May trucking

Howdy all. I need some help from some of you experienced May drivers. I will be going to Phoenix on July 14, 08 for orientation. I have asked the questions that I could from the recruiter. What I need now is some feedback from actual drivers. Any advice or warnings that you'd be willing to share with a guy that's returning to the industry after a ten year absence. I feel I've done a great deal of research, but I know that there's aways more that can be done. I don't want to stick my hand in the fire if I can avoid it. ( my last driving jobs were for Donco for about 8 months, then the aerospace industry for almost 6 years ). Any advice, recommendations, warnings, etc would really help and be greatly appreciated. Scotty B

 

Be on time! It is that simple. Pick up on time. Deliver on time. Do your admin on time.(Paper work) Plan your trips well and just do your job and you will be a super star. Planning around idle restrictions is the biggest thing this time of year. For example I stay on top of mountains and passes as much as possible, because it is cooler.

 

You dont have to worry about a single thing at May If trucking companys were parents May would be the Parents that have their kids on one of those leashes, They GIVE you your routing, your fuel stops, getting a PO out of them is like waitng on the 2end coming, you have no freedom just a steering wheel holder is all you are, but you can make money with just 3 months exp. you can be a trainer!!! safety first at this company! enjoy

 

Scotty, are you familiar with the Qualcom yet? A ten year absence, I don't know how long they've been around, but that might be something new. If you're not an "old fart" stuck in his ways, it should be a breeze.

What kind of warnings are you looking for? You better read up on here a little, there's been enough info posted on here to see you through!

MTC2665, I noticed you haven't put a nickname under your member name. I think you should have something under the Sassy category, like mine. Well, I guess, if you're a guy that might not be you. More appropriate - MOUTH!

I take it you had a trainer with only three months experience. If so, why didn't you investigate it and ask for someone with more ex. You probably would have been given a choice. Waiting for one might have taken awhile though.

 

Scotty - I just finished 3 weeks training.. Looks to me Hank Sterling pretty much covered it.

Sleep high, put a fan in the window to blow air OUT.

Yeah, they designate when/where you can fuel, and they do provide routing - which you CAN ignore.

Despite what MTC says - who, I think, probably had/has issues with his dispatcher - getting a PO for anything is quick. Getting approval for repairs, for lumpers, etc - quick.

Getting approval for out-of-schedule fuel stop, quick (usually)

Yes - lots and lots of experience I have. But I doubt they treat a trainee truck any different from joe solo.

RBPC - exactly. If a newbie is not comfy with his trainer, he should ask for another.

 

Sorry I am not too familar with this fourm/editing cool names and stuff, I say that because I joined truck school with a buddy of mine that I met in the Navy we went to the same truck school and to the same company May, he was a good guy but he was supertruck since before we went to truck school everything driving related was a competition to this guy EVERYTHING!!! in school from everything to the text books to the shifting pad to the drive test even though I got a perfect score and the CDL test guy said I was a natural his excuse for it was because I went last and the guy just wanted to go home, anyways when our 3erd month hit he became a trainer and asked if I was going to do it I said no his reply was thats understandable I was just made to be a trucker and I know more than most people I laughed at him now I work for a good company and make fun of him everyday for driving a brown swift truck with a back up alarm for my pure entertainment thats all! so chew on that you have people like that training students

 

Trainer in 3 months ?
Last time i saw anything in writing it said 1 year w/company, no tickets,
no chargable accidents and near perfect logs....

 

First, thanks for the info so far. I really appreciate it. I do have a few more questions, more specific though. I ask here because I know that ALL recruiters are the same, in that they tell you what you want to hear to get you signed up. First, how are they about home time ( I was told 2 to 3 weeks per tour ) I have one of their drop-yards 10 minutes from my home. Next, are they pretty good about your pay being on time and accurate. Next, I was told they have pretty much zero tolerance toward you having a say in your routing. I can understand that policy, but is it true, or is there some flexability? Once again, thanks to all for the responses, good, bad and otherwise. We ( my wife and I ) REALLY appreciate it. Scotty B