Packing for orientation, suggestions?

96 in Phoenix right now. So bring shorts and flip flops too. /sarcasm

 

Keep valuables in your lap. Anything you store in the luggage compartment under the bus can easily be stolen by some lowlife. Many drivers get to their new company on the bus, then discover their luggage is missing. When the bus stops to let passengers off, it's easy for them to grab an extra suitcase because no one is really paying attention.

 

You want to travel around as light as possible. Orientation sux. From the time you get on the greydog until you are issued your truck, you get shuffled around. This is the part that most are unprepared for. Well, except for the ex-military. People have it in their head that it's going to be fun and adventurous and whatnot and what they're going to do and whatnot...

...and you get shuffled around for weeks.

30 hours on a greydog, and you moving and sleeping when you can. Surrounded by weirdos. Weirdos. Stupid. The bus driver will announce where you are and how long the bus is staying, YET people will get off the bus and go inside a sit down restaurant on a 5 minute stop.

People will show up for orientation, after getting shuffled around 2 days on a bus, eating snack machine food, and then sitting there watching nature films and company propaganda and 50 %wont make it through orientation. Those that make it through orientation will ask if they are ready to go, and half of these will want to go home for a break. You will never see them again.

If you want to be successful, you have to make up your mind, come Hell or high water, you will not return home until you get your truck. This is why I told you to stay away from the negative talk. A fighter that takes a fight without preparing to go the distance is going to get KTFO. Get through orientation. Bring your bank routing info with you to set up direct deposit while you are in orientation. Do not get into a trainer truck thinking that you're going to be friends. You are there to learn how to operate the truck, and he's there to teach you. If the guy can drive, you can learn from him just by watching him.

During your down time waiting for a load, tell your trainer that you want to practice backing. We don't just want a job, we want to be good at what we do. So, while you have the time, PRACTICE. Find a few empty spots and practice backing in, spacing the truck evenly and straight between the lines. Don't be one of those fools that just sit around playing on their phones while you're waiting for a load. Practice your craft.

When you get your own truck, the bad times are over. Go home, relax, then stock up your truck. Time to rumble. Time to make money.

 

I used to do that. Look for a big empty area at the back of a truckstop and practice backing in to parking spots. It's hard to to do that with Elogs now because the Elog will automatically kick in to either "Driving" or "On Duty" and this isn't good if you're at the truckstop taking a break.

 

That depends on how your company sets the elogs up.