Starting off with Schneider OTR

AM14 · Aug 2, 2016

Friday said: ↑

Well, after an hour and a half at the gate, support shift came through with the six digit number. I was promptly issued a respirator mask in case of chemical leaks, told to wear my safety glasses at all times (but not the hardhat! I'm going to find a place that requires my pink hardhat sometime) and some really impressive directions considering I was just going around to the back side of the plant. Also I was told not to use my cell phone not only while driving but also while walking. Hmm, yes I'm a child and require direct supervision. Might as well issue me a baby sitter. But wait. They did. When I got backed in, a guy from shipping came out and walked me to my trailer. Then he proceeded to stand next to me while I was sweeping it out. Pointing at random dust flecks to make sure I got it all. Mind you, I'd already swept the trailer out when I picked it up. And good thing I did too, it had enough junk in it that I'd probably have needed a bol for that crap. But it was 99.9% clean. He walked with me with a flashlight and we made sure it was 100% spotless. Then he sat me down in the "driver lounge". A room with a flickering fluorescent light and a vending machine and no cell service. And told me that I needed to sit within his view and keep my safety vest and safety glasses on. If I left his view or took either of those off, they'd stop loading me. So.. I sat there for an hour and a half. Staring at him. While he was staring at me. While a guy loaded 8 paper rolls on my truck. Ugh. Not a fan of this shipper at all. But 1000 miles. I'm putting up with mostly anything for that.

Every cloud needs a silver lining though. I'm stopped at the Sprint Mart at the intersection of 45 and 82 in Mississippi. And I highly Recommend (yes with a capital R) this place. Good parking spots, super clean lot and store, great food inside even though it's 11pm... Bathroom was spotless. Staff was ridiculously friendly even though I put them through their paces trying to charge the scale to the Schneider card. Unsuccessfully I might add. Need to get reimbursed, but only for $8. And they have a beer cave for the alcoholically inclined. Cheap beer too. Free coffee with scale, I'm going to collect on that in the morning. And by far the best part is that it's not a major chain. So I don't see a swift or crst truck anywhere. My bumper is safe tonight.

Anyhow. Off to Wisconsin tomorrow. And I get to sleep in since I didn't go off the clock until 2300. It's going to be a great week, I just know it.

Edit: forgot to add that in the entire time I was at that shipper, I was the ONLY dryvan there. An entire shipping office staff couldn't be bothered to use anything else except the 6 digit number to figure out how to load me. And then all 3 forklift drivers took an hour and a half to put 8 paper rolls on my truck. Just sayin. Come on now.
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All that supervision just for rolls?? And yes it takes an insane amount of time to get live loaded for rolls. If you ever walk into the plant, you'll see why. They stack them like 50 feet high. Those clamp trucks are slow on the way up and even slower on the way down. Plus it takes a good half hour for them to lay down the friction mats. I mean sheets of old paper.

Friday · Aug 2, 2016

AM14 said: ↑

All that supervision just for rolls?? And yes it takes an insane amount of time to get live loaded for rolls. If you ever walk into the plant, you'll see why. They stack them like 50 feet high. Those clamp trucks are slow on the way up and even slower on the way down. Plus it takes a good half hour for them to lay down the friction mats. I mean sheets of old paper.
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That's fair. I wasn't really considering getting them off those huge stacks. And yep. All that for rolls. I was expecting to be hauling cell phones or something out with all that. But nope. Rolls.

mickeyrat · Aug 2, 2016

Friday said: ↑

Well, after an hour and a half at the gate, support shift came through with the six digit number. I was promptly issued a respirator mask in case of chemical leaks, told to wear my safety glasses at all times (but not the hardhat! I'm going to find a place that requires my pink hardhat sometime) and some really impressive directions considering I was just going around to the back side of the plant. Also I was told not to use my cell phone not only while driving but also while walking. Hmm, yes I'm a child and require direct supervision. Might as well issue me a baby sitter. But wait. They did. When I got backed in, a guy from shipping came out and walked me to my trailer. Then he proceeded to stand next to me while I was sweeping it out. Pointing at random dust flecks to make sure I got it all. Mind you, I'd already swept the trailer out when I picked it up. And good thing I did too, it had enough junk in it that I'd probably have needed a bol for that crap. But it was 99.9% clean. He walked with me with a flashlight and we made sure it was 100% spotless. Then he sat me down in the "driver lounge". A room with a flickering fluorescent light and a vending machine and no cell service. And told me that I needed to sit within his view and keep my safety vest and safety glasses on. If I left his view or took either of those off, they'd stop loading me. So.. I sat there for an hour and a half. Staring at him. While he was staring at me. While a guy loaded 8 paper rolls on my truck. Ugh. Not a fan of this shipper at all. But 1000 miles. I'm putting up with mostly anything for that.

Every cloud needs a silver lining though. I'm stopped at the Sprint Mart at the intersection of 45 and 82 in Mississippi. And I highly Recommend (yes with a capital R) this place. Good parking spots, super clean lot and store, great food inside even though it's 11pm... Bathroom was spotless. Staff was ridiculously friendly even though I put them through their paces trying to charge the scale to the Schneider card. Unsuccessfully I might add. Need to get reimbursed, but only for $8. And they have a beer cave for the alcoholically inclined. Cheap beer too. Free coffee with scale, I'm going to collect on that in the morning. And by far the best part is that it's not a major chain. So I don't see a swift or crst truck anywhere. My bumper is safe tonight.

Anyhow. Off to Wisconsin tomorrow. And I get to sleep in since I didn't go off the clock until 2300. It's going to be a great week, I just know it.

Edit: forgot to add that in the entire time I was at that shipper, I was the ONLY dryvan there. An entire shipping office staff couldn't be bothered to use anything else except the 6 digit number to figure out how to load me. And then all 3 forklift drivers took an hour and a half to put 8 paper rolls on my truck. Just sayin. Come on now.
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cat scale app. first create an account on the cat scale website. load your name and card info etc. app is great.

Friday · Aug 2, 2016

mickeyrat said: ↑

cat scale app. first create an account on the cat scale website. load your name and card info etc. app is great.
Click to expand...

Oh I've got it. And I use it every time I can. Don't have to make my own parking space and don't have to submit extra paperwork? Yes please.

This scale wasn't a cat scale though.

mickeyrat · Aug 2, 2016

Friday said: ↑

Oh I've got it. And I use it every time I can. Don't have to make my own parking space and don't have to submit extra paperwork? Yes please.

This scale wasn't a cat scale though.
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thats why our fuel card didnt work

tommymonza · Aug 22, 2016

So Schneider has no Apu s or inverters in their trucks? Are you allowed to hook up a inverter?

Friday · Aug 22, 2016

tommymonza said: ↑

So Schneider has no Apu s or inverters in their trucks? Are you allowed to hook up a inverter?
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That's partially true. Some trucks come with a pre installed 1500w inverter. Some trucks have parksmart units (mine does). Which is a battery apu. Kind of. For climate control only.

You can't hook up an inverter to the battery. And the shop won't do it for you. You can however have inverters that plug in.

tommymonza · Aug 22, 2016

Friday said: ↑

That's partially true. Some trucks come with a pre installed 1500w inverter. Some trucks have parksmart units (mine does). Which is a battery apu. Kind of. For climate control only.

You can't hook up an inverter to the battery. And the shop won't do it for you. You can however have inverters that plug in.
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Thanks

Just been thinking about going the same route as you.

Looking for a company sponsored cdl program. Was signed up with Henderson for their program before they shut it down.
Just got turned down by Jim Palmer. Would not give me a reason

Heading up to Michigan to get a Michigan DL to see if I can get a few other companies to talk to me since no one wants to hire out of Florida.

Unreal.

Friday · Aug 22, 2016

tommymonza said: ↑

Thanks

Just been thinking about going the same route as you.

Looking for a company sponsored cdl program. Was signed up with Henderson for their program before they shut it down.
Just got turned down by Jim Palmer. Would not give me a reason

Heading up to Michigan to get a Michigan DL to see if I can get a few other companies to talk to me since no one wants to hire out of Florida.

Unreal.
Click to expand...

That's too bad about JP. My route isn't a bad one, just be careful with getting your license thru swift, it works but they'll relish the opportunity to kick your ### to the curb and take your money if you screw up there. You should message @Chinatown and see if he's got some ideas.

tommymonza · Aug 22, 2016

Friday said: ↑

That's too bad about JP. My route isn't a bad one, just be careful with getting your license thru swift, it works but they'll relish the opportunity to kick your ### to the curb and take your money if you screw up there. You should message @Chinatown and see if he's got some ideas.
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Yep been on a PM with the China man.

Thought I was golden with JP when I called them on Friday and they said no problem hiring out of Florida. Than I sprung on them no work last 3 years but have a TWIC they said NP
Thought I was golden with my perfect MVR and criminal and credit check

Guess not

Friday said: ↑

That's too bad about JP. My route isn't a bad one, just be careful with getting your license thru swift, it works but they'll relish the opportunity to kick your ### to the curb and take your money if you screw up there. You should message @Chinatown and see if he's got some ideas.
Click to expand...

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