My new adventure with Gordon Trucking

Dude, we're driving here! All this Sleepy mattress talk is making ME sleepy....

 

I've got a twin xl sleep number mattress...alittle expensive ( $600 ) but---OMG set the air pressure
where you want and its lights out.........................

 

I had a few questions for you sent a pm but kicked back since new here. Gordon how hard of a time do they have getting you back toward home I live western Pa just above Pittsburgh. Also how much finger printing you having to do. what's the major haul commodity that is. Thanks appreciate your feed back

 

Lots of Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart related. Not heavily into PA compared to OH, IN, IL in Midwest.

 

He is talking about the reefer board victor and that is a totally different animal. They run heavy into Pa. With hershey loads.

 

Ya they mentioned the reefer side just curious on what to expect before the leap doing research on a few companies that will let me come over and ride along for a few weeks since I have been off for 8 years . Not keen on FFI , CR England and Western Express so searching the web. Got time need a SS card washed mine and federal shut down has that on hold

 

FFE, CR, W-E all good companies to avoid. Hope you're comfy checking and comparing CSA scores. Off 8 yrs is going to be tough. One of the reasons I went with Gordon for 5 months was that I played hooky for 18 months and suddenly had a problem. As one recruiter said, "Victor, your last company was only 10 months and the one before that fell off your 3 years. You've been off (18 months) more than you have recent experience (10 months)."

Gordon seemed a safe place to park CDL, to learn regional OTR (I had been primarily dedicated, PU/DEL and short line) and I believed the hooey about home time. Smaller companies pay better, even according to TTR. See: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/34-of-fleets-wont-raise-driver-pay-and-other-hard-truths/#more-6415

Gordon said I would spend 2-4 weeks with a trainer but then put me right into a truck. That was a mistake and I screwed up. Then spent a day (24-hours/overnight) with a trainer. Would have PAID for 2 weeks. Trainer was VERY capable, had won a competition by correctly pre-insp in 4-1/2 minutes and caught all the issues. (Or so the Safety Guy told me.)

With 8 years away, get some time with a 5-year-depth trainer. Gordon won't pay well, but it's a good, safe, respectful place to get back working. Then run like Hell away. More $$, better home time elsewhere.



/New egg this morning and last night, Officer tow.

 

Ya I need to read up on CSA scores and the other card you need for delivering to ports None of this was around when I drove. I have been working as a paramedic for past 8 years and only drove 12 months before that I got off before once for 3 years . I hauled Flat, Reefer, Dry van OTR I can do it just need to get back in the seat.

 

So you are no longer with Gordon then ?

 

No, part-time Haz, tankers and van. Pays really well, small outfit (well under 100 trucks). Runs all start at yard in Indy (I live about 50 miles away), come right back to Indy. Some triangles, recently Indy-Philly-Rochester-Philly-Bridgeton, OH-Philly-Indy. That's longer than I want to stay out. I prefer out at least over night or two, three. Do NOT want to drive up to Indy, drive, and then back home here. Ugh! Not taking any runs now, winterizing my place and may stay off until Spring as long as I'm still on board. They PREFER full-time.

Haz is good training, too, pleased to be learning it. IMO, any good niche pays better than general trucking with OTR at the bottom. You probably want to get your TWIC, Haz cert, passport. There's a FAST card for Canada that I don't have, though. BTW, OTR driver turnover 100%, if you didn't know it, 6% LTL. See: http://www.thetruckersreport.com/driver-turnover-on-the-rise-again-the-ata-tells-us-why/#more-6402

Here's the link for CSA: http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/Data/Search.aspx

But if you've been off 8 years and Gordon will take you, and if $$ not a big concern for a while, a good ticket. Just get that time in with a trainer, IMO. Enter Gordon at the link above and Washington for state. DOT # is 190991, IIR. You'll see it. Pretty much 20% across the board. 2000 trucks, give or take.

Insurance is the problem with 8 yrs off. But with your experience, it's out there. Ah, you may want to start now to get verification for the experience you do have. More difficult to prove if past employers shut down.

If prior employers still trucking, you might start your search there.