My PTL Experience Log

That may be the case on the discounts for a fleet. I'd also suggest having an International dealer a block down the street from our home terminal is also a major contributing factor. My understanding is they signed a long term deal on the 1st order of trucks & that's when International opened a dealership a block away. Dealer & factory reps are prowling our company terminal on a daily basis now talking with any driver they come across about issues we have with the trucks & doing test drives. One truck goes down the street for warranty work & two more come back.

 

I saw one of our new 2015 Prostars just the other day that had a Cummins ISX with DEF in it. We also had DEF installed at our company fuel pumps. So it appears our experiments with Maxxforce engines may be over.

 

Let me stress to you this important point about PTL. The company is not perfect. No trucking company is. You'll meet some exceptional folks here. You'll also meet some first rate ##########. Again that happens at all trucking companies. PTLs training programs are arduous & in many respects downright horrible. But if you can make it through you'll have no issues as a solo driver. I've been with 3 companies prior to PTL from 2006 until now. They each had their own pluses & minuses. I'd rank PTL even with one of the others & well ahead of the remaining two. Take that for what it's worth because as the old saying goes your mileage may vary. Just play it straight & give the company a chance. If it's not right for you that's ok. There are thousands of places to drive a truck at. But give wherever you go a fair shake by doing your best & what's expected of you. If PTL isn't that place you'll find one.

 

I've not had to take it because I came in with experience. I can give you anecdotal evidence based on conversations from drivers I've interacted with that did do Phase Two. I heard everything from it was the worst experience they ever had to a few who said they appreciated it very much because it toughened them up enough to endure the hardships of what the job entailed. I do know they make the effort to pair you with somebody you get along with since you both are expected to work together & assist in any way the other driver as a spotter for backing or checking in with the customers & the like. And they won't pair men & women together for obvious reasons unless it is extraordinary circumstances. Such as giving a ride to a lady driver to go recover a truck. I've done that myself & everything went fine. Again your mileage may vary.

I can tell you they recently broke up the Phase Two fleet from the FM that had it exclusively. She was terrible at the job & wasn't coaching the new guys/gals as well as was needed. Now every FM has Phase Two drivers they coach & get fully seasoned into the job. My own fleet manager, who is quite good at his job & has a great rep in the company as he is a former driver himself, currently has 3 Phase Two teams he is working with. He also takes the extra step & assigns his experienced drivers (for some extra pay of course & who are willing) to act as coaches to these drivers as well so they can call us if they need help or advice. I've coached one team already & they both recently upgraded to solo status & are doing fine.