Orientation with Eastern Freight ways!

Day 3 of OTR (On The Road) Training

Off to R.I. we go. Noel had informed me the day before that I'd be driving 90% of the day. First time really having to drive in traffic and pouring rain. A little nerve racking at first but I noticed that as the day went on the more confident I felt about it. I was also having a bit of trouble downshifting while loaded with this freight liner but after a few tips from Noel i think I've got it!

We get to the receiver at Cranston, pull in line behind 1 other truck and start untarping and folding. Now with 2 people this goes really quick. Will see how it goes by myself. I can imagine the first few times will be an interesting experience.

We get unloaded and head to CT to pick up some slinkies. Interesting process of getting in line, signed in and sent to get loaded. 100% All PPE here! Learned how to legally strap them down. Off to PA we go. 84 to 81 again. pulling 44,000lbs up those hills in 8th-9th is a slow process. Stopped at exit 178 on 81s for a quick bite at the Iron Skillet. We switched drivers and Noel got us back to Carlise with 10 minutes to spare!

I'm feeling pretty good for the 3rd day but I haven't had to drive on 95 through NYC yet.. By maximizing oy 14hr clock The days are flying by pretty quick.

 

Day 4 of OTR (On The Road) Training

I was to tired to post for day 4 so i'm going from memory.. Headed out around 6:45 after a pre-trip. First time driving I76 through Pa. Man those hills are crazy. From what I hear nothing like out west but still pretty big. Went through the 4 tunnels which was cool. Made it to the receiver, unstrapped and got unloaded really quick. We then headed down the road about 20 miles to the next shipper. Loaded up some lumber heading to MA. Another quick load and learned how to strap and tarp this type of load.

Back to I76 again. This load was a little different to drive as it was higher than what we have had so far. 76-81-84. Was making good time but it was going to be close. We needed to get to the Montgomery terminal before our 14 ran out so we switched drivers. made it with 9 minutes to spare! Found some dinner and off to bed.

 

Day 5 of OTR (On The Road) Training

Slept like crap last night & woke up tired. Maybe the week was finally catching up with me. Pre-tripped and headed out to MA. Got to the receiver and un-tarped and unstrapped. Noel showed me how to remove and roll up the straps by yourself. He did the 1st one and I did the 2nd. It wasn't that bad actually. We got unloaded quickly again. I'm liking the fact that there isn't a lot of wait time at the shippers and receivers especially after some stories i've heard about dry van and refer.

A quick Drop n hook from Portsmouth, NH for our load headed out Sunday night at 11pm for a 1-4am delivery in Brooklyn. That should be a treat!

 

Day 6-7 of OTR (On The Road) Training

It’s been an interesting but good week so far. We headed out for Brooklyn at 11pm Sunday night set up for a good week. I did get a 2hr nap in on Sunday trying to prepare for the long overnight. We got to the receiver around 2am. Had to un-tarp and fold on the load as the little narrow street didn’t allow the room for it. It was good to experience this as I’d never thought it was possible before. The load of sheetrock was unloaded very quickly as they had 3 forklifts unloading us.

The pre-plan has us bobtailing over to a little town in PA. It must have just been outside of an Amish community as there were horse and buggy road signs and I saw one go by. We get to the shipper around 5:30am and this starts our decline. The load wasn’t ready yet. Call overnight dispatch, he said let me find you a load out of there. 1 hour later we call back. Still working on it. Well after 3 hours of Off Duty we get our load. Sheetrock headed to Everett, Ma an overnight home depot delivery. At this point we decide to take our 10hour break. We get up and head out at 3pm. Loaded and ready to roll. Finally get to Home Depot at 12:30am for a 2 am delivery. Long story short, unloaded by 3:30 and back to bed.

Pre plan has us going to NH to get a load headed to New Albany, PA. over 800 miles. Get to the shipper drop a trailer and go to pick up the load. Fix the tarping job raise the landing gear….. Wait one side doesn’t go up. #### it…. Look underneath and the shaft had sheared off. Call dispatch, Road side will be sent. He gets there and needs a part. 1 hour wait. He comes back and spends 2 hours trying to get it fixed. Something is wrong with the gear… I’ll skip a few things here but we finally head out at 3:30pm. #### it traffic on 495. Once we hit 90w it was a great ride. Rolling nonstop 70mph to Syracuse. Went to bed as soon as we got here. It’s 8:30am right now and we are grabbing some breakfast before our 8 hr ride to Ohio.

It's been a good week overall with some hiccups which I’m glad I could experience. Still loving it. Till next time!

 

Day 8 of OTR (On The Road) Training

Not a lot to report on today. We started the morning with some breakfast at Denny's then on to the pre-trip and get rolling. Noel put me in charge of the day today as well as all of the driving. Figuring out my 30 min break, fuel stop etc. Drove in and then back out of Columbus, OH during rush hour. Our day ended around 7pm in Columbus as we are right down the road from the receiver. 519 miles in about 8 1/2-9 hours. 90w is a great interstate. Almost boring at times. Looking forward to dropping this load and getting a load back home.

 

Day 9-10 of OTR (On The Road) Training

Heading to a construction site with the load we figured we'd be there for a while. Get to the site check in with the guard and call the receiver. While we were waiting for an escort we realized this was one of Facebook's data centers being built a 400 acre lot dedicate to Facebook. They are still in phase 1 which was only a few acres big but this was a crazy construction site. 3 years for phase 1. We back in un-tarp and await our unloading. It's done by crane with one bundle of drywall at a time. Man this is going to take forever. 2 hours later there are 4 bundles left and we see everyone coming down from the roof carrying their stuff. Come to find out they got shut down due to their scaffolding not being up to snuff. They luckily unloaded the last 4 bundles and off we go.

Down some narrow Ohio roads in farm country we get to the shipper. 44K lbs of decking heading to CT. Radar showed a severe thunderstorm coming in. Get loaded and after a quick passing downpour it's over. On the road back to CT we ran to bloomsburg, PA and settled in for the night. Headed out the next morning for CT with a quick stop over at the Montgomery terminal. Took a quick look at our potential trucks that we will get this week. 1 Auto and 2 manuals. Older trucks 13's and 14's but they will do as a starter truck. The new class starts Monday and we should be swinging through on Thursday I hope. Drop this load in CT 86* weather, man it was hot un-tarping. Heading out Sunday afternoon from my home terminal in Concord, NH going to Oswego, NY to drop a load for Monday delivery, picking up just outside of Buffalo and headed to Roanoke, VA for a Tuesday delivery.

 

Day 10-11ish of OTR (On The Road) Training

Last week of training. We headed out on Sunday as planned with the 10hr break scheduled in Syracuse. We hit a lot of heavy rain on the way but finally made it around 11pm. Started the next morning with breakfast at dennys. Headed up to Oswego to drop off the load of Sheetrock at this little hardware store. Raby's I believe it was. Great service. They hurried to get us unloaded and on the road. Up to this point we're still on track for a good start to the week and then.... Message from dispatch. The paper roll load to VA was pulled from us and we were put on a drop and hook in Rochester delivering to Rochester... Never guess where.. A 3:45am Tues. delivery time at Home Depot. Ehhhh This will put us at our 10hr break at 1pm. and then try to sleep early so we're up early after sleeping in on Monday morning. I guess it was a hot load so....

Delivered that this morning and headed to Kirkwood, NY to pick up some plastic pipe heading to 2 stops in Baltimore. 10hr break at 2pm and headed to the receiver for a 6am delivery. No preplan as of yet but I'm hoping to be headed back to Montgomery to get my truck.

I'd like to start a new thread on the adventures of flat bedding with Eastern. Where do you guys think I should start that thread?

 

Thanks @Vic Firth Yea it does seem it