My first two weeks with Superior Carriers.

[mudpuddle]

I was ready to start with Superior Carriers on Labor Day. The terminal was closed that day and my drug test was delayed because everyone at the test lab was off also, so I couldn't start until Wednesday. I must say though because I was ready and met all requirements to be hired except the drug test results they paid me for the holiday. This is definately a sign of a stand-up company.

A few things you guys may be interested in:

Superior will hire straight out of school. (see your local terminal manager)

If you have one year of class a driving experience you can prove, your training will paid at the FULL RATE for the job you are doing. I made 947.10 gross my first training week with only three days driving local and one holiday. I just finished my second week training and will probably gross around 1200 for the full week.

Before I finished training I have been issued all of my protective gear, have been assigned a truck, and have my toll cards and fuel card. This company is on the ball.

I will be running the system and expect the pay to be higher than the local work I am training on.

We are truly paid for everything we do here. My terminal manager insisted that I fill out a pay sheet and bill the company for the half hour we spent going over how to fill out the pay sheets.

Tanks are definately different. The surge will play with your shift timing and generally sort of shove you around a little. Its not a big deal just something to get used to. The best advice I got was to PULL the tank and time your accelerations and decelerations to slow down the surge instead of speeding it up. No matter what you do though until you have a few miles with liquids you are going to slam a few loads into the ends of the tank. It is tough to describe just how hard a thin load can slam you until you have felt it but you don't let it happen too many times cause it hurts.

I have already decided to go ahead with getting my truck and setting it up for tanks. After two weeks of working for a tank company I will NEVER go back to dry van or flats. The shippers and receivers generally have much more respect for our time and are generally much better to work with.

If you are a Billy Big Rigger who follows no one this is not the job for you but if you can handle following safety regulations to the letter and are detail and safety oriented I can offer no better way to make a living and have quality of life in this business. With Superior it seems most of the system work can be done as out and back runs with four to five day turns and mostly can be accomplished monday through friday. Most of the system guys in my terminal are home on the weekends and leave out monday mornings.

I will continue to post new information as I will be out in the system after next week. Oh by the way I had planned a vacation for next week long before I started at Superior and the company told me no problem and have honored that. (another sign of a good company). :wink:

[Orangetxguy]

LOl...Mud...I like the eyes in the cars, when first stopped at a light..especially if the load is a runner! Love the big :shock: look, when the truck is sitting there doing the "love jones" as I call it!!

Skip shifting is a huge plus.

[Cyanide]

So I and all the other happy surge riders didn't lie about tankers and their many advantages???

[harleypiper]

Hey Mud, are you sure about them taking graduates? I'm enrolled now and see no problem getting my cdl, I'm looking at TMC but would definately like takers especially a company closer to home. Thanks for the posting.

[Skywalker]

So I and all the other happy surge riders didn't lie about tankers and their many advantages???

Come now.....why in the world would we even think about telling a "fib"? :? But the "proof" is in the "pudding" so to speak...... :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I look forward to more posts from "mudpuddle" 8)

What terminal are you running out of "mudpuddle"?

[Skywalker]

Hey Mud, are you sure about them taking graduates? I'm enrolled now and see no problem getting my cdl, I'm looking at TMC but would definately like takers especially a company closer to home. Thanks for the posting.

Here's the deal on that: Its a call made based on the terminal manager's discretion....and whether or not he or she has "open trucks". Yes, we have some "Terminal Managers" who are Women. And they are excellent at their jobs. If you are a new driver entering the fray....you should plan on calling the terminal closest to you, making an appointment to go and see the Terminal Manager and doing an interview.... Yes, first impressions and all the rest go a long way to getting the job.

They can afford to be "pickier" because our "turnover" is only about 20% or so per year....and that is mostly from drivers literally "retiring". Darn few ever quit this job..... My wife told me if I quite this job.....well, lets just say it would be excessively painful. :shock:

[harleypiper]

Thanks for that mudpuddle, I'll do just that.

[Skywalker]

LOl...Mud...I like the eyes in the cars, when first stopped at a light..especially if the load is a runner! Love the big :shock: look, when the truck is sitting there doing the "love jones" as I call it!!

HAHAHAHAHA.... Me too!! Or when you pull up on a fuel island....walk away, and the truck just rocks back and forth making those "creaking" noises.....

Skip shifting is a huge plus.

8) Yes it is....and timing is real important tooooooo!! 8)

[USMCRebelGuardnU]

Superior's site says minimum age is 22, but they also require tank and HazMat endorsements. Are you able to sign on without hazmat, because unless it changed since I looked, I thought you had to be 24 for HazMat?

[nickbtubas]

Superior's site says minimum age is 22, but they also require tank and HazMat endorsements. Are you able to sign on without hazmat, because unless it changed since I looked, I thought you had to be 24 for HazMat?

you have to be 21... i got mine at 23


it may vary from state to state but i doubt it

[mike3fan]

Cool MP,keep us updated.

[USMCRebelGuardnU]

All right. Just got done wading through PennDOT's site. It's almost as bad as their roads are. But apparently they lowered it to 21. So I guess once I'm done with my current stint, I'll be getting everything at one go.

[Skywalker]

All right. Just got done wading through PennDOT's site. It's almost as bad as their roads are. But apparently they lowered it to 21. So I guess once I'm done with my current stint, I'll be getting everything at one go.

You will need to have the "X" endorsement (Tanker/Hazmat) on your CDL when you apply. I'm not saying its absolutely necessary to have it at the time of application....but since you gotta have it.... Besides, if you are ready to work... 8)

[Skywalker]

Also, I don't recall this being mentioned.... but effective 1 October 2007, we will be paid 41.5 cpm loaded (based on Practical Miles Pay) 8) Its not a big raise...but we are guessing and hoping that other pay-rates increases will follow as well. 8)

[ROCKYROAD]

They seem like a good outfit. I am supposed to start with them in October. Anyone can pull a van. That's why we sit around so much. Tanker, especially hazmat, requires a little more smarts. So the pay is higher. After a year of working for 2 van companies, I look forward to doing something that requires some thought. I know that is a scary idea for a lot of truckers. Pulling vans turns your brain into 30-pounds of regurgitated oatmeal.

Also, I don't recall this being mentioned.... but effective 1 October 2007, we will be paid 41.5 cpm loaded (based on Practical Miles Pay) 8) Its not a big raise...but we are guessing and hoping that other pay-rates increases will follow as well. 8)

We are truly paid for everything we do here. My terminal manager insisted that I fill out a pay sheet and bill the company for the half hour we spent going over how to fill out the pay sheets.

What, you didn't do it for free and log it on Line 1 so you could keep the wheels turning longer? Just what kind of trucker are you anyway? LOL, just kidding.

Sounds like a great job. Not too many of those around anymore. Best o' luck to ya'.

[mudpuddle]

Back from my vacation. I spent the week in San Diego. Nice place, lots to do, and the weather was perfect.

Yes the company will take graduates. Go see the nearest terminal manager asap, before you finish school and get the ball rolling. Make sure you present a neat professional appearance. I am certain that I would not have been hired with Superior if I had the typical bad driving record and twenty jobs in the last two years.

I am out of Baltimore Skywalker. I will be running the system after this week. Will post my truck number as I will take posession on Monday. Didn't want to post it yet in case someone else was driving it this week.

[harleypiper]

OK Thanks Mudd, I did speak with Mike at the Springfield office, he told me about 3 weeks into the school to fill out my appl. I'm going to schedule a visit up there Sat. the 29th. Thanks for the info.

[Skywalker]

Back from my vacation. I spent the week in San Diego. Nice place, lots to do, and the weather was perfect.

Do any fishing?

Yes the company will take graduates. Go see the nearest terminal manager asap, before you finish school and get the ball rolling. Make sure you present a neat professional appearance. I am certain that I would not have been hired with Superior if I had the typical bad driving record and twenty jobs in the last two years.

Yes, yes, definitely important, and most definitely.

I am out of Baltimore Skywalker. I will be running the system after this week. Will post my truck number as I will take posession on Monday. Didn't want to post it yet in case someone else was driving it this week.

Good deal!! I was just in Baltimore a week or two ago. Not a bad terminal and good place to spend the night on the way north or south on 95!! Rather than post the truck number....PM it to me. I'll PM mine to you. You can spot my truck from the front.... "Yoda" is on the dashboard 8)

[Skywalker]

OK Thanks Mudd, I did speak with Mike at the Springfield office, he told me about 3 weeks into the school to fill out my appl. I'm going to schedule a visit up there Sat. the 29th. Thanks for the info.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!! Don't forget to tell "JC" what I told you to...... :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: