Starting orientation/training next week CT Transportation

I know what you mean on the drag racing...I had a couple of late model CAMAROS (1999-2002), but I like the CORVETTE for the handling and the overall ride! I am a HUGE VETTE guy! Save the Wave!

BTW, scroll up, I added some pictures.

 

This morning was the first day of training with a driver. I was placed (for the first two weeks), with a dedicated driver out of GEORGETOWN. Kind of a good deal, because I am home every night.

We met at 0400 at a big dry wall plant. He had a load already, so I jumped in the day cab and off we went to Columbia, SC. I thought all the MACK trucks in CT were AUTOs, well he had a 6 speed straight drive. We had a great conversation and talked about my weaknesses and what I really wanted focus on. We get to the warehouse we needed to drop the load and there were several other flatbed trucks waiting. Went quickly, we helped out a McElroy driver in removing and folding his tarp, to get things moving along. We soon were unloaded and I was behind the wheel driving this straight stick 6 speed. It took me a few stop and goes to get use to it, but it didn't take long for me to get accustomed to the pattern and RPM/Speed band for me to shift at. My trainer seemed impressed with my driving and that made me feel good...of course, backing this spread axle trailer humbled me. We are going to work on that.

We dropped and hooked and tarped a load to learn that we did not have the time to get it to Charleston (Ladson), before they shut their doors. After some calls, I got lucky and was off early. Tomorrow at 0500 I am driving the load with my trainer to Charleston.

My trainer is very cool and we get along pretty good. Tomorrow is another day.

Micah
"Chief"

 

Orientation pay is $175 for the week. When you team up with a trainer you get $375 a week. Benefits? I am retired Navy and won't take any of their high priced benefits. Seems to be the same across the boards in the industry. My first week with my trainer has been buuuuuusy! He is a dedicated driver and all we do is haul, haul, haul. We go to Wilmington, then Charleston, then back to Summmerville. I personally will never do dedicated. OTR drivers get more down time to at least rest. I get my ten hour, but two of it is driving to and from the meeting location. It has been a blast though! Hard work, but fun!

 

Okay, Orientation Pay is only $170, not $175 as I previously stated. Sorry for that folks.

My first week out with my trainer (a dedicated driver) has come to an end. Running dedicated is a lot of work and I am not interested in doing it once my training is over. I continue to just build more and more respect for the dedicated drivers.

I had the opportunity to meet some other CT drivers, both have been with the company 5+ years; one had over 15. That made me fill pretty good about my decision in going with CT. The dispatcher has not been the favorite of the drivers, but I am learning that most drivers don't care much for their dispatchers. I can relate, being 20 plus years in the Navy, we had positional personnel we did not like to deal with at times too.

I am going to be driving with the dedicated driver again next week and hopefully they will move me to an OTR driver. We shall see.

All in all, I am having a blast and slowly learning how to back the spread axle trailers. That has been one of my biggest challenges.

Micah
"Chief"

 

i am a safety first guy, so I have been finding myself being particular about securing the load. I know backing will come with time. I appreciate the tips for sure. As each day passes I find myself doing more to ensure I don't put anyone in harms way and doing whatever I can to be safe.