Comments By TailGunner (Ken M)

I was at an orientation where a prospective driver was asked to leave because they didn't like his attitude, he bi#c#d too much, and could tell he was gonna be trouble, so they ejected him.

Generally you will find that the forklift drivers will put your tarps on top of the load for you. Just check with other drivers or the loader on what to do with your tarps. Usually you can throw them on top of part of the load before they set it on your trailer, or you just set one tarp on the dock at the rear of your trailer and one at the front, then when they are done loading you they will lift them up on top one on the front and one on the rear, right where you need them.

His first day and last day were the same day.

I know I'm kinda late on this, but if you have a situation like the pics Old School posted, I take my lumber tarps and lay them across the front of the steel tarp and strap them down. That keeps the wind from getting underneath and keeps out rain and snow etc. as much as it can.

I would do some more research on this. I haven't, but I don't think this is exactly correct. Joplin is where CFI (Contract Freighters Inc.) was from, a company that Con-Way bought, and it became Con-Way Truckload, several years later, you still see CFI trailers being pulled by Con-Way tractors. Con-Way Freight is the LTL portion of the company. They are headquartered in Ann Arbor Michigan. I used to drive for them (Con-Way Central Express). But I do think they hire without a CDL, but I think they do it at all of their LTL Terminals, not just one. You have to find a job listing for Driver-Student. Here is a description I found:

The Con-way Freight (LTL) Driver Sales Representative Student (DSR Student)Program is an intensive twelve module training program consisting of classroom education and hands on driving experience. The DSR Student will work as a dock worker for a minimum of 30 days prior to the start of classroom training. There is up to 90 days of classroom training in the program. If successfully completed, the DSR Student will be eligible to test to obtain a Commercial Drivers License with hazardous materials endorsements and doubles/triples endorsements, and upon meeting all other company requirements the DSR Student may be eligible to be offered a Driver/Sales Representative position.

Driver/Sales Rep is what their drivers are called, due to all of the contact the driver has with the customers, you act as a sort of sales rep also. Check out their website under careers. They have options such as start out on the road with Truckload, then you can transfer to LTL.

The round spools between the rail and the trailer deck are designed to have the chain wrapped around them. They are intrinsically stronger than the stake pockets, by the fact that they are round, and welded all the way around on both ends. The stake pockets tear easily when a load is placed on them, like from a panic stop, or a long cheater bar and a snap binder or ratchet binder. Our safety dept. got a clarification on this from the East Corp.

Yeah, in the summer you can get a 24' tarp rolled up the size of a sleeping bag. Then in the winter you can get it about the size of a Mini Cooper.

Yeah, Old School must have picked up some of those big rolls of paper. Pre-loaded and already tarped, I assume?

You should ask them what transmission is in the truck. There's no way they could expect you to know in advance. Or look around inside for the label/shift pattern. On the dashboard, or over the drivers door. A single axle Sterling could be a city tractor, with a 5 or 6 speed synchronized transmission, no double clutching required. If it doesn't have a splitter lever or button of some sort on the stick, it most likely is.

I usually try to wait until I'm done for the day and in the shower room at a truck stop. I'm not much for tcob public bathrooms. ;)