing down, how did he ever get his CDL?

Started at 6 this morning, those that did not pass driving and backing yesterday went out to finish that, while the rest of us that did finish yesterday worked on some computer training modules. Once everyone came back, around 10:45, we went to the classroom, caught our logs up, got tons of info on benefits, got a certificate, and a new pair of boots!!!

Hope to post from the road, supposed to meet my TE on Monday.

Stay safe!

 

Sorry for the delay in posting, been busy running with my TE.

Monday - Sept 17th - Took the Greyhound from LA up to Sacramento to meet my TE. Monday night drove south on I-5 to Westley.

Tuesday - first time going up and over the Grapevine on I-5. We were fully loaded at 79,000 pounds. Got to the top and BLAM! Blew a trailer tire. Handled it well, pulled over to the brake check area and called Roadside to come fix it. We decided to meet them down in Castaic at the Pilot, so we drove on down. Got tire fixed and then drove to Buena Park to drop our load off. Got two pre-assignments before that, so we went to El Monte yard, picked up a loaded trailer, and headed to Aplle Valley (first time up the pass) to the Walmart DC. Stopped in Gorman for the night.

Wednesday - Delivered our load to Apple Valley, then turned around and came back to Fontana to pick up a load headed to Salt Lake City. Made it all the way to Beaver, Utah and here we are. About to get underway to head up to SLC to deliver hopefully this afternoon, not scheduled until Friday AM.

I've driven over 900 miles so far and have learned some great tips and pointers from my TE. All in all still loving my choice with Schneider!!

Hope to be back in Fontana late Friday or sometime Saturday. We'll see how the freight is up in SLC.

Keep ya posted!

 

Back in Fontana kicking it at the Best Western. My 5 days with the Training Engineer went very well. I drove over 1700 miles and delivered 3 different loads. Learned alot, enjoyed it, but glad to be done with living with another man in about 40 square feet of living space!!

Start 3rd week of classes Monday morning at 6 am. Gonna enjoy the pool and just have some wind down time until then. Should graduate and get my own truck on Thursday, assuming all goes according to plan.

Will keep all of you informed! Take care!!!