WSE - from my point of view

Well, we got our load of spuds, a couple hours early (yippee!!) and headed back east. This load was headed to Clarksville AR to the Wally World Distribution there.

We motored back across the La Veta Pass (still reeling over the beautiful terrain) and headed over to Boise City OK for the night. We shut down at a small truck stop...I mean "travel center". Cracks me up how the marketing folks will do anything to attract folks although I am sure that the modern "truck stops" are much different from those of days gone by. And to date...if I have seen a lot lizard, I didn't know it, and for that I am most grateful!!!

Anyway, yesterday was just another day of motoring through the vast farm lands of OK. Being from the land of trees and motoring visibilities of a few hundred yards, it is incredible to see how vast these farm lands really are. And that good hard working Americans are still able to feed the world. Seeing all this though proves that I have definitely lived a sheltered life.

While driving, I looked in the mirror to see that the reefer was having some issues. The lights will let you know whether all is well or not so well. So, needing to stop for a nice shower anyway, we found a T/A "Travel Center" in the OK City within a couple hundred yards from the local Thermo-King dealer/shop. Luckily, they weren't too busy and got us right in. Why do these shops, with large "pull through" service bays, ask you to back your trailer into the bay and drop it? I think they do it simply because they can. Any way, I think it took longer to position the trailer for the repair than the actual repair took. On the bright side, we were motoring shortly thereafter.

We arrived Clarksville AR pretty early in the evening although with the time change, it seemed much later. We shut it down at about 1830 at a small truck stop just across the street from the W-M Dist Center. We were in for an early day as our appt time was 0415. Admittedly, we did phone the receiving folks when we arrived just to see if "heck" had frozen over...(i.e., they would take us early). The lady on the phone was very pleasant, so the answer was a pleasant "no" but thanks for trying. It was what we expected, however, the answer is ALWAYS no unless you ask. So, in the bunk for a short nap.

We fired it up at 0315 and headed over. We were number 2 in line at the guard shack...sweet! The line can get pretty deep there in a hurry and you are not considered on time for your appointment until you have checked in with receiving (the guard shack isn't enough). No problem...we checked in, got our door assignment, and dropped it perfectly there. Then parked for a short break. In just a little over an hour, we get the call that we are unloaded and paperwork is ready. Two hours later, we are back at the terminal in Elm Springs AR, write up a couple of things needing service on the tractor, did some laundry and began our Thanksgiving break.

We all, regardless of our circumstances in life, have so much to be grateful for. Whether we agree or not with what is going on in our country and in the world, we still live in the greatest country on the face of the earth (now, how much longer we can say that is questionable, but for now, it is still true).

I am grateful for my family, my dear wife and son at home, who have given me the opportunity to embark on such a change in career from what I have done for the past 15 years (whether for a couple of months or for several years - that is still to be determined). I am committed and have no plans to do anything else. I am most grateful for our missionary son who is currently (and for the next 17 months) serving the Filipino people on a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am also thankful for great parents who raised me to be the person I am today (for better or worse).

I am grateful for all those who serve both here and abroad...those who keep us safe from attack and protect our freedoms around the world, in less than ideal circumstances, allowing us to do the things in life we desire. May God truly bless our Military Service members and their families for their volunteerism and their service.

And most importantly, I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me and showed His love both by giving me the opportunity to be on the earth at this time and enjoy its beauty and bounty. And lastly, and certainly not least, for sending His Son, Our Savior, to provide an example for us to follow in the conduct of our lives, One who suffered for and took upon Himself our sins so that we may return to live with Him again one day. I am so very grateful for that in my life.

May God Richly Bless You All.

Happy Thanksgiving To You All.

 

Very good, danc. One never knows...

 

After two days in a motel and another in the truck while my trainer took home time for T'giving it's time to get rolling again. (Honestly, they didn't have to put me up in a motel but they did and even paid me for the 3 days). I guess it could have been worse. While I didn't get to go home for the holiday, I pretty much expected that when I left home for training almost 3 weeks ago. And heck, I was able to sit around and watch the Iron Bowl (Alabama v. Auburn) and FSU v. Alabama basketball.

We won't discuss any Florida State football games on Saturday (thank goodness Tim Tebow is a Senior and has played his final game vs. FSU).

So far, I am only about 4,500 miles into my required 10,000 miles of training and we still haven't made it to the NE, the Pacific NW or to CA. WSE's training program requires that all new drivers go to these areas as part of their training.

Actually, 4,500 miles isn't really that bad considering that we've had the equivalent of about 6-7 days of total down time.

Our current run is about 650 miles to TN and hopefully we'll get a load from there that will take us to New England or points west.

I don't find anything about driving or maneuvering the truck to be very difficult or even challenging to be totally honest. The toughest part (though it will get easier with practice) is remembering to communicate the various items over the QC that need to be communicated as well as the various items of paperwork required at the end of a run. Logbooks are also pretty simple (in my opinion).

I am looking forward to getting my truck assignment and I really hope I get a truck with an APU. This truck has one and it is awesome. We have Volvos, Macks and Internationals. I guess the Volvo would be the best I could hope for but either would be fine, especially if it has an APU.

So, I will post again once we unload in Knoxville. 'Night all.

 

No, jtrner...Let's NOT discuss the gat.... (you see, I can't even write the word mostless discuss it). Okay, well, we all knew it would be a bloodbath...I was just glad that 1) we scored and 2) they took mercy upon us to only score 37.

Sitting in Palmyra PA currently, getting ready to head west to Ogden...will update later.

Take care.

 

Wow, I thought for a day there I was a route driver. Our load from "The Caves" in Springfield went over to Knoxville. In and out of there no problem.

Load plan then sends us back to Lebanon, drop and hook, for a load bound for Gordonsville VA, just east of Charlottesville. I grew up in VA and I knew how beautiful that part of the country really was but man!, how I had forgotten!!!

Made it over to G'ville to another Wally World Dist. Cntr. unload. Very pleasant folks there. Got in and out in about 3 hours (we were an hour early for our appt). Dispatch asked us to deadhead back to Stuarts Draft VA (Willy Wonka's Factory aka Hershey Foods and some of the best candy bars I've had...Fast Breaks..yum, yum.) and grab a load for Palmyra, PA. Again, load was ready when we got there, we grabbed it, scaled it out and we were about 300lbs over gross. We were able to get the axles good, it was just an over gross issue of 300lbs.

Contacted dispatch and they asked if we had an APU...why, yes we do!. My trainer (5 year OTR vet, all with WSE) had never heard that before. So, we had the qualcomm proof that we were fine (we also have about 250lbs of extra driver weight...ok, no weight jokes).

So, with renewed confidence, we head on out to Palmyra PA, drop the trailer, grab and MT. It was only a couple hundred miles or so. Once done, we looked for somewhere to park this pig....errrr, I mean rig. It's now about 2:00-2:30AM.

With little effort we found a spot sufficient for the night. Slept 'til morning and after a hot shower and late breakfast, we received our pre-plan...Palmyra PA to Ogden UT. Nice!! Downside...we can't get the load until tomorrow, 12/3. No biggie though....it's drop and hook on both ends and doesn't deliver until the 7th which should give us sufficient time to do what we need to do.

I am a little bummed about my miles thusfar (5900+) but this run should get me a lot closer to my 10k. I am currently at just under 6k with 4k to go. This one will take me to about 8k. After runs to CA and WA/OR (which we will hopefully get before coming back this way), I should be just about on schedule for my truck assignment and ready to take on the big road solo.

Today marks day 21 of my training. I was hoping to get the 10k miles done easily within 4 weeks. Admittedly, without the T'giving holiday in there, I am confident that we would have made it easily. So, my target is still the end of next week, which is just over the 4 weeks I had hoped for.

My plan is to get a truck, run solo for 2ish weeks, and then head home on December 23rd and be there through New Years.

Willis Shaw's policy is 1 day home for every 6 days out after a minimum of 14 days out. So, including the 23rd, I will have been out 49 days since the 11th of November. SO, I am expecting 8 days (Dec 24th through Dec 31st). That will have me heading back out on Jan 1 (hmmmmmm?, is that likely when everything will be shut down? or is Sunday, Jan 2, more likely?). Or does this world work when everyone else is having fun? Don't know yet. So I am hoping to be able to squeeze out an extra day in there because of New Years. We'll see. I just can't imagine being dispatched on New Year's Day. Anyway, that is my plan....hope it matches up with WSE's plan.

Thanks for reading...more to follow later...

Not sure I can answer a lot of your questions (if you have them) although I can certainly tell you what I have experienced of "WSE - from my point of view".

 

I can't speak for everyone there but as far as the things I have been told, I have not been lied to yet. So, based on my experience, I would believe that is true. The problem is no doubt the Christmas holiday and the delay that would cause in training...not to mention the issue of what to do with the trainees during the trainers' hometime. I imagine some stay out but I can't imagine that many of them do.

Which recruiter are you talking with?