My Time With MCS (Motor Carrier Services)

I've made my choice to take a job with MCS out of Northwood, OH

I will use this thread to post about my experience with orientation, training and my time on the road.

I start next week.

 

Having teenage kids played a big part in my choice, home time was important.

this is what I was told by the recruiter named Nathan at MCS
3 day paid orientation at $50 a day
5 weeks training with different trainers. you'll be paid 29 cents per mile during training.
Once you're in your own rig you get 33 cents per mile.
You can expect to be home every weekend.
Because of their runs you may be able to spend your 10hrs off at home once or twice a week.

We will see how things go.

 

Trucking Dad, I'm in the same area as you. I attended Trainco Truck Driving School.
I see you're going to TDDS, what school is that?
the best to you.

 

SO I'm done with my first day at MCS, here is the rundown.

Started off in the repair garage and worked with a guy name Jim (cool guy). The company uses Freightliners and Volvos, so he spent most of our time going over some of the more common breakdowns for each brand.
He also touch on many things that was never covered when I was in truck driving school. So it was cool, I got to go in the pit and see the truck from the bottom.

Had lunch.

In the afternoon I went out for my road test. BOY what a difference it makes to drive good quality equipment. I see I trained on JUNK when I was in school. I drove a Volvo today and it was like a whole new world. I had only driven an International, Freightliner and a Sterling.
I was taught to double clutch and today I was introduced to floating gears. That will take some getting use to but I was getting the hang of it.

Overall today was good. The equipment and facilities are nice. I had the opportunity to stop at a truck stop going home and spoke to a couple MCS drivers who didn't know I was the new guy on the block and they spoke kindly about the company. One use to drive for Swift and the other drove for JB Hunt. They basically said they wish they made that move years ago.

I have 2 more days filled with paperwork and watching videos. Sunday I go out with my trainer. Looking forward to it.

Ill report back soon.

 

Can you say boring!.
It was a lot of film watching and paperwork, not much to talk about.

The one good point was I had the chance to meet everybody and they all seem rather nice. I'm usually good at reading people.
Met or should I say I saw a few guys who went to the same truck driving school I did thats driving for them so I had a chance to talk with them. That was cool.

Going out on my first run monday with my trainer. He seems alright. I expect it to be enjoyable.

 

Alright, I've got 1 week under my belt with the trainer.
Trainer is cool, so the week went fast.
I've been to Milford, NY - Dayton, NJ - New Castle, DE - Cleveland, OH and a couple other places I can't remember

I took out a traffic sign on day 3. I was turning into a drive and a car was coming, I rushed and made my turn short taking a the sign. I went over the curb about 1 foot, so yes it was close to the street.

I hate driving through the mountains in PA but it's good experience.

Hitting up Albany, NY on monday so Ill be leaving sunday.

I also see Ill have to get me a wifi card for my laptop so I can post each day.

My first week I got 2849 for miles. So far so good.

At this point I still need to improve on my downshifts. Sometimes I get it no problem and other times I struggle a little.
overall Im having fun.

Here is a pic of me going over the Delaware Memorial Bridge. My trainer took the picture while I was driving.