Interstate Distribution Company - Tacoma, Wa.

i started there on april 5 of this yr. and have been on my own since july 14. i am getting about 2500 miles a week right now. i just came back from home time last week and found out last night that my mother was in a serious car accident and they had no problem getting me back home. the teachers down there are great guys and were a blast to be around. make sure you call vern "bubbles" and he will know you chated with me...have him tell you the story as it is way to funny. tell everyone done there hello.
oh i forgot i am a solo driver. good luck and learn alot you will def use it. after all the backing we did there i now wait for drivers to try to back into spot and give up then i pull into the spot with no problem

 

10-4 Birddog..... Ill ask Vern about the Bubbles thing... We call him Mean Vern... when he took us for our drug test we were jonzing for some meat so we begged him to stop at KFC so we could all get a bucket of chicken... He said no problem we'll go by there and thats all we did was go by there .... hence the name Mean Vern lol

 

K&J.......Whats the cost of the school ? and do you sign up through IDC ??

 

Yeah, it was that way for me too on nights and weekends. Just keep in mind, that they are covering multiple fleets after hours. My suggestion is to just be patient. My experience is, if you work with them, they will work with you. Make sure you send in your ETA/PTA updates. You have a better chance then of getting preplanned if you do that.

 

Greetings all
I am new to this forum, but a student with Sage Tech in Salt Lake City and at the moment planning on going with Interstate after. I appreciate all the info here.
My wife (Wingz) and I are in class together and planning on driving Team. We will be graduating and quitting my job here about 1 Nov.
Thru this thread and some others we have heard alot of good about IDC.
Some questions I do have I dont remember being addressed are the questions of pay for detention, breakdown, etc.
We also understand there is a 7 week training period devided up into local and OTR. Can anyone add some details on this?
Is there any preferential treatment to someone who goes to IDC school at Mesaland over someone who doesnt?
We appreciate any and all comments!!
Cheers
Roadie

 

Best thing to do is call their Recruiting Dept. They can answer those questions.

 

Thanks Rdcalldude. We have the basic info on them, but wanted the word from the drivers without the recruiting spin. IE, sometimes things are offered, but in reality rarely paid. And a recruiter will not really tell you they prefer grads from their own school, and give them preference on loads.
Cheers

 

Hey K&J.. it was great meeting ya'll down there in NM when my hubby and I passed through. I was shocked to see the size of the class though.. wow.. we (the class the birddog and I went through) were a bit spoiled.. mostly having our own truck to use or 2 in the truck at most! I can't believe Mean Vern did that you guys!!! Funny.. but cruel! I hope ya let us know what he said about the "bubbles" thing!! Take care and hope to see you out on the road soon!

 

I just also wanted to mention that last winter there was a huge slow down in freight.. if it happens again this year which it probably will.. just hang in there and don't give up. My husband, as a solo last winter, was just about ready to throw in the towel, but he hung in there and soooo glad that he did now, cuz right after the first of the year his miles picked up tremendously and now as a team, we get as many miles as we can handle.

 

Does Interstate require you to CHAIN UP in the winter? Ive heard they require you to chain up, but there drivers say they refuse to chain up!!?? I just want to hear what the reality is with the drivers/dispatch. Thanks and as always - DRIVE SAFE