Got My CDL. Off To Orientation

I'm finishing up my CDL training, passed my test this week and have been researching several (or many) companies. Just when I thought I knew where I wanted to go, a recruiter stopped by from McElroy and changed my mind. They really seem to have checked all the boxes for me, and I'll be heading to orientation in a little over a week. I hadn't considered flat bed at all, but I'm hopeful it's a good place to land. This site has been an invaluable resource for me from day 1.

McElroy is a fine company. From what I've been told, their company training is very thorough.

Congratulations and good luck.

Congratulations and best of luck to you, Dave!

Congratulations Dave. McElroy is a fine company if I do say so myself. They just got me into my brand new 2018 truck. Was Darrell the recruiter? He was my trainer. Just takes to him the other day. I think he’s considering going back to driver training so you might get hooked up with him. Much respect to other drivers but man I don’t think I’d ever trade in my flatbed.

Yes, Darrell was the recruiter I talked with. I called him this week with a few questions, and understand he's going back on the road. I've heard many good things about McElroy and I'm really looking forward to getting started. I forgot to ask about the trucks, do they have APU'S? I know some companies let you idle.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

APU's:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

No apu’s but you can idle. They have started putting 2000 watt inverters in the trucks also.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Hey Parrothead. I've been reading your posts for the past few months and I really appreciate the information and insight you give on McElroy. I will finish CDL school next month and McElroy is my first choice, although I have not applied yet. I did talk to Daryl earlier this week just to answer a few questions I had and it just seems like the place to be for me. Congrats on the new truck....I'm sure it smells great! Rod

First of thank you for the kind words. Man it does have that new car smell. As I’ve said before I think they are a good family owned and run company. They learn your name even though most of your papers and filing is under a number. Within my first 2 years we had 3 deaths in the family....dad, brother & father-in-law.....Never a question as to what we needed for anytime, just hey man you take off and call me when you get ready to come back to work. At my dads passing I’d only been there a couple months and they were most gracious in everything. Not only received flowers etc it was one of the first one there. Pay raises to starting out at .48/mile but quite honestly with some of the minimum pay loads like $135 for 175 mile or $145 for 250 so your actual mileage will usually avg out over .50 up to mines been.60 or a little more. Supposedly also implementing a drivers safety bonus program. Come on board. Texas is a good place to run for them

I have a few questions Parrothead when you get a chance. I know there is not a set answer to these, but just in general: 1. When do you usually get home on Fridays. 2. What time do you usually leave out on Sundays. 3. How often do you have to tarp?

I know it all depends on your loads, but I’d like your input. Thanks!

1. I’m usually home by 5-6 pm which to me is no different than if I had a 9-5 that Friday...Last week home at 2 pm and me personally a few occasions that I get in around 7-7:30 but that one particular run that I sometimes get on Friday. 2. Depends on the Cowboys game....I wish...but I would say most times it’s mid afternoon. They want you to your consignee by 9 so that you can start at 0700 Monday. But you’ll learn some things that allow to leave later on Sunday....Say it’s due at the DC Monday at 0700 u can leave in time to drop it off Sunday night say at 11 go to yard and get your 10 hrs in and be ready before your next load is. You’ll learn to coordinate that stuff within fm on Friday. My wife works at the hospital on Sunday so sometimes I go early on Sunday hoping to catch an extra run after I drop. Also check in on Friday because you may have a short run or a late loading run Monday and he’ll tell you to just come on Monday.

Tarp=MTL must tarp load haha truewe tarp em all but a large % are pre tarped....now you’ll have to add bungees and straps but tarp is on. As far as climbing on top of the load, rolling out tarp etc...I did it 1 time last week and 0 the prior week. Really the loads that we physically tarp are lumber loads and a lot of those have tarp machines to lift it and place it then you bungee and strap it. So I’d say % wise it’s probably about 65-75% that are pre loaded and tarped. They don’t pay “tarp pay” per say but your mailed are paid on an equal bases loaded/unloaded and with minimum pay for shorter runs (like maybe 125 for 185 mile) at weeks end you’ll see a lot of .60/mile average and even more at times.