Posted: 5 years, 9 months ago
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Just finished training at Werner
Exhausted doesn't begin to describe it. My 56 year old body can't take the hard work of unloading trailers. I put in a call to driver placement today and requested something that is no touch freight. They have something for me. This run is exhausting me so bad that I won't be a safe driver if I continue.
If you bet the under, you won. ☺
Posted: 5 years, 10 months ago
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Just finished training at Werner
I've heard stories from other drivers on dollar accounts. One fell from the trailer and had the rack system fall on him, breaking his pelvis. Can't say it won't happen to me, but I also know enough to be careful. Fortunately for me, I'm in my 50s and have a lot of life experience, and I don't have unreasonable expectations. Sure, it will be a lot of work, but I'd rather do that than sit on my butt all day.
My trainer had me practice backing into a dollar store in his hometown while it was closed. A 90 degree back around the building to the back door. Not easy at all. I've got some ideas that could help like investing in some cones and placing them on the ground to help line me up properly. I'll get used to it, it'll just take some time.
I'll be sure to post pictures. Thanks!
Posted: 5 years, 10 months ago
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Just finished training at Werner
I'm now a qualified driver for Werner! Spent 4 weeks with my trainer hauling doors from Vermont up and down the northeast US, including NYC. Had a really good trainer too. He made it a point to go over trip planning and doing lots of backing. Got my truck today, but it's already in the shop. After it's done, I get to take it home for the weekend before I start my new route on Tuesday.
And I've already run into a number of terminal rats as they're called here - complainers and whiners, mostly young people. I'm going to do a regional dedicated account for Dollar Tree and I'm not listening to the complainers.
We'll see how it goes. Wish me luck.
Posted: 5 years, 11 months ago
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Took my CDL test this morning. Did well on the pretrip (84 out of 90), nailed maneuvers perfectly (straight line backing, offset parking and parallel parking), did enough on the road test to pass. Next week I go to orientation at Werner. Feels good to get it behind me.
Posted: 6 years ago
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Uber Autonomous car kills pedestrian.
There's some interesting information in this article concerning this subject.
Per the article, "As of March, Uber was struggling to meet its target of 13 miles per “intervention” in Arizona..." That is, having the human behind the wheel take over (if they're not too busy texting to do so). If this is the case, if human intervention is required every half hour or less at city speeds, then what the #@%! is it even doing on the road being tested? It should still be on a closed course where it can't hurt anybody!
And I don't give a rip what the company says about it technically not being their fault, as the pedestrian was jaywalking. That pedestrian is still just as dead. Are they going to make the same excuse if a toddler or somebody's dog runs out in front of it, too? Happens to me all the time, and I don't need the "intervention" of a co-driver to keep from killing them.
I shudder to think of how that system would work in Philadelphia, with pedestrians constantly jaywalking in front of you, cars constantly cutting you off in traffic, etc. If it's going to kill a pedestrian in such an easy environment as in this case, it wouldn't survive an hour in Philly.
I hope they get slapped with a huge lawsuit, and the "driver" gets cited for distracted driving.
Posted: 6 years ago
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The Web Of Lies And Misinformation
Awesome stuff, like all the articles I've seen here. I'll give you my own take on the subject. I think many people are focused on the negative. Ever watch the evening news? Negativity abounds.
People also have a penchant for believing what they want to believe. And leaning towards whatever fits their own worldview and preconceived notions. There are technophiles who think that automation will eliminate the need for truck drivers, and there is no convincing them otherwise. There are others who demand that companies bend to suit them, rather than realizing that us newbies have to prove ourselves first.
Good example of that last point - students I'm currently attending school with. Some refuse to consider jobs with certain companies because, "I don't want to touch freight." Others think that companies are going to bend over backwards for them because of the reported driver shortage (which I think is at least partially a myth or Walmart shelves would be empty), not considering for a moment that there are plenty of other CDL students in the pipeline who are willing to take their place and won't refuse the loads they refuse, etc.
I've got my test scheduled for April 10th, and plan to take a short vacation the next weekend before I take my first trucking job, probably with Werner (talked to them several times already). And I'm planning to go regional in the northeast, as it suits my requirements. I know, it's better to go OTR as a rookie, but I didn't move to Philadelphia to go on the road for 3 or 4 weeks at a time, being home weekly is important enough to me that I'm willing to put up with driving in this area. Nice thing about Werner is that they have multiple contracts in this area, so I can make a change after I prove myself if I don't like my route at the time and not have to leave the company to do so.
Point is, I know I'm going to have to prove myself as a safe driver and someone who is willing to do what it takes to get the job done before I'll start getting perks like better routes or time off. May take a few months, could take a year or more. No matter. Thanks to the folks here, I'm going in with my eyes open.
Posted: 6 years, 1 month ago
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Interesting. I'm going through CDL school in Philadelphia right now. Looking at about 3 to 5 weeks til I take the test. I'm finding pre-trip and yard maneuvers to be the easy part. Been on the road twice so far, and taking my road test in Philly traffic is not something I'm looking forward to. In fact, that is seriously stressing me out. But I'll survive. If others can do it, then I can too.
Posted: 6 years, 1 month ago
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Two weeks down, a few to go...
My first week at Smith & Solomon in Philadelphia was all classroom to prepare us for the written test. With that out of the way, I took to the yard last week with some of the guys (there's one girl who shows up irregularly, the rest are guys). First up, in-cab pre-trip inspection. I think most of us have that down now, including the air brake check. We moved on to the cab front, under the hood, and the rest of the vehicle. Lots to know for the test, so I don't mind making sure I have good notes early, giving me a few weeks to review it over and again so I can pass the test.
We moved on to some yard maneuvers - straight line backing, offset parking and parallel parking. I've managed to get a reasonable handle on those, though I want to make sure to practice a lot before test time. This week we're going to the road - likely taking the bobtail out to a big empty lot (by the stadiums, most likely) to practice shifting before hitting the road with a trailer.
It's starting to get a bit fun. I anticipate about 4-5 weeks until I'm ready to test. Some guys were anxious to get out on the road last week, so now they're playing catch-up with the maneuvers. I'm trying to progress at a steady pace in the order that the instructors want to present the material (the order I described), then spend a couple of weeks practicing everything again and again.
Also, I filled out applications with Covenant and Werner, with positive responses in email. I'll check into a few more companies as I go along, hopefully I can get pre-hired so I can go right into a job when I'm finished.
Posted: 6 years, 1 month ago
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End of first week at CDL school
Thanks for the heads-up! I'll go in forgetting everything I know and let them teach me.
And yes, great game and great victory. It's great to see the city happy.
Posted: 5 years, 9 months ago
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How long did it take you to get good at backing?
I'm sitting at a truck stop in Maryland right now, been here for several hours. Watching the trucks park and try to. Got lucky and found a pull-through spot when I got here, as I'm not that good at backing yet. How long did it take you, and what tips or tricks can you share to help out a new guy?