help for a new driver

If the heater doesn't work the defroster won't work . I believe that could get them put out of service if they pulled in a scale and told the DOT about it . Does the 15,000 miles include the combined miles of the team ? He needs to leave . Anything is better than that . Google Overdirve magazine job application . You fill out one form and it goes to a bunch of trucking companies .

 

1. x2 on the HVAC problems.

2. 15,000 miles at 8 weeks is 1875 miles a week. That sux, complain or look for someone else to truck for. I really hope those are only his miles cause a team should be 4000+ atleast.

 

Oh, are we talking about Paschall Truck Lines with the white Freightliner Columbia's?

 

I bet she is . I have to deal with their drivers all the time at Arkema in Carrollton , KY . They load vans . I load tanker . Sorry bunch of drivers . Can't back up or park with the tractor at 90 degrees and block the road .

 

Seems to be a lot of that kind of carelessness running rampant in the industry these days. That's why I try and avoid truck stops and other drivers. But, I was blind siding the other day and a few drivers got out of their trucks to help, guys like them give me hope for the industry. Back to the PTL thing, I can't talk too much about them. I never see much of them cept in the mirror and right lane as I go by.

 

you SHOULD stay with your first company for a year.. but thats only a recommendation. If you find yourself in an untenable position, movement is acceptable. Once. Maybe twice.

From your description, it sounds like hubby is in an untenable position. He probably can't submit a lot of applications while on the road (though, if he has a laptop he coudl manage it while waiting for a load) so you might have to do it for him. You'll need copies of his paperwork, though.

I agree that those miles are awful. As a solo newbie driver I had only one week of less than 2000, and that week my truck was in the shop.

20 miles OOR to get to a truck stop, as opposed to sitting inthe business lot (which most businesses won't allow,anyway) is meaningless. If the carrier is whining about that,something is out of whack )unless they are missing a truck stop that is closer(. Fuel is expensive, but not THAT expensive.

The HVAC thing sounds like BS on the part of the company. As far as I am aware, any dealer counts as a valid place to get warranty work done. Sure, the company will have preferred places, but to me, they're being stupid.

They're REALLY being stupid about getting hubby home. 8 weeks is unacceptable unless you WANT to spend that time out (I ran into a driver who said he'd been on the road 5 months without going home. But it was HIS choice). 4 to 6 weeks, yeah, no problem. 8 is just too long. (this is my opinion, of course. What did / does the company promise?)

As far as the co-driver. That's an individual thing. I've known all manner of people with felonies in their background. Yeah, most were.... people I'd rather not associate with. Some, though, were just rough around the edges.

 

Could be the co-driver wants to spend that kinda time out. Really in the first 3 months you're kinda at the whim of the senior driver anyway. If it's already been 8 weeks, I'd recomend toughing it out another month. He should be getting his solo soon then. Then he should have MUCH more say as to home time/miles and load.

 

They dont use "Senior Drivers" they pair you up with another student fresh out of school when you show up for orientation......this is their version of student driver training. They seem like an ok company, but I would really rather have a Master Driver in that seat next to me for a few days prior to this type of team training. Covenant does something simular, but you spend you first few weeks one on one with a trainer prior to doing the team thing for like 6 months, with another student.