Profile For Dave S (formerly known as KnowItAll)

Holy Smokes!

Congratulations!!!!

Thanks Brett. I couldn't have said it better.

With the contract, it may seem like a trap but it's not. It is a commitment between you and the company. You agree to give them a year and they agree to give you the training, knowledge and tools to be a successful driver.

I've come across several new drivers in the past year that went through abbreviated training programs. Those folks struggled. Struggled with backing, trip planning and time management. Needless to say, they were very unhappy. With less than a year of experience, they felt trapped by a company that doesn't really have any skin in the game. With less than a year of experience, it becomes very difficult to find another job.

Forgot to mention that you'll be getting paid! You get a guaranteed $600 minimum while doing your C-Seat training and $700 minimum while doing B-Seat.

I-90 Ellensberg WA. Perkins next to the loves. I-90 again, this time a Shari's next to Ernie's fuel stop in Moses Lake WA.

I-80 Morris Illinois, R Place at the T/A.

PackRat approved! I'm humbled.

Outstanding!

Sure PackRat. The term "seat" is in reference to the phase of training. D-Seat is the permit phase and is 10,000 miles (although, this can very greatly depending on circumstances). Next is C-Seat. This is the first 10,000 miles after getting your CDL. Next is B2-Seat and is the second 10,000 miles. Third is B1-Seat and is the final 10,000 miles. The solo week miles (about 2500) are included in the B1-Seat total miles.

D-Seat is used to prepare someone to take the CDL pretrip, backing and driving test with some OJT thrown in. C, B2 and B1 seats are where the real magic happens. A person learns not only how to drive but how to be come a Driver. They also learn how to to the job. Like dealing with shippers and receivers, scaling a load, backing into weird places, navigation, dealing with weather and so much more. In theory, one should have a handle on things by the time they get to the solo week.

Hope that was a good explanation.

On the subject of Wilson Logistics I can give ya some insight on the training there. Coming in with a CDL you will skip the D seat training and go directly to C seat training for 20k miles. Then you'll do another 20k (10k B2 & 10k B1 which includes your solo week). May seem like a lot but it will be dispatched team miles.

Those miles are ballpark, your mileage may vary by a few thousand either way. My training mileage was closer to 45k. 6k D seat, 34k C and B seat and 5k solo week (2 weeks LOL). The reason for the extended C and B seat before doing my solo week was because there wasn't a truck for me. My trainer and I burned through the miles to quickly and they weren't ready for me.

Dave--explain the different "seat" terms, please.

On the subject of Wilson Logistics I can give ya some insight on the training there. Coming in with a CDL you will skip the D seat training and go directly to C seat training for 20k miles. Then you'll do another 20k (10k B2 & 10k B1 which includes your solo week). May seem like a lot but it will be dispatched team miles.

Those miles are ballpark, your mileage may vary by a few thousand either way. My training mileage was closer to 45k. 6k D seat, 34k C and B seat and 5k solo week (2 weeks LOL). The reason for the extended C and B seat before doing my solo week was because there wasn't a truck for me. My trainer and I burned through the miles to quickly and they weren't ready for me.

Sadly no. Altgough, I'm 500 miles west of ya. 15:00 appointment at Walmart DC.

Was at PRISLC Saturday night Sunday morning.

That's an area I'll avoid at all cost. Especially US60 west out of Paducah Kentucky.

Sounds about right. I have some video of my cave adventure. One of these days I'll up it to YouTube so I share it with y'all.

That looks like Americold in Carthage MO that Buttball uses.

This was somewhere in MO.

Above is the entrance. You make a right to get to the loading doors.

Watch out for those rock columns!

This particular place wasn't too tight. Not simple, but at least it you can sight side back.

Can confirm! 10/10 and 2 thumbs up. Their Chicken Alfredo is so big and so awesome!

Haven't actually bought anything from the store there but have ordered stuff online. That count? Always some sweet trucks in the lot every time I stop at the Iowa80.

I'll stop there if I have a trainee who's never been and we have time.. otherwise if I'm out of hours and need a 10, you'll find me across the Street at the pilot. The museum is absolutely worth a look, but I've never had a truly good meal at the Iowa 80 kitchen. For excellent food stop at the TA on I-80 in Morris, IL exit 112 and eat at "R" Place.

T/A @ North Bend WA 10/07/19.

There was sleet and snow in those clouds.

Hey! That's my stomp'n grounds!

There is also another memorial site by the post office.

And a fitting picture taken just up the road on my last trip through here, in Hutchinson, KS. at another memorial.

I'd say there is a turning point where doing something you did six months ago is now easy. You look back and say, "why was that back so hard the first time."

My current (and first student) come on my truck broke. Needless to say, I've kept him fed. If a few dollars here and there keeps their stress down it makes for a safer environment. If you want, call it cost of doing business.

Without a refrigerator? Ouch! A broke student needs a fridge for lunch meat and whatnot.

Before bobtailing anywhere (like to Walmart for things), lay down the ground rules. Like what you and they should and shouldn't expect. Next, ask questions to find out their level of knowledge. If the student doesn't know the difference between a tire and rim you'll know quickly that you have some work todo.

Like you, I have a family history of teachers. It's a stressful challenge with rewards.

Good luck and drive safe!

During the week (5 days) I was on the Walmart dedicated run. There was only one 10 hour break that wasn't taken out on the road some where. All runs were less then 550 miles round trip with no back hauls. If I would have lived around Loveland and decided to stay on the Walmart account I could have been home most weekends for a 34 reset.

Technically speaking, I'm regional. Ohio west. But that doesn't mean I haven't been or won't go east of there. Pennsylvania, Maryland and North Carolina are all states I've had stops in since going solo October 28, 2018. Probably spent the most time in Pacific northwest and California with trips to the midwest then back out west.

Since picking up my new truck in Springfield on 9/12 my stops have been; Springfield, Cheyenne, Loveland, Great Falls, Missoula (stopped to pickup student), Twin Falls, Denver, Manison NE, Seattle, Quincy WA and heading back to Seattle today.

Point being, I'm OTR but not a super big region. One could almost say, regional. Meat west, potatoes and onions (sometimes fruit) east as I like to say.

Had a 4 wheeler riding me like a dirty diaper the other day. Flat and level running about 62, 10 of my dot bumper. Slow down to 55, still didn't pass. So I come to a steep grade and gravity works it's magic. At 45 hit the flashers and he is still back there. Finally at 32 he gets the hint and passes. The under whelming mental acuity of some folks still to this day astounds me.

I'm sure G-Town can give you way more and better info then I can. G-Town has a post here about the day in the life of a dedicated Walmart driver. Very good read.

I'll attempt to throw a few more pennies out. Once again from the experience I had. Day to day you'll answer to Walmart's dispatch. Pay attention to the directions given on the trip sheets for getting in and out of stores. There might be a file with google maps printed out that show directional info on how to get in and out of each store.

Good luck and stay safe!

Congratulations!!!

The Crete dedicated Wal-Mart run is a good one if you ask me. I had the opportunity to run on Walmart dedicated for a week out of Loveland CO. It was an excellent experience but not my cup of tea. I prefer the OTR driving way more. If I, for some reason, needed that type of run I would go back to it.

Just my two cents.