I had forgotten that I started this thread and just stumbled back on it. lol
Too update everyone on how things are going, here is the condensed version...(keep in mind I tend to be wordy so it might not see REAL condensed!!)
Went to Des Moines Dec 6 to settle into the hotel and start orientation on Dec 7.
Spent the week there doing the usual paperwork an such as well as their required online testing for their records. Took securement class that Thursday and headed home Friday afternoon. So orientation was, as the recruiter said, 1 week total for me with my background. Another gentlemen there with me also had 1 week but had to spend 4 weeks with a trainer as he had no flatbed experience.
Supposed to meet my trainer Dec 13 to start training....he was in Indy waiting on maintenance to finish his full service and did not get routed back up to OH for us to meet until Tuesday. At that point we picked up a load to Waterloo, IA and then immediately were routed to Des Moines for their maintenance department to fix some things that Indy said they could not......the first week was FUBAR!!!
2nd week, was Christmas week so we only got in like 3 days because he was not a holiday driver this year....suited me fine anyhow.
Because of the short work weeks and lack of time to see various loads I requested training to allow me to stay out this week with a trainer as well to make sure that I was ready for most the common items, they and my trainer agreed.
The loads this week were only able to be run by teams and what a miserable week for both of us. lol Caught the big snow storm in MN, IA on Monday and had to shut down early and then ran hell bent for leather (@ 62mph) for Greenville, SC. It is nearly impossible to sleep in the top bunk while running 77 through Beckley...just sayin'!!
On the way home Thursday the 76 turnpike was shut down due to an accident and we jumped on 376 to skirt around it....I forgot that they were pulling the bridge down and that was routing everyone up route 8 through town and back onto he highway.....my trainer learned that I can still drive in city traffic and being in the Pittsburgh area the last 6 years helped with knowing where we were navigating too.
Tomorrow, I head down to West Columbia, SC to do my release class and pick up my truck and then head off on my own. The only real accessory I have bought so far is a Garmin Dezl 770 to mount and I plan to evaluate the layout and pick up a microwave and cooler or fridge later this week or when I get back from my first time out.
That is where I am on this and if anyone has any questions for me while they are still fresh in my mind, feel free to post them here and I will try to remember to check it a bit more often.
Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year.
Looks like OTR is it.......
Discussion in 'TMC' started by Toona67, Nov 18, 2015.
Page 3 of 3
-
-
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
-
Toona67 Thanks this.
-
Either way it is no big deal, thanks again for all the help you have been. Maybe run into you some time, I do not get to Erie often but would like to try and catch a Sea Wolves game this summer and it is only a couple of hours from Canonsburg where I live. -
Toona67 Thanks this.
-
I am not hired yet, app in and waiting. Thanks for a good thread to read and learn from! The whole grass thing is very familiar to me from my Infantry days. Do they do police call as well? That's a Army joke. Anyways, safe travels and thanks again!
-
On a different note, I think I met one of your former trainees when I went down for my release class. His name is Zach and is from the Butler area. He mentioned that his trainer had a fridge with a microwave strapped down to it......I thought, hmmmmmm. lol -
Toona67 Thanks this.
-
As a side note..When you drive in a lot with big ruts take your time, and you may want to hold on to the fridge with one hand because it's going to want to do a dance.
Toona67 Thanks this. -
I bought a coleman 12V electric cooler that i keep on the top bunk at the moment. It is a little too big to fit in one of the cabinets as I had hoped to do with it and it is too tall to sit on the mattress folded with the bunk flipped up so it kind of sucks. I am not sure that the room I will lose with a fridge will be worth the trade off for me though.
I appreciate your input buddy, thanks a lot. -
Toona67 Thanks this.
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
Page 3 of 3