Husband starting with Roehl 1/11/10

ya what bucksandducks said im heading there first week of april and recruiter said that everybody start on van. but i will be jumping over to flats as soon as i can.

 

Any info on why? it seems counter-intuitive, unless they're trying to slow down flatbed entry. Or are they just trying to get all of your students to sit in the truck while you fold up tarps?

 

I was National van and during my evo (started in july) I was on flatbed. My trainers had me out securing loads and doing tarp work even tho I was going into the van division

 

I guess they decided that learning to drive the truck safely and learning to secure all the different loads was too much for 20+ days. I think if they would concentrate on getting flat bed students with flat bed trainers and van students with van trainers it would help. I guess the logistics of picking up students doesn't work that way though. Flat bed trainers will still train van guys and vice versa. I have only had a couple of van students that had a problem with helping me. One guy said he was on his ten hour break and I really couldn't argue with that. All I ask of a van student is too help me roll up the tarps. It is lot easier with two guys than having to keeping walking back and forth. I also have them either undo the bungees when untarping or just hang them on the tarps when tarping. I never ask them to climb on anything or really do anything physical. I just have them do the things that will save time and leave more time for sleeping, eating, showering, and other training.

 

This makes sense. It's largely the reason I chose dry van - after 6 weeks at school I was still nervous about the idea of driving in Chicago. Much less in a truck. There was no way I was going to be confident about making sure stuff didn't fall off my trailer.

 

I just finished my Evo II training, took my road and written test and passed everything 100%. This issued me a slightly used Volvo, this thing is like brand new. Waiting for my first load.

 

Congrats. Be safe.

 

grc I too was with flatbedders for all of my evo I training even though I am in the Reefer division. I don't know if I could ever be a flatbedder, thats alot of work. Its ok if the sun is shining and there is no wind but tarp in the winter when the wind is blowing, forget it.