Orientation in Troutdale, OR.

Lovely weather you'll be having for your first day Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Say hi to my DM, Jim, while you're there. Try to get on his fleet.

If he asks whooziss Injun person, show him a picture of my truck. He'll know right away who I am.

 

I didn't know you ran on the troutdale fleet Injun. I should have as much as they keep you in the Phoenix area.

 

just finish orientation at troutdale oregon on thursday. i'm to leave monday or tuesday with my mentor. hope they all do not run teams during training. looking forward to going. but nervous. any one have any advise?

 

Well, the standard advice applies: Listen well, ask questions, get involved in everything not just driving.

Learn how the showers work at the TS for example. My trainer had a daily 600 mile run, so I always showered at the terminal. I had no idea how to cash in a free shower after fueling. It's a little thing, but those little things add up. Also we always fueled at the terminal and slept at our 1st delivery dock. So I didn't know how to fuel at the TS, or that parking was free, etc. I had to learn how to scale myself, because he hauled "feather loads" (20k load was the heaviest).

My "mentor" had the bad habit of only doing a tire thump and light check on new trailers. I will admit that I kept that bad habit once I went solo. Luckily, an older driver gave me some good tips about a month later; lessons that I took to heart.

Take only what you need onto the mentors truck. Space will be limited. Talk to him 1st to see if he is home often (near your place) for clothing changes etc. I was home every Friday afternoon, so I didn't have to take much. Ear plugs are a good idea, especially if he snores like I do (Freight train anyone?).

 

thanks for the info i will find all this out.

 

hey injun i will ask for jim also was your truck up there in troutdale on thursday the 28th. waiten to hear from russ mentor to go out. going to run canada also.