From Day One - Abilene Motor Express (Richmond, Wytheville, VA)

Mall of the trucks have bunk heaters and a liberal idle policy.

 

You need to budget accordingly for the first few months of any driving trainee position. Do not worry about how many miles. Worry about learning. The less miles pushed on a trainer the more he can train you to the reality of our job. We have the best trainers I have seen at any company. They take what the job consists of more important than holding a steering wheel. Do I train? No, it isn't for me to sit in the jump seat. After Sally asked me so many times she decided to not ask anymore but put my name and number on the mentor sheet so I could at least help out. For those that don't have my number I am at the bottom of that sheet for general freight starting with 443. Call 24/7 but leave a message if you have never called me and I'll get right back as I don't answer calls I think are telemarketers.

PS. 24/7 means just that, a rollover from my military days so don't feel guilty.

 

I just got off the phone with my new trainee, 28 year old ex-military with a couple tours in Afghanistan. Seems like a real level headed kid. In fact, I'm looking forward to getting him on the road. Spent an hour talking with him. He asked all the right questions. I just need to break him of the yes sir no sir responses, neither of my kids call me that way, so he doesn't need to also. Plus it makes me feel old.

 

Thanks Paul. I was actually thought about going back to Conway before coming to Abilene but I just can not and will never go back to that tag axle junk ever again.

 

Same here YardDart. I tell my FM to preplan me before I even get to my empty call. Especially if its a customer of ours we regularly deliver. Especially in the Northeast. Nothing worse than delivering in Queens at 5am, empty by 0530 and stuck waiting in that hole until your FM gets in to the office at 7 or 8...
i cant speak for anyone else but it made all the difference for me by taking a little bit of time to get to know my FM. Everyone hates mine! We had a disagreement early on in my Abilene career and I called BS on him. HOS issue and invited Scott to educate him. I was in the right. He apologized and we have been good to go since. Even though I train now Brett is still who I get loads from, just I have to go through Tim who handles the training trucks. Tim is top notch as well.

 

UTurn your dead on with the training comment. First stage is supposed to be thorough and detailed with the day to day responsibilities. The basics. We run solo then supersolo. Trainee covers say 4-500 mi then trainer picks up another 2-300. When you make it to stage 2 you get a raise and start turning the miles! Coast to coast and the truck rarely stops. Some trainees have had over $1800 paychecks if they can fully carry their weight. After stage 2 you run with a "finisher" for 2-4 weeks primarily in the Northeast. Pass the test and heres your truck!
For myself, I do some stage 1 but mostly the Northeast finishing. I tried the stage 2 teaming but its not for me. So I don't do it. Good luck Ford, hope this helps.

 

Good luck breaking him of the yes sir no sir. I retired 10 years ago and still do it even though its more out of respect than anything.

 

Nothing wrong with showing due respect to a mentor, but I am a bit old school, and a bit older. My first trainer, at Howard, was a 28 year old with seven years experience which compared to me 52, and zero experience was the world of difference and still respected him as if he was older. Same with Johnboy, and now Big Brin. Boy I have been blessed with three excellent trainers. Now, if I could just get the backing.

 

George get your backing hat on. Thats what we are working on all afternoon tomorrow in the yard. Surprise, Happy Birthday, and Merry Christmas!! See you at noon!

 

Yah mo be there, with bells and whistles on BB!!