High-Seas to Highways

[devildice]

Hey, they were just welcoming you to the world of truck driving. :sad: You know the old military saying "Hurry up and wait!".

Anyhow, good to hear that you made it this far. Good luck in the future. I am really interested in your securement training and load issues.

Take care!

Thanks.....I will be posting as often as I can to keep you and anyone else that might be interested updated

[devildice]

Day One of Orientation with Davis Transport 07/09/07
I did not sleep too well last night. I think it was a combination of sleeping in a “strange” bed, a little too much late night coffee, and maybe a little bit of excitement about getting started on my 2nd career.

There are a total of 6 of us attending orientation. 2 of the guys are experienced drivers and the other 3 and I the “newbie’s’. They all are very nice guys and I have made 5 new friends today. Speaking of nice people, today we met several of the employees’s to include the owner of the company, and EVERYONE seems so nice and genuine. I also got to finally meet my recruiter Pat. Now Pat is more than a recruiter to me, she has become a true friend as we have been in communication for about 6-7 months now. Sometimes we would just chew the fat about everyday life and nothing to do with Davis or the industry. So it was an absolute pleasure to finally put a face with the voice/emails.

We filled out and signed a few papers and met several of the company staff as well as conducting the required pre-employment drug test. We spent a good portion of the day outside going over vehicle inspection. This was much more detailed than what we learned in school. In addition to the normal pre-trip inspections, Davis requires a though inspection of the tractor and trailer at least once a week. This includes greasing any and all fittings as well as many other things which are too numerous to list. All in all though, it really wasn’t too difficult. I got the impression that they want us to develop “good” habits in order to prevent a lot of headaches later on. This was not a new concept to me as we conduct similar inspections in the Navy.

After lunch we had to take a road test. Even though it was emphasized that they wanted to make sure we were safe drivers in that we did not follow too closely, speed management, lane management, proper turning and backing techniques, etc, they also said they a failure could result in being sent home. I got the impression that it was more of a “Take this Serious” tactic than anything else, it was still a little nerve racking because here I have my boss evaluating me on my driving skills in a truck I have never seen the inside of much less drove. Needless to say I passed.

Davis operates KW T800’s and I was in a 2007. I was amazed and shocked at how it handled compared to the 1995 KW T600 I drove while in school. The new T800 was like driving a Cadillac.

Anyways, we wrapped up the day with some load securement and will continue with it over the next couple of days. I don’t have our “Orientation Schedule” in front of me, but if I recall correctly, tomorrow promises to be yet another jammed packed day.

Oh yeah, one last thing. In the morning, Pat had mentioned we were going to have Prime Rib for lunch. We knowing pat, I assumed she was joking of course and was I dead wrong. They provided us with prime rib, french fries, bread, and a salad!!!!!! That’s what I call a good lunch

[devildice]

Day Two of Orientation with Davis Transport 07/10/07
Today was a very busy day of paper work and a couple of videos. We went over the Highway Watch Program, Operations, Tarping, Load Securement, Accident procedures/information, Pay Roll and a few other things I know I am forgetting.

Although it was informative, it was a little bit overwhelming. Yesterday, when we met one of the owners, he had warned us that it would be overwhelming and that we would more than likely forget 85% of it. But he assured us not to worry in that it would all come together in time. Hope he is right.

Yesterday when I took my road test, the guy that evaluated me is one of the “Truck Bosses” (truck manager). Pat had told me he picked me specifically because he too was prior Navy. Ok, no problem, however I was naturally a little nervous because my future boss was going to evaluate me. Well today I found out that being a truck Boss is more or less a “part-time” position at Davis and that he is actually the Vice President of Operations. Good thing I didn’t know that at the time. In other words, I am GLAD I did not know that yesterday as that would have added even more pressure on me and who knows how I would have done then.

Anyways, 3 of 6 of us were informed that we will be heading out tomorrow evening with our trainers. My trainer, George, was currently loading out in Butte, Montana and would be here in Missoula tomorrow to pick me up and we will be heading to some place in PA. Even though I am a little nervous, I am excited to get started on the “real” training and that sounds like a nice run to get started on.

I can not recall exactly what will happen tomorrow (head is still spinning from a brain overload) but I know part, if not all of it will consist of load securement.

Oh, and lunch today was meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, and a roll. Boy was it good!! Glad I am leaving tomorrow because if I stay here any longer eating like this I will gain 10 pounds…..LOL

[Goin Fer It]

I am glad that you are enjoying Davis so far! It will all come to you and soon being a new driver will be a memory. You will do fine! Davis will not let you go on your own until you get down all that you should, and you will get trained!

I am glad that you are going out tomorrow so that you can get started but I am kind of bummed that you will not be in Missoula Friday or Saturday when my husband will be getting there! But you guys will meet up in time. He was thinking of giving you a call but it would be better for you to call him on your time schedule as when he was in training he did not make calls while driving and until he was comfortable he did not, now he will with his hands free head set. So if you get a chance maybe this weekend give him a ring.

Have you seen his new truck? Boy you have the inside scoop at Davis LOL!

I don't know if I ever told you my dad attempted to talk me into going into the navy when I was sixteen! I am not navy material! I would have ended up in trouble and been in the brig all the time :shock: that is what I told him too!

Drive Safe! I know you will!

:P

Goin Fer It's Wife

[devildice]

I am glad that you are enjoying Davis so far! It will all come to you and soon being a new driver will be a memory. You will do fine! Davis will not let you go on your own until you get down all that you should, and you will get trained!

I am glad that you are going out tomorrow so that you can get started but I am kind of bummed that you will not be in Missoula Friday or Saturday when my husband will be getting there! But you guys will meet up in time. He was thinking of giving you a call but it would be better for you to call him on your time schedule as when he was in training he did not make calls while driving and until he was comfortable he did not, now he will with his hands free head set. So if you get a chance maybe this weekend give him a ring.

Have you seen his new truck? Boy you have the inside scoop at Davis LOL!

I don't know if I ever told you my dad attempted to talk me into going into the navy when I was sixteen! I am not navy material! I would have ended up in trouble and been in the brig all the time :shock: that is what I told him too!

Drive Safe! I know you will!

:P

Goin Fer It's Wife

Thanks GFIW.....I am sure all the stuff that they threw at us will come together. Yeah. too bad I won't be here when GFI arrives but I am sure at some point and time our paths will cross. When I took my road test, it was in a 2007 Areocab with a little over 130,000 miles on it. Not sure if that is the one he is getting. There are 3 or 4 of them here and I can tell you that they driveSWEET!!!!!! He'll definitely like it.

[Orangetxguy]

All in All, it is nice to see that Davis Transport has changed from being the "Rag-Tag Fugitive Fleet" that it was back in the early 80's.

DD....do you know if 4-B's catered the meals for Davis?

[broncrider1]

devildice,

glad to hear everything is goin good, now yer off to wonderful langlothe...ha ha sucker

i hear someone finally got to give you heck for me, glad it finally got worked out

one of the local eatin houses brings lunch...not 4 b's, but i think its jokers wild....im probaly wrong on the name but its good food

sorry for chasin ya down dd, but had some ?'s about ya....so i decieded to find ya...lol

have fun, patience and a good learning experiance

p.s. those 07's are nice arent they....but ill keep my old truck

[Goin Fer It]

Thanks GFIW.....I am sure all the stuff that they threw at us will come together. Yeah. too bad I won't be here when GFI arrives but I am sure at some point and time our paths will cross. When I took my road test, it was in a 2007 Areocab with a little over 130,000 miles on it. Not sure if that is the one he is getting. There are 3 or 4 of them here and I can tell you that they driveSWEET!!!!!! He'll definitely like it.

:P I was certain your paths would cross but I was surprised:shock: that it was today! That is cool though. I am glad that you two met up at the truck stop in Grand Rapids. I hope while you are in training you can update your thread! It is a go with the flow type thing when you are in training but when you are done it will be a different story!

Goin Fer It's Wife

[devildice]

devildice,

glad to hear everything is goin good, now yer off to wonderful langlothe...ha ha sucker

i hear someone finally got to give you heck for me, glad it finally got worked out

one of the local eatin houses brings lunch...not 4 b's, but i think its jokers wild....im probaly wrong on the name but its good food

sorry for chasin ya down dd, but had some ?'s about ya....so i decieded to find ya...lol

have fun, patience and a good learning experiance
Thanks. Yeah someone gave me a hard time :wink: BTW, did you know I am banned from that other site.....they CLAIMED I was promoting this site.....so if you want to reach me, you can hit me up on here.

p.s. those 07's are nice arent they....but ill keep my old truck

[devildice]

Thanks GFIW.....I am sure all the stuff that they threw at us will come together. Yeah. too bad I won't be here when GFI arrives but I am sure at some point and time our paths will cross. When I took my road test, it was in a 2007 Areocab with a little over 130,000 miles on it. Not sure if that is the one he is getting. There are 3 or 4 of them here and I can tell you that they driveSWEET!!!!!! He'll definitely like it.

:P I was certain your paths would cross but I was surprised:shock: that it was today! That is cool though. I am glad that you two met up at the truck stop in Grand Rapids. I hope while you are in training you can update your thread! It is a go with the flow type thing when you are in training but when you are done it will be a different story!

Goin Fer It's Wife

It was great meeting him. One in a million shot I supose that we would meet up at that truck stop at that exact time. Sorry we couldn't chat longer as I would have enjoyed that, but if you read my next post you'll understand.

[devildice]

Day Three of Orientation with Davis Transport 07/11/07
Today was yet another jammed packed day. The morning started out with some more paper work and then the rest of the day was load securement. My trainer George showed up this morning and I got to meet him. He and I will head out in the morning with a load of stuff called Molybdenum going to PA. It is some sort of stuff that is added to steel to strengthen it. We have a little over 46,000 lbs in 10 large bags on deck. His truck is a 2007 KW T-800 Aerocab. This is the same type of truck I did my road test in the other day. Anyways, will be my very first load and I am a little nervous and excited at the same time. Wish me luck

[devildice]

Day One of OTR Training 07/12/07
My training gets up at 3am and usually shuts down every evening around 4 or 5pm. He told me that I was not required to get up until 8am. I decided to get up at 3am and try to adjust my schedule to his.

I did not sleep well last night at all. Not sure if it was because I was sleeping in a new bed (upper bunk in the truck) or if I was just nervous or excited. What ever the reason, it was a very restful sleep. So I am up at 3am sharp, George has me do a pre-trip which included checking the securement of the load. By 4am we are ready to roll. George starts off driving and getting us out of town, having me just observe. After about 20 miles, he pulls over and says it’s my turn. I got to drive through the Montana mountains, 6 & 7 % grades :shock: and since it was my first time and with 46,0000+ lbs on deck, the seat was attached to me and I figured it was never coming out. My shifting SUCKED big time today. :evil: I felt like the rookie that I am. I ended up driving only about 300+ miles and George took over the rest, but that was plenty as I felt completely exhausted.

We shut down for the night at a truck stop in Rapid City, South Dakota. After we got a bite to eat, I went into the store to buy some water. While I was in there, I hear over the intercom a first name followed by “of Davis Transport, your shower is ready”. I recognized the name and waited at the counter. When this guy showed up I asked if he was ‘so & so’ and he said yes. It turns out that the other Davis driver was GFI (GFIW’s hubby). We chatted for only a few minutes as I was plain tired and could barely keep my eyes open much less hold a conversation. He is a very nice guy and it was pleasure chatting with him even if only for a short time.

[Goin Fer It]

As I remember when my husband first was with May he felt the same way about his shifting. It will come and by the time you are out on your own you will have your shifting down and before you know it will be second nature to you! Don't worry almost everyone is like that staring out.

My husband understood about your being tired (been there himself already) and he enjoyed meeting you!

Those bunks take a little getting use to but the time will fly when you will be in your own truck and no longer in a bunk!

Hey ask George if by any chance he was at Sage in Post Falls with Diana and Matt! I think he was the day I went down there! If it was tell him hello!

Anyway it will all come to you! Glad you will be getting GOOD training!

I was happy to see you were able to update your thread!

Goin Fer It's Wife

[danske]

Day Three of Orientation with Davis Transport 07/11/07
My trainer George showed up this morning and I got to meet him. He and I will head out in the morning with a load of stuff called Molybdenum going to PA. It is some sort of stuff that is added to steel to strengthen it. We have a little over 46,000 lbs in 10 large bags on deck.

Alright! You are now on the ROAD! Wish you the best with your trainer and "finally training"(It really never ends) period. How long are you out with him? 6 weeks?

How was the 10 bags secured to the trailer? I imagine that they were 5 sets of bags side by side and a least one strap over each set. Is there any blocks on the deck preventing fore and aft movement? Was the loaded tarped?

When I drove it was a dry van and I once pulled a load of talc from Dillon, MT to Dallas. I remember these big bags(Don't remember the count) that may have been palletized. Of course, in a dry van only blocks were nailed to the floor behind the last 2.

Anyhow, best of luck.

[Orangetxguy]

Day One of OTR Training 07/12/07
My training gets up at 3am and usually shuts down every evening around 4 or 5pm. He told me that I was not required to get up until 8am. I decided to get up at 3am and try to adjust my schedule to his.

I did not sleep well last night at all. Not sure if it was because I was sleeping in a new bed (upper bunk in the truck) or if I was just nervous or excited. What ever the reason, it was a very restful sleep. So I am up at 3am sharp, George has me do a pre-trip which included checking the securement of the load. By 4am we are ready to roll. George starts off driving and getting us out of town, having me just observe. After about 20 miles, he pulls over and says it’s my turn. I got to drive through the Montana mountains, 6 & 7 % grades :shock: and since it was my first time and with 46,0000+ lbs on deck, the seat was attached to me and I figured it was never coming out. My shifting SUCKED big time today. :evil: I felt like the rookie that I am. I ended up driving only about 300+ miles and George took over the rest, but that was plenty as I felt completely exhausted.

We shut down for the night at a truck stop in Rapid City, South Dakota. After we got a bite to eat, I went into the store to buy some water. While I was in there, I hear over the intercom a first name followed by “of Davis Transport, your shower is ready”. I recognized the name and waited at the counter. When this guy showed up I asked if he was ‘so & so’ and he said yes. It turns out that the other Davis driver was GFI (GFIW’s hubby). We chatted for only a few minutes as I was plain tired and could barely keep my eyes open much less hold a conversation. He is a very nice guy and it was pleasure chatting with him even if only for a short time.

Once you get back to the posting here, tell me;

Did you enjoy the drive from Missoula to Big Timber? That is pretty cruel, getting to hit Homestake Pass the..(what...third hour out the gate?) But really..Homestake isn't that bad a hill. The drive from Missoula to Butte isn't so bad...awesome during the spring when things are greening up. Once your on the east side of Homestake it's a decent drive as well. The lollipop's between Whitehall and Three Forks are an easy drive.

:twisted: :twisted: Or..were you terrified? :mrgreen:

And ..so you know....The day Kennedy was shot, I was sitting on the front steps of the Elementary school in Whitehall...and watched as the Janitor lowered the flag to "Half-mast". I asked him why he was crying, and he told me what had happened.
My first trip into Butte as a "Driver" was over the old "Pipestone Pass" on Hiway 10, in a 1970 Chevy C60 stock truck, with a full load of 2 year olds, headed to the livestock auction. Homestake Pass didn't open until I was a Junior in high school....which for me was in Twin Bridges...about 35 miles south of Whithall. My first trip over Homestake was in the same Chevy C60...with 2 very ticked off Hereford Bulls in the back.

2; Not a question...more a "request". When you are headed back to Missoula, if you are headed up that way out of the Salt Lake City area...see if your trainer won't take you up over "Lost Trail Pass". That drive will really impress you. LOL...the fact that you ask to do it...may even impress your Trainer. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[broncrider1]

banned huh??? thats a load of BS

i can only imagine yer first day....lol...dont feel bad about it, we all start somewhere, and training will be over quikly

one day , if it ever wiorks out, ill hafta have you over to the house, then on the way to missoula you can experiance macdonald pass (8% in places), just anouther one of the many wonderfull montana mountians, and dont worry ,my ditch is big enuff for 2 trucks....lol

if ya ever feel like bs'ing, the one who gave ya crap also has my cell #

be safe , have fun and learn

i myself am not an early riser so dont expect to see me that darn early in the day....lol

isnt the windmill a lovely place to be.....could be worse

orangetxguy.....where ya from...i know a few folks down in the area you mention

[Orangetxguy]

orangetxguy.....where ya from...i know a few folks down in the area you mention

I grew up in Twin Bridges. Chased cow tails all over SW MT. Especially the Bighole Basin.

Who do you know down that way? I may well know them too.


PSSSSSSSST...couldn't ya post a smaller pic??

[broncrider1]

if someone could tell me how to make it smaller id appreciate it....im kinda a computer dummy

the haydens and some clouse's in sheridan, rufnok's in dillon

im in the reserves and drill in butte, most of them guys are all from around the local area ( local for mt being 50 mile radius)

plus i did alot of diggin around the butte, whitehall, dillon and anaconda area's....so im sure somewhere along the way we've covered the same ground

[Orangetxguy]

if someone could tell me how to make it smaller id appreciate it....im kinda a computer dummy

the haydens and some clouse's in sheridan, rufnok's in dillon

im in the reserves and drill in butte, most of them guys are all from around the local area ( local for mt being 50 mile radius)

plus i did alot of diggin around the butte, whitehall, dillon and anaconda area's....so im sure somewhere along the way we've covered the same ground

Which Haydens and Rouse's?? I knew..a few.

Do you know a Harvey Frank, out of Dillon..or did you? I don't know if he is still in the Guard..but I think he said he was, when he was down last year.

By digging..you mean?

In Butte...the M&M was my place...of course..any place where the drink's are free, could have been my place. Freddy was always good for drinks and eats. When he came down for hunting season on the Blacktail..him & Charlie always brought a good supply along with. Used to hang out at the Bowling Alley out by the airport a lot to. Plenty of the Butte girls hung out there...and fish creek wasn't far away. Pork Chop John's was a fav for a quick bite..and a nice view. I usually behaved when we were around the Knievel's(Evil's parents). Mom & Dad really liked them.

In Dillon...there are a couple places I didn't go into...I'm pretty sure....I think. Snead's was the place for food though..steaks that hung over the plate!

As for Twin & Sheridan, well...ya know how it is when your a kid growing up. Plenty of things to get unto trouble with..and plenty of other's to do that with! My Mom was one of the main cooks in the Blue Anchor...back in the 60's & 70's.

Only thing I really did around Anaconda was school stuff...you know...tour of the smelter..basketball tournement's..stuff like that. Spent a couple summers in Deer Lodge..out on the Prison ranch....Boy Scout camp.

[K.POP]

DD ar you still based(living) in texas or did you go to Davis Trans location or area of operations?