See, thats part of why he's hesitant to switch, right now he doesn't have to keep on top of he FM at all. He's an excellant communicator, and takes care of his drivers. He has yet to wait on a load longer than an hour.
Ok, so whats your secret? Hubby is at 29%, and having trouble getting above that. Of course..he's been home a lot more than he's supposed to be for longhaul and maybe thats part of it.

My husband was wanting to go to TQM this month, but it ended up on the same dates as our move to Oklahoma, so that just won't work.

He actually had no gripes about Rotan itself, said it went smoothly, in and out. Says they cheated him some bungees and edge protectors though... He was in and out in about an hour and a half though.

 

Other than the heat and the dust, it went bad only that one time when I waited 10 hours to be loaded then had to take my 10 hour break, then had to restrap the entire load because they didn't do it properly. I did get attitude from Jay, but I gave even more back so he doesn't bother me anymore and is actually nice. I still hate that place with a passion, though.

 

Well my first week is in the books.The guy I went with was dedicated for alcoa.He had a conastoga trailer that has the cover that slides on rollers so no tarps needed.I hauled 3 large alum coils shotgun,6 alum coils on skids,full load of steel conduit pipes,full load of iron pipe and the last load we picked up was sheet steel used in army hummers.The truck he had was a short nose pete and it had 200K on it.He did not keep it very clean inside or out.He did not roll up his straps but just throw them in a pile when done same with the chains.I had 2 VERY close calls with cars that lost control.One got so close to my front bumper I could not even see the car,she spun her car going uphill in dry weather in a 40mph zone figure that one out.The other went air born across the median and was headed for me head on.

I learned that shippers can be very cool but can also make you want to park the truck on their heads.I stay calm and cool with every one and was able to make things go my way for the most part.I even got one place to unload me a day early how about that.


I do have a few gripes......I only got one shower all week and we all know you can get very dirty and sweat when loading or unloading.The Trainer would tell me "we dont have time".The places he would stop for the nite were the shippers 90% of the time so no place to get one.

The truck was packed full before I climbed in.He had trash packed in just about every space in the sleeper.It was just very cramped and no place for me to stash any thing.

Sleep.I am new to this and told the trainer so.I cant drive 11 hours in one shot I just cant do it.I get tired and things start to become a blur and blend together on me.I would say"Im getting pretty tired and things are starting to blur on me" he would say "You only drove 500 miles your fine"
I dont care if I drove 100 miles if a driver is tired they should not drive.Its not being lazy as I did 90% of the driving and just about all the straps and chains needed.I am new to this and I cant run like a big dog I get tired after about 6-8 hours behind the wheel at nite.He also likes the very skinny twisty back roads and thats cool but dont ask me to run 60mph down them at nite after runin the big roads for 400+ miles and I tell you im tired.I want to be safe first ontime second and make money third.I wont move those things around at all.To me safe is first and I hope it is for every one.


For the first week it could have been alot worse.I think I did good as far as driving and my shifting got alot better but the low side still gets me from time to time.I did hear the trainer talking to my training guy back in DM and he told him I did very well and they would have no problems with me.
For me I just have to find a way to not get tired so fast.My limit was 550 miles then I had to stop as it was very bad.Its just all new to me and I think asking a new guy to run 600 miles a day in the first couple weeks is a bit much.I want miles so I can get better and get the practice but I also need some time to get used to every thing.


The 6 weeks is going to be the hard part no question.I have talked to my next trainer and I meet him sunday at 7pm.He is closer to me but he is an owner operator.Im not sure how he is going to be as far as his truck goes.I will be grinding his gears not TMCs gears as he owns the truck.I just hope he wont freak out on me.


See you on the big road.......

 

Another thing........I spent 3 weeks in Cuba,Mo to get a CDL as that was where TMC sent me.I left Cuba,Mo and went to Des Moines for the 2 weeks.I left Friday at about 5pm to drive back to philly.I had to be up at 4am friday so I knew I would have to stop and get an hour or two of sleep to make the drive back home.It was 1,053 miles from DM to my house I had to get gas twice and 2 bathroom stops on the way.I got home at 11am sat morn and was dead tired.The trainer called me while I was on the way home.I get home and get cloths in the wash and go thru the past 5 weeks of mail.I went to sleep around 8pm.I got a good sleep for sure was nice to be in my own bed.I got up at 10am sunday and at about 1 pm I had to start the drive to meet my first trainer.

I got home from my first week with a trainer at 6am sat morn.I drove all day friday to get back to his house then the 4 hours home.I will have to leave here around 11am sunday to meet next trainer.

I hope this is not the norm.I took line haul to get home and I will have to work alot harder as line haul and make less money it seems and only get a little over a day at home.They want me to get my CDL switched over to my home state but when am I going to be able to get that done?They told me I had 30 days to do it.I was gone from home 5 weeks at once then only home a day and had to leave again.The new trainer told me we wont be home for 2 weeks.At that point I will have spent 3 of the 4 weeks they gave me to switch my CDL over and if we dont get back till sat morning I wont be able to drive all the way home and get to a DMV office.

 

Grim

I met your trainer the other day. He is a good guy and knows his stuff but remember it is his truck and his show. If he wants to stay out for 2 weeks that is his decision, he is the one that has to make the truck payments. You are VERY LUCKY to have a trainer that lives that close to you.

Any trainer with sense would never let a trainee drive 500 miles a day in their first week. I usually try no more than 350. Stamina takes time. Last thing I want is a new guy, scared sh**less, driving beyond their fatigue level.

Taking one shower is not company policy for trainees. There is no reason why, with you in the truck, that he couldn't get way more than one in. I try and get a shower in every day; sometimes that isn't possible.

I lived in Sellersville, right near you. I got home every weekend. Sometimes I got home Friday and didn't need to leave until Monday, sometimes not. You are in a freight lane so loads will be pretty good for you.

Being a trainee sucks...there is no way around it. Most people have a 100 plus miles to met a trainer. You basically get home, do wash, sleep, and eat, and head out with nary any decent time to take a crap. Then after you are finished, you drive back to DSM and get your truck and actually go to work.


Good luck.

 

I dont want to be a slacker by any means.I have to put some faith into the trainer that he is on top of things and keeping an eye on me.If he feels I can do more then I will do my best to do more.I knew that being a trainee would stink but its part of what I have to do.I also want to be a trainee as odd as it may sound.I know I have alot to learn and this is my chance to learn it.I did learn from the first trainer and I would go out with him again if I was told to.He has been behind the wheel along time and is set in the way he works and its not my place to say its right or wrong.I know you have to fit things in like showers and food and Im ok with that.The new trainer sounds like a good guy over the phone.He seems like he wont keep his foot in my back to drive when I tell him I have had my fill for the day.I want to learn and I want to put my best effort into training all I seek is a trainer who wants the same.I did learn from the first trainer that I have to set a few rules myself even if its not my show.I know I have to learn how to load and tie things down but standing around yelling at me cause Im not fast enuf and not helping me get things done is not helpful.I have Hi hopes for the new trainer and he is closer to me than the fist.I have no problem with working 2 weeks if thats what he wants it will get me more miles any way.

 

The 80/20 rule is in effect with people and random events. 80% of our trainers are good, 20% are not good. 5% are great, 5% are complete jacka$$es. The 80/20 rule works with trainees, drivers, fleet managers, freight, shippers, consignees, and even puppies.

I bump into your trainer every once in a while, maybe we will connect out in freight-land.

You have an almost overwhelming amount to learn. Take it easy, don't beat yourself up about mistakes, and watch your mirrors!

 

Terrylamar, any pointers you'd give a new guy?

 

Are you hired by TMC, another company, in school or thinking about the trucking industry? Cool first name by the way.

 

Hired by TMC. Received my truck last Tuesday. Already see issues you talked about with my fleetmanager and the lazy planners and customer service. Didn't get in the truck until late tuesday but got a load. Delivered it Wednesday at 11am CST. Waited, called, waited, called, 5pm truck would not start. Dispatch got a Mobile Mechanic out to fix it partially. Had to drive 50 miles to a TA to get it checked out and repaired. Did not get another load until Thursday at 2pm, had to bounce 162 to Chattanooga for a load that delivered in Charlotte. Could not take the load any further south than Savannah, Ga so I couldn't make it home to Jacksonville as planned.
Promising first week, ha?