NTB Transportation
Topic 21595 | Page 1
Welcome to Trucking Truth! Sounds like you did your homework. Good luck.
Hey, that's great news Hman! Congrats on the new gig. I can only imagine how hard it would be to leave a job after 20 years. Wow, that's a long time. I don't know what that job was like, but your new one is certainly going to be an adventure full of tough challenges. We certainly hope you'll stop in to ask questions and keep us updated along the way.
They are 95% drop and hook , and 98% no touch freight.
Now those are some beautiful numbers right there!
I drove for US Xpress and we had a division that was dedicated to Meijer. I pulled one or two of those loads most weeks when I was in our regional division getting home weekends. We did some drop and hook, some live unloads. It was pretty cool. There really wasn't anything not to like. In fact it's a pretty easy job overall I'd have to say.
Congrats and keep us updated!
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
Drop And Hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Thanks Brett. Leaving my job is going to the hardest thing. I am a mechanic at a equipment rental company.I only live 6 miles from my job now.
I think working for NTB is going to be a good fit for me. I like the idea of 95% drop and hook. But if I got to wait on a load,thats okay too. I have a lot of patience. I am up for the challenge. I have always approached any job as to do it right,do it efficient and safely. I always say no room for failure.
I got to get my Hazemat and get my background checked through TSA.
Drop And Hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
I have been missing in action. Just wanted to give an update. I am set up to start with NTB on Tuesday March the 6th. I will have to do a road test, Dot physical and a drug test. This will happen at their Tipp City, Ohio Terminal. After I get through this on Tuesday am, I will drive a company car up to their main terminal in Grand Rapids Michigan. I will stay two nights and come back to Tipp City, Ohio on Thursday. I will leave out either on Sunday or Monday with my trainor. I will be out for five days and come home for the weekend and then do it all over again. Training lasts for 4 weeks. I just hope that I do well on my road test. I have been out of a truck since I tested out over 90 days. I will keep you up to date on how I am doing at NTB. I feel that NTB is a very good choice to kick off my trucking career with. It is all up to me to make it work. I will give up dates on how things are going.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Sounds great and good luck! I love shopping at Meijer when I’m visiting my friends in Ohio. I hope both trucking AND NTB prove to be all you are hoping for. You’ve done the research, now get to work and be sure to enjoy the ride! 😊
NTB... Are those the green trucks? If so, I used to see them everywhere in Michigan. They have nice equipment.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Yes their trucks are green. I have only seen one in the area were I live. I thank they have really nice equipment. I have see pics of their trailor's and of their tractor's on their website and they look real good. Their trucks are 10 speeds and have apu's.
Their main terminal is in Michigan and they also have drop yards up there also.
I am really excited to get started with them. I think they are a good fit for me and I am as well for them. I am going to put forth all my effort in this new career (lifestyle change).
I will post updates once I get into training.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
APU:
Auxiliary Power Unit
On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.
Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.
APU's:
Auxiliary Power Unit
On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.
Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.
Well, Tuesday March 6th is fast approaching. I am headed out to NTB trucking. I will have to do a road test, DOT Physical,and drug test. I am excited to get started. I will have 2 days of orientation and will come back home and go out with my trainer either on Sunday or Monday for five days. I will keep you up to date on how things are going.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
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Hi Trucking Truth. I have made a decision to start my driving career with NTB Transportation out of Grand Rapids Michigan. This has been a hard decision to make. There are so many good companies out their to start a career with. I have studied a lot of companies. I got my wife and daughter involved on helping me choose the one that best fits for me and my family. I feel we choose a good company.
I have already been prehired and invited to come work for them, with a phone interview. I just got to tell them a date that I want to start. I have a lot of mixed emotions,not so much about going to work for them just if I am making the right decision in this lifestyle/career change. I guess the biggest thing is leaving my job I am at now.I have been their for over 20 years.I have grown with this company,but it's just not cutting it any more.
A little about NTB. They are dry van. Their big customer is Meijer. They run 8 states.Great lakes region.Work 5 days and home 48hours plus. Avg. about 2200 to 2600 miles in that 5 days.Alot of night driving. Got to have hazemat endorsement.Truck does not come home on home time,park at a drop yard.
Orientation is in Lansing Mi.It is 2 days.Will drive their company car from Tipp City,Ohio. Will get drug test and dot physical and a road test done in Tipp City. I will drive my personal vehicle to Tipp city and back home,194 miles round trip,and they pay .38 cpm for doing this. I will come back from Lansing,Mi on Thursday.I will meet up with my trainor either on Sunday or Monday in Columbus,Ohio at the drop yard.Will go out for 5 days and come back on the trainers days off, 2 days. Then go back out.This is for 4 weeks.Then will test out. The truck is ran as a solo truck.No team driving. Pay while in training is $400.00. Once solo,start at.38cpm. Any miles over 2200 is paid an additional .05cpm.Will make an additional .03cpm for all miles driven on the weekend.I will work weekends for the first year. Also they pay tuition reimbursement of $4000.00 in your 1st year. Paid weekly. That is after you go solo.
They are 95%drop and hook,and 98% no touch freight. Trucks are manuals,have apu's and set at 65mph.
Well this is a little about NTB. Did not mean to make so long. Please feel free to comment,ask questions.I am going to be asking for help once I get started on this journey.I know it will not be easy,but I am up for the challenge. I want to be the go too guy. I like to stay busy,but also do it in a safe and common sense way. Thanks much for this great forum.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Dry Van:
A trailer or truck that that requires no special attention, such as refrigeration, that hauls regular palletted, boxed, or floor-loaded freight. The most common type of trailer in trucking.CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
Prehire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Drop And Hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
APU:
Auxiliary Power Unit
On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.
Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.
APU's:
Auxiliary Power Unit
On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.
Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.