Starting my career at Millis

Well, yes, I have been getting paid on a timely manner - aside from one restart where the truck wasn't moving, but I was expecting that since we were not under load and it wasn't ht.

As for the eye to eye talks, we've had several of them already - he even told me two weeks back that he felt that I should get another trainer because he wasn't getting through to me. As of now, I'm not under a trainer and I am awaiting a phone call from M. Millis for a new one to be assigned - as it is a holiday weekend, I suspect it might be later this week before I hear something.

The shift timing I've been playing with isn't seeming to work. Sometimes I rush the upshifts, others I deliberately take the rpm's down 200 or so (about all of the time it takes to not rush for a 'Adam's Family' (trainer in school recommended that timing) 'snap count' of in/out, in/out on the clutch. It doesn't seem to make that much of a difference as far as the timing goes; however I think I'm seeing a response when I don't rush do to the fact that I have a tendency to not 'pop' the clutch out/hard release (engage) on the gear out/in. Maybe that's the trick? It seems that under a mt load the effects of 'popping' are less noticeable - I guess b/c the flywheel isn't under as much stress to transfer the load from the drive shaft? If that is what it is then it should make since to soft release (slow) the engagement of the clutch overall - epically in the lower gear range...
I could be totally wrong.. but someone here has to know.
On a side note of that, I've been told that one truck's shifting patterns and needs are slightly different from the next (even if the same powertrain set-up is being used) so there is always a need for messing the driver with the unit. Of course, I believe it was a driver who told me this.. so...

Oh, thought to ask this here and see what the consensus is from this side of the tracks? I was unloading a truck by hand the other day (a wrecked unit) - 5 hrs with a pallet jack and a six ft boom forklift and some 20 & 30 chains... the driver and my trainer were there to help - the trainer gets pay for hand unload/loading I'm sure. What about me? Do I still get trainee pay on top of hand labor or just straight trainee pay?

 

Oh, almost forgot, yes Bear - I'm shifting about the same rpm's as you, both up and down.

 

As I have been with a new trainer now for a little over two weeks - I needed to update since I've actually been home for the past couple of days.

I've passed my state exam - took two tries, but hey..
I've failed the company test once, and I'm going to pass it next round; being said I've completed my eight weeks OJT out here - I'm due for at least two more if not three according to the director of training. I don't agree with how the testing was performed and the given circumstances for the 'instructor' and my own personal ability on the day of testing at a 'particular' test site or the equipment on which I was tested - but the director doesn't exactly see it my way. No, I'm not going to post it here (so don't ask); that's just not professional. Yes, the training is worth the money I spent - I did pass my state exam. I'm looking forward to working here actually, and I can't let one bad experience get the best of my hard earned position that awaits me; I'll strive harder now instead.

My new trainer is great. I'm in a 2010 T6 and loving it (aside from the space issue cause he's a big boy) - but if it was just me & the truck I'd be stoked. My shifting has dramatically improved since the last post; still needs improving (especially with an emty trl) but I'm getting good remarks from the trainer. Backing is also a bit different as is driving the center of my lane coming from the T2 to the T6 for obvious reasons; it's taken me about the two weeks that I've been with my new truck and trainer to adjust.

As for the new life and what I can and have experience - I LOVE IT! Sure - every job has the little things, but this one has by far fewer than any other job I've ever experienced within the first 90 days and if that's the bulk of the expectations then I'm set for the next couple of years at the least. I don't think there's another job that could be 'banked' on for the upcoming down-slide in the employment market that requires this type of start-up for cost/training and requires the amount of responsibility and dedication from the individual which gives back the freedom from burden on so many levels for oneself. There are some times that I wished I could have followed this dream about ten years ago - yet I also have talked to a few drivers that have done just that and from what I gather, I'm better off with where I'm at because of the changes that have come as of late. New operating standards and QC's are just the tip of the pro's/con's that I hear time and time again - but it's all standard issue for me so I have nothing to compare it with if I had started years ago; and it's going to become more of the norm for everyone regardless of the independent or company operator. Safety is everyone's concern (at least it should be for everyone - I've seen some drivers that could put a yard stick between there front bumper and the D.O.T. bumper and not have any room left - and even worse - tail a 4wheeler like that??!) I like to think of something that came to mind on my first few weeks out.. I may not know the people around me as I travel from towns to cities, however, if I were in an accident (regardless of who's fault), I bet there would be a circle of fifth's connection from a passerby vehicle to the one involved. Sometimes I get cut off and think the same thing about the vehicles around me... what if they cut out in front of a vehicle coming around me.. what if I had hit the brakes a bit harder.. what if.. What if they caused the reaction that killed someone they knew or they're related? -- I allow for the unexpected, always. I try to put myself three and four steps ahead, always. I give myself a comfort zone - and try to keep it. I only wish every driver (big truck or smart car*) did the same.