Looking at TMC

The steel tarps weigh 90 pounds each and are quite manageable. The lumber tarps weigh 140 or so pounds each, and even more when covered with water/snow/slush. Luckily the lumber tarps are lifted to the top of your load by the forklift and when unloading they will be returned to the deck of your trailer so you don't have to lift them very much. You will have to muscle them into the storage box, but that is a piece of cake. You do want to pay attention when loading or unloading to make sure that the forklift operator knows that you want your tarps moved before they take off.

I am assuming that you had at least one full year of experience proir to that two year vacation. If you did you could be considered as an experienced driver and given the short one week orientation and a short period out with a trainer. If you are uncomfortable with this you might ask your recruiter about taking the longer orientation given to inexperienced drivers. This will include a couple of days of yark maneuvers and some road driving. Of course asking for this runs the risk of you appearing to lack conficence in your abilities, so you need to word your request properly. If you are put into the one week orientation then something to the tune of: "I understand that new student drivers have a longer orientation with more yard maneuvers. Given my length of time out of a truck is there any way I can get more time to practice in the yard so that I don't waste time later with my trainer?" should suffice.

You can also substitute in the excuses of 1) never having operated a truck with such a long hood, or 2) never having backed up a spread axle trailer.

Good luck.

 

The TMC orientation and training period will cover almost everything that you need to know. Just remember to dress warm and bring your lip balm as it is windy in Iowa this time of year.