Schneider training March 15th, Carlisle PA

Hello Jason, I have been following your posts from day one. Every now and then I would post my own comment. Congrats to you. I no exactly how you feel. I completed the 14day school on April 4th. I then went out with an OTR TE then with a Local TE. I passed SQT and went back to Dallas TX and preped for my CDL. I received my CDL May 7th. Im now at home enjoying time with my family while waiing for a truck. I no that some of the van drivers received their trucks the day of completing there CDL. Have you gotten your truck yet? Also, have you purchased things like a CB radio, GPS system, Power converter, cooler etc for your truck yet? One of the guys that I graduated with had alot of stuff that I haven't purchased yet. Im sure to start off Im going out OTR with the bear min. But I wanted to know, because I could take advantage of this time while at home to try to get the best deal as possible. Take care buddy, Im sure we'll meet up out there some day. Im going to be running out of Reserve, La. A good friend of mine will be running out of Hoston TX by the name of Daniel.

 

Hey Jason, sounds like you're doing ok out there. I just found out that I have a truck. I go down to Reserve, La tomorrow to check it out. I still dont have an assigned DBL yet. I think I'm going to get that information tomorrow as well. I did order the Copilot 11. I also went out and got a power inverter so that I can run the lap top while in the truck. I dont have a CB yet either. I also got a Ice cooler. Nothing fancy. just a plane ol Ice chest. I got myself plenty of bottled water, and food. after reading your reply. I got myself some sheets and a comforter/blanket and pillows. I dont have xm radio either. I hope the truck at least has a cd player if not, I'll make due. I will keep ya posted and let ya no how things work out. Talk to ya soon. Take care and be safe.

 

*as far as sheets, your truck might have a bedsheet, or whatever its called that covers the bed via elastics. I didn't think they came with them, but one of my beds did. Also, one of my beds has a plastic or immitation leather or whatever cover on it, where the other one is just a regular bed. Just had the idea right now of combining both beds ontop of each other for a poofy bed, lol...hmmmm; too bad I never sleep in the darned thing.

*xm is good. Think hard about what you want to get though. They have a decent selection. I wish my radio could record so I could go back and listen to sections I missed. Others have the ability to ding and let you know when a fave song is playing. etc...

*The truck doesnt have a CD player, only the standard crap radio. Mine is bad as it has a short somewhere or something and the back speakers turn on and off at will. I have the XM and a MP3 player hooked up via the cassette adaptor...has worked well since Novmber with no issues so far. However, I think you can probably fairly easily take the radio out and install your own in there. I rode up with the team that brings me my freight one night in October and they swapped the radio out with one that had a CD player.

*research the CB too. I have a cheapy cobra and Im not sure why (outside of the fact that its cheap), but I have a very short / if any, broadcast range. I can recieve maybe 1/4 - 1/2 mile out. Of course, I also use the trucks already supplied coax and antennas. Would like to get a good broadcast range CB (whatever that might be) and hook it up via another CB antenna Id mount to the mirror mounts.

 

Hey guys. I just wanted to post and let yall know that Yes... I finally picked up my truck today. It was a little scary this morning. I walked up to her and man was it a mess. I open the door and right off the back. the permit book was a complete mess. Then the door speakers were missing. It did have two speakers in the sleeper. Radio has to be almost full blast to hear it while driving. Under the hood is a nice, actually clean CAT motor. Didn't notice any oil or fluid leakage during the pre-trip. Tires and breaks looked good as well. I engaged the PTO to check out the pump. Once removing the caps I then noted it wasn't clean dry an order free. I should have put down spill pads and a bucket. because when I opened the bleeder values. Guess what? it was full of product. I went to the tank was and had the pump and fitting etc. cleaned. Even had the storage box sprayed out. I went to the shop and those guys got some one to clean the inside. He did a great job. I then took the truck and went to the blue beacon and had it washed. Man..I got to admit..she's starting to come together. With some TLC she'll be home..Like one driver at the yard said..she may not look the best, but as long as those wheels are turning and Im staying out of the shop is all that counts. Im excited. Ive got my windex an other car care products. I cant wait to get in her tomorrow and clean her up.. Oh yeah I did get a new mattress before leaving the yard today. My DBL/STL is really down to earth and understanding. He's working with this newbee. I think were going to work great together. I will def. keep you guys posted. Thanks for all the pointers. keep them coming.. The true learning starts now.

 

"I Got My Truck"

That's GREAT! Good luck to you.

The part of me that wants to be on the road envies you!

That's a good thing!

 

Lol I have to admit I was wondering what you were talking about when you wrote PTO and product spilling out and all that, and then I realized you were talking about the tanker trailer. I was like "does he know something about the truck that I dont know?" lol.

A cat motor? Thats strange...I thuoght they all had Detroits...I wonder if this is an older truck?

That stinks about the speakers...but maybe you can pick up a pair of cheapy speakers if the wires are still in the doors...wonder why they were taken out for. Sounds like someone might have removed them and put in their own speakers...if that was the case, maybe the originals are hiding somewhere. In my truck, the radio sucks as well, although all the speakers work, albiet intermittantly....if I hit a good bump, the rear speakers fade out...so I then have to reach and play with the knob on the radio and push it a certain way and sure enough, the speakers come back...until I hit another bump. Wonder if the radio is under the warranty of the tractor. hmmm.

When I got my truck, its a weird situation, but my DBL sent it up to my town to wait for me to finish training. The OTR guy who was filling in on my route had to use my truck for a few days while his was getting some engine work done. He bleached and washed the bed cover, and pretty much detailed the inside of the truck.
*He bought a brush and dustpan set that snaps together in one piece and fits easily under a seat and out of the way.
*I bought a thing of febreze Antimicrobial in the truck and every now and then when Im done for the night (since I dont sleep in the truck), I febreze the seats...helps keep it smelling somewhat fresh
*I also bought a car air fresehner...not sure the brand but its sold on the top shelf at Wal Mart in their air freshener section. I think its a Glade product. Then I just put it on its lowest setting and on the far passenger side vent and it keeps a nice scent in the truck...I think the one I buy is their 'neutralizing' smell.
*Windex wipes are a good buy, as well as a can of those lemon scented germ killing whipes from Clorox or the ACME brand. Its amazign how much junk gets on the steering wheel.
*Stopping by a dollar store can help get some more supplies for the truck like a small garbage can...etc. I bought some window wipes and they just smear all around...but the orange wipes seemed to work for wiping off the dash...but they too leave a streak it seems.
*Buy a bottle of orange cleaner of some sort and a little scrubber...good for scrubbing inside the truck with some paper towels to clean up.
*When filling at a truck stop, think twice about using their window washers. Lots of drivers that have the exposed tanks will use those wands to clean off their diesel tanks...getting the diesel (aka oil) on the pads...which you then use to wash your windows. I did this for the longest time and couldnt figure out why my windows kept streaking and smearing.
*Im not sure what types or how many pigtails the tankers use...maybe two? Just additional FYI for ya: Our dedicated fleet in Denver recently had a retro fit done to our trucks because the road chemicals were eating away at the connections...corroding them or something and apparently they were having lots of issues. I had my tractors black pigtail connection replaced as well as replaced an in-line circuit breaker.
*with that in mind...wouldnt hurt to disconnect the pigtails on the tractor side...I dont think anyone ever does...just to see what the connections are like. My tractor...I kept smelling an electrical fire type of smell and couldnt figure out what it was until one day the trailer lights wouldnt work. I brought it to the shop and found out I had a short in the tractor with the green pigtail. The wire was melted on the tractor side as well as the connection was melted pretty good too.
*do you have anti-siphon devices in the fuel tanks? some tractors dont.
*if you have a webasto...turn it on and make sure it works. Then shut it off via the controls, giving it time to shut down properly.

 

Hi,

I went into the simulators today and tried to shift an 10 speed Schneider fake truck. Since I have never in my life shifted a moving vehicle I do say I can do well with only about 45 minutes of practice. I feel sorry for the poor trainer that gets matched with me for tomorrow (Tuesday). I can already shift up ok with some skipping of the second clutch. So sometimes I shift "Clutch, neutral, next gear". I can bump and run but sometimes forget to use the clutch again after the neutral. I will need some practice, but I don't know if Schneider will want to teach me for more than a day. I am probably an 'A' student in the book work, but actually shifting will take practice. I am sure they are used to the grinding of gears. We'll see what happens when I am in a better fitted seat. I know they told me in training that I wouldn't be good at first. I still was grinding gears some when they kicked me off the simulator for dinner. But it seemed like everybody was doing that too.

I have started a blog on my website for future people thinking of Schneider for training. I will try to keep it updated and provide details. I get to sleep in tomorrow, all the way to 5:30am. I have been getting up at 4:30am. THEY ARE KILLING ME!. But if that is supposed to break me, it's going to be harder than that. Just kidding.

According to the way they do things, it seems they will jump through fire to make you pass the school. I am enjoying it so far. I am worried a little about getting shifting done, as shown above in this message. I am in Dallas, Tx and I started Saturday. But if I not to finish it will be because they give up on me. I'm not quiting for all the gold in Egypt.