Profile For Daniel B.

They push that lease the hardest out of any carrier. They're really bad about it. Do. Not. Give. In. To. The. Pressure.

Honestly I would recommend many other companies over Transam because of this.

LTL companies are hiring new drivers and training from within. I would go that route since you have a small child

You wouldn't need an APU if you're home everyday. Look into Linehaul, if you have to layover they put you in a nice hotel.

There is something similiar somewhere in the okd files I believe.

I got into trucking 8 years ago to have something to do after retirement. I have turned it into a nice little business. I own 1 truck, (the avatar pic), and have a lease on a second truck. After pulling box’s and skateboards I got into the tanker world and love it.

I cultivated a source where I run out and back. I work as much or as little as I wish. Nice to not be running all over the place for several weeks at a time.

Yikes has it really been 8 years already?!

Making me feel old!

Sorry you couldn't make it to the SAC class. We just got done with it yesterday l. Total of 10 students. Definitely at maximum capacity.

We P&D guys get about 3-4 of these a day. You'll be fine just find that opening in traffic and take it fast.

$12,500 is insane.

At OD our Dock to Driver training is for a minimum of 190 hours which takes me about 6-7 weeks. That's 6-7 weeks of 1 on 1 with me. And I'm at $32.65 per hour plus training pay (which is very generous!)

And that's just the training on the city side. They still have to do Linehaul training after.

And if they drop out their cost is no where near $12,500. Its half of that, at best.

Assuming Veriha's $12,500 charge is legit. It sounds like they are just making big profit in more ways than just doing loads. Which is actually normal (every company has different avenues to generating cash) but $12,500 is a bit much in my opinion coupled with an 18 month non compete clause. Yeah, there are so much better options for a greenhorn.

I would never go to a company that has a non-compete clause especially for 18 months. The fact that they do a non-compete clause is probably the biggest red flag.

Bol'shoye spasibo Daniel....this was so great a read over the past few days! Thanks for all the work you did back then that is still being a great help to new drivers as they get started. Stayed up many a night reading and soaking up the first hand experience that you've documented with so much detail.

Now I'm off to see if I can find out if you started one about the experience of being a trainer!

Much gratitude,

Mark O. ~MiNi-Me~

Glad you enjoyed it! Can't believe its been 7 years!

I could write one about being a trainer at OD but I am aware that our regional safety manager and a few others do occasionally go on this website so that kind of makes me a bit nervous as I can be a little too honest for my own good sometimes.

Eromyna mih tifeneb ot tnaw t'nod I os krej a osla si tterb

Night drove through Nevada and was dangerously tired. I started hallucinating pretty badly. Rocks and signs turned into moose. Tail lights turned into other beasts.

I actually slammed on my brakes one time because I clearly saw something crossing the road.

Only time in my 9 year career that I've hallucinated. I took a nap as soon as possible.

So far I know there are guaranteed 6 people in the next class but I've had as many as 8. You should be good.

Hey Daniel. Quick question. Got an email saying my background check was complete on Friday and I sent in the most recent DOT physical I have to OD. Everything sounds like it's going well. How soon does that phone call come in for that start date? Or whether they went with a different candidate? Also when is the next training class to begin this month or next month?

Hopefully Monday!

Class is in mid October

Does anything change if I already have my class A CDL?

You just won't have to worry about the pretrip. And you'll be driving a lot more since that's your weakness.

I definitely intend to go through OD's driver training as soon as the background check is clear! I'm willing to work the docks when class is not in session to make some extra income. And I am definitely looking forward to getting this auto restriction off my CDL.

Bobcat, I make no promises about not grinding gears haha! By the way Daniel, what does the 1 week of training look like?

3 days of yard training (pretrip, backing, driving)

Next week after is all classroom with regional safety manager (she does a great job)

I was able to go in for my road test yesterday, but it never started. I explained to the trainer my situation and at the beginning, he already had his doubts. We started the truck up and it became obvious that I had never driven a 10 speed truck before. You're supposed to fully press on the clutch to start the engine. No amount to youtube videos could have taught me that. Then he asked me to drive around the yard to pick up a dolly. Gotta say, the longest 100 yards or so of that poor truck, grinding gears and stalling at least twice. Made it halfway before he decided to talk to the manager to tell him that he didn't feel safe taking me out on the freeway hauling doubles when I couldn't even shift properly. I sat down with the hiring manager and he explained that I would need to go through their driving training program either in Sacramento or Reno, depending who had more students. The next class would start in October, so my background check would have to finish by then to get a call for my start date, if I was approved.

Before I go, I have to say, the trainer was awesome. He explained to me the situation that I wouldn't be able to test that day but encouraged me to do all I can and what I can do to get this position. Told me it was the best company he's ever worked for and I believe him. I'm hoping everything goes well and I'll keep you guys posted. Cheers!

Better hurry up our SAC class is almost full! If you go to SAC for training you'll see me. Me and another driver are the two drivers who conduct the yard portion of the training there. You'll have plenty of time to master shifting here.

Quick update: Background check is taking a little bit, got my drug screening and road test on Friday. Hiring manager said I'll be sitting in with a driver for at least 6 weeks if I get the linehaul position. I'm hoping my auto restriction doesn't hurt my chances.

I'm a top 3 trainer in SAC terminal and our terminal does the ODTDT classes for northern CA and I do the yard training with the new guys.

I can tell you with confidence you'll be fine. You'll ride with a trainer like me for minimum of 190 hours and by then your shifting will be good enough for sure. You'll get that restriction removed then most likely spend a week doing LH training.

I wouldn't sweat it

I did gas for 2 years. It's true what that driver told you and I know exactly how you feel. When I did tankers there was a death just within my company on average every 6 months. In my 2 years I had 3-4 coworkers die on the job.

The scary part that rocked me the most? They were all much more experienced than me. I only had 3 years driving experience back then (which is NOTHING) compared to them. If it happened to them what stops it from happening to me?

To make matters worse I worked 4pm-4am and often did the Boyett accounts which are basically mom n pops. Lots of gas stations in the middle of no where and mountains with a California speed limit of 55 which encouraged the driver to fall asleep in my opinion.

My solution was to get out of it before I become a statistic. Its one thing to take the risk associated with the job, but the pay did not even come close to warrant it. To be honest, the pay stunk ever since BP and Chevron sold their fleets and contracted the work to carriers.

Since then I have went into LTL and haven't looked back. The pay is better, the hours are "banker hours", weekends off, and the freight isn't a bomb. Much happier.

That list isn't accurate. It depends way too much on the driver. Also, Western Express has no chance being top 10. Perhaps its a different Western Express?

I LOVE black tea. I don't understand the addiction to coffee. I think black tea does what coffee does and is much cheaper and healthier. I always bring a tea mug to work and I tell my students that drinking tea is the secret to my success. Also, you hit the nail on the head, tea from a tea bag is not real tea and I feel so bad for people who actually think Lipton is real. I'm a huge fan of Akbar Gold 100% Pure Ceylon Tea sold only at local slavic delicatessens. Also, black tea with honey on the side is extremely good.

PS: if you swing by Sacramento CA anytime let me know and I'll take you to some great Russian stores.

Truth be told we Russians really like to keep our secrets to ourselves and only within our inner circle and to those of which are also of Russian descent.

But driving with sandals and socks really really does make your truck go faster.