Profile For mindes

Yeah, last time I was on I-16 coming up from Savannah, it seemed like two thirds of the trucks were hauling containers to and from the port there.

So all those containers get to warehouses and distribution centers in Atlanta by rail. Then the stuff still has to be distributed to all the Walmarts in the South East US! The only "loss" will be all the intermodal trucks tearing up I-16.

Some of those intermodal drivers a scary to watch and be around. They fly past you like you are sitting still and will pass you on the right if you take a microsecond to long getting back over for a disabled truck at the side of the road.

If you do end up putting your cooler on the floor put at least two thick towels under it. The heat coming up from the floor will work over your ice quickly.

I scavenged a couple rubber friction mats folded up thick to put under my cooler. Also keeps the cooler from sliding around.

When turning the steering wheel, only turn to 3 and 9 and hold it there for a few seconds then back straight and then to the opposite, rinse and repeat.

Like said before, turn to the problem. Even after you get jammed up, turn to the problem.

I swear this is me today. Got here at noon still waiting at 1800. Less than 4 hours I get fresh 14 but I hate driving at night, can't see through the turns. At least straight shot out of central fl.

Company vehicle, they can probably search any time. Especially if vehicle is in for service.

Most unload customers are store stops like dollar general, dollar tree, etc. And generally are dedicated accounts.

Every place I rolled up to was closed last Saturday, still got paid for miles but just makes you feel you got nothing accomplished that day.

Figure ETAs by miles x 1.1 / 50 = hours rounded to next whole number.

My problem was rolling them back because I was, what I thought, ahead.

Depends on the plans you make, just like any health insurance.

What he said. My first week has been mostly hard deliver times so running hard has been the answer but now I'm at under 10 hours on the 70, luckily load after is a short haul.

First week out, missed a few turns, got in some tight spots, learned not to update eta to right on the money; especially with this habit of missing turns.

Enjoying it so far. Just got to stay positive and take my time.

Trained in a manual, never been in an automatic truck.

After three long weeks, I made it out of Schneider's training program.

Monday I will be heading to Memphis to get one of the new automated trucks. Not sure how I rate on that but I'm not going to complain.

I didn't know that they had an oilfield division, thought they were just reefer.

Almost hit two dogs crossing the street, only thing that saved them was the fact the light was red and I was stopping.

My training engineer and I think they were escaping from the Chinese buffet across the street.

My suggestion would be to tell your recruiter that something personal has come up and you cannot start yet.

But if you haven't driven before and are just out off school, 3 months not driving may disqualify you from any company.

There was a guy in the truck on week one at training here at Schneider that didn't drive for two months, and couldn't shift up or down. They washed him out but would let him come back after a refresher class.

Just keep that in mind.

One thing that helped me was a toy tractor trailer. With that I could turn the tractor and see how the trailer reacted.

Another thing I learned this week, was don't hesitate. Once you hesitate you second guess yourself and start to over think everything.

As for finding straight on the steer, turn full lock one way then two and a half turns back and that should be center.

This only works stopped, doing this while backing will jack you up big.

Item number once getting home is getting into a doctor about that bp. I have no plan on ending this new career before I begin.

Also planning on getting to exercising again and losing some weight.

Check out the physical assessment for Schneider orientation on their website.

You start with another bp check after physical to start, along with testing heart rate. They pull out a sheet and tell you how high it can go before you get disqualified, this depends on your age.

First is a twenty second step test at one foot high. After that you can rest but that is the only rest you get.

Then you walk two sets of weights 30 feet and then pick up those weights from floor to waist three times each.

Then trailer climb using their safe technique. Trailer crawl and hold a squat for twenty seconds twice.

Then push and pull tests. Pull a force of 100 pounds and push with a force of 80.

Then you must do the reps of two sets of weights from waist to shoulder.

After each test they check your heart rate, of you hit the max, you are done.

There are companies that do this that are out there, Schneider is one.

Made it through week one easy with the evaluation. Almost didn't get that far as my bp almost disqualified me, only have three months to get that under control.

With the school, I got a two year but they might do that for most everybody just to get them started.

Anyways, heading out on Monday about noon from the Atlanta OC with my training engineer. Once returning, we start or final week before getting our trucks.

We started with 22, lost three that first day and are now done to ten.

Everybody at the school was well aware that you were taught enough to pass the CDL test.

Skills were the hardest part for me. Turning opposite to where you want the trailer to go was/is the hardest to wrap my head around but I know it will come, just have to relax and take my time.