May ??

Sounds like a terrible starter company. Don't like that their terminals are considered outhouses..

 

Well, there are Terminals (like Payette) and then there are Drop Yards (like Yolo). Terminals have all mod cons, drop yards have a PortaPotty.

All starter companies suck, just some suck less than others.

 

Oh, and I am in the "former May driver" category, so I don't really have a dog in this fight.

 

Thought you were still working with May. Who do you truck with now?
I graduated trucking school July 3rd. Spent the last week and this weekend mulling over everything and all starter companies. Worried I am going to forget how to drive lol. I might just go with Schneider to be honest. Not too keen to bunk up with a trainer for 3-4 weeks. What that means is I will have to take the greyhound down to Fontana.

 

For any entry level drivers considering May...training can last anywhere from 1-4 weeks(depends on you & trainer),
if they by chance try to give you a "local" Portland trainer...I suggest to try & wait for a 11 West or 48 trainer if one is not available...or worse case go with local for 1 week then ask to go with OTR trainer for rest of training,
if you go with local you won`t get the needed OTR experience, training or mountain driving

For birdseye view of yards & terminals...search google earth

 

I think spending a week with a local trainer is great because you will get lots of practice docking during the day.

 

I agree,lots of backing/docking practice is more valuable than a lot of highway miles IMHO. That said learning to park in truck stops would be missed so there are pros and cons to both.

 

I started with May and later drove for Schneider on a dedicated out if Ridgefield,WA. I was in a lot of May terminals but only one SNI terminal in Portland,OR. If the Portland terminal is any indication of SNI's facilities I'd go with SNI. The May terminals were all slums by comparison. Other than that not much difference from what I observed,did my times and got out.

 

I agree with you too scooter since one would get city driving plus backing skills but that`s also dependent on the trainer...my situation was the trainer(imo was in it for $) either did`nt like my driving or me & would`nt allow me to do much of either the 1st week or two, yes I spoke up & it changed somewhat but I also requested to go OTR for 1 week so I could gain exp with mountain passes, backing, scaling, etc which my other trainer was cool & made sure of this before solo`ing me out,
IMHO train with both local & OTR if possible

 

It definitely comes with a mixed bag for sure.

I used to try to spend time with students at the truckstop parking lots during the day when there wasn't a lot of traffic. Find a spot way in the back and have the guy practice backing between the white lines.

I had a guy get on my my truck one time that told me his school instructor told him that he was "the best student backer" he'd ever had in his class! I was so relieved! I thought this is going to be an easy time.

However, the very first trip out we delivered a drop & hook to a consignee at like 2 in the morning. No one and I mean no one was there in the lot. The guard told us to just drop the trailer in any dock we wanted that was open.

I said, "here you go, man...this will be a cinch for you!" HAHA, 30 minutes later he still couldn't get it between the white lines. And of course, I reminded him what he had told me about being the "best backer" in his class! LOL