OH Bound - April 15

Day 16: Urinalysis and orientation. Reviewed all the different ways you can get paid, the bonus programs, the deal on vacation time, and all the different insurance options. I was a little leery about the healthcare package because I looked over lunch and none of my providers are in-network. But then I placed a call to a friend back home in the insurance game and he told me this is a really good deal cost-wise with the PPO/HSA combo. I just wasn't understanding how it all worked; Never had an HSA before. Nice to see that I'll be able to use it to help pay for that LASIK touch-up I've been thinking I'll need in a coupla years.

Early dismissal at 2:30 with some reading materials regarding the retirement package.

 

Day 17: 401K sign-ups, free Millis shirt & hats, an accident procedure video, and some other company policy odds and ends. In at 9:30 tomorrow for urinalysis results, Qualcomm basics, Comdata cards, and any other final items we may need to cover. Then it's home for a week or so until cadman swings through PA to pick me up.

Let me sum it all up for anyone who's still considering whether or not MTI & Millis is the right choice. It is. The only minor improvement I would suggest is to install wifi at the terminal. The training is top notch and I can't think of anything that has not lived up to expectations.

Me & cadman may start a new thread on here; a trainer v. trainee deal giving both our day-to-day perspectives throughout the next phase. If so, I may keep up on this thread periodically. If not, then I'll continue this thread as a log of my own experiences as time permits.

Looking forward to start racking up the big miles - see you out on the road!

 

There is one thing I want to add about my experience during the stay here at Trenton. There isn't a whole lot to do while you're not doing the class thing, so I made a habit of getting up early enough to take a brisk walk every morning before heading to the terminal and in the evening upon my return to the hotel.

If you come here, Atrium Hospital is only a block or so away and the roads and paths around the campus offer a great opportunity to put in a good 2-3 mile brisk jaunt. For your health.

One thing I'm worried about with this career is becoming unhealthy, so as I'm approaching 50 I wanted to match the trucking experience up with a low impact daily regimen to get the blood flowing. Corny as it sounds, I do intend to be that guy you see walking around the truckstop parking lot.

 

I hate exercising, per se. That's why I call it a walk.

 

Got home safe. Bad accident on 70 near Columbus. 2 or 3 fatalities, two semis and a couple cars involved. Be safe out there guys...