My Pneumatic Tanker Job

Had my first $1,000+ NET week. My best week yet without any bonus included. I have a great relationship with my dispatcher which definitely helps keep the money rolling. He knows I like to get started between 3 and 4 am and will run my clock out for the day. Because of that I'm usually running 2 loads and 400-500 miles which typically gets me around $200+ for the day. If I have extra time on a shorter day he let's me do some odd job work at $15 an hour to make a litte more. If I dont want to work a weekend it is never a problem and most times I'll work the Sunday which pays out 10% more on the load. A Sunday usually adds $280 to the week. Most of the time during the week I get my pick of runs and load times as well.

Beginning of the year it looks like there will be some rate increases and possibly some other changes that will get us a little more pay.

There are rumors about some new trucks coming in at some point. Will be either freightliners or internationals. Not sure I'd want a new truck. I would have to test it out for a day or 2 first. I like my volvo and dont want to give it up for something that I might hate.

Also, my DM keeps hinting about how we used to have our own shop down here before (currently running out of a Nationalease yard). I wouldn't mind that. The extra room and dedicated mechanics would be awesome.

I got lucky and found my niche at the start of my career. I dont see leaving here unless things get really bad on the corporate level. Even then I would find something doing these pneumatics.

Congrats. I clicked on this and for some reason it didn't take me to the last page. I started reading and thought you added to this blog, starting a new job lol...Then looked up and was on page one. Glad you are happy with your career.

Well guys, it finally happened. They trusted me enough to stick someone in my truck to learn my ways. Guess I must be doing something right? Today was his second day with me. Seems like a good guy. Drove for swift and PFG, has around 2 years of experience. So far he has been very attentive to what I'm telling him and taking initiative to learn which is all I can really ask for. Yesterday was a full day, like 13+ hour double run kinda day to start him off. Wasnt sure if he would come back today haha. Apologized to him for getting stuck in the truck with the guy that runs hard and uses all the time available.

I'll update this a couple times during this process since he is my first trainee. Fingers crossed that it goes smooth!

Very cool, thanks for sharing. We don't get enough training diaries from a trainer's perspective. I'll continue to follow along. Thanks again!

Amish,

Congrats. Your boss definitely thinks highly of you.

Chris

Well it's been a few days and I have come to decision about training. I dont mind it cause I like passing on information and helping out another driver get better but....I like my space. I could never team run. I try to be as efficiant as possible and I'm a little OCD about how things are done so having to let the mistakes happen and go slower hurts a little bit deep down inside. And having to ride instead of drive, this passenger seat is a torture machine! I feel bad for making anyone sit in it.

I got lucky that he is paying attention and picking it up quick. Been having him unload the last 4 and he has the concept and can control the pressures well enough to do the job. Its little things that I do that he is missing but it wouldn't cause problems if it wasn't done my way. We have pebble left to do and he will have unloaded 3/4 product types and have a good base to start on and be able to figure it out along the way. Started filling out the trip sheet paperwork and driving.

Plan is for him to do everything next week and send him on his way to Aberdeen solo.

Looking forward to having my truck back!

When it comes to unloading he can do it but seems to second guess himself which I understand. I did the same thing and you need to build up the confidence in what you're doing. Just struggling a little with the end clean out process. I've noticed having to tell him the same things over and over again which is getting a little annoying. Like just now the GPS recognized a school zone so it said the limit was 15 even though the posted limit is 25. Had to tell him to ignore the 15 and do what's posted like 3 times.

Also learned a little bit ago that his driving experience is limited to mostly highway. He never really drove routes so he had a little comment about driving back through to York springs in PA from Union bridge, MD. We take 194 to 116 through Hanover and some other small towns. Saves on miles and time not having to deal with traffic. Hell either learn to drive them or won't do as well as he could by sticking to majority highway. Some customers are in some very country areas with some lovely 2 lane roads getting there.

It was an insightful day today. I've realized that he doesnt read signs very well. Couple times the speed changed from 55 to 65 and hes still cruising along at like 50 so when I said something it was "oh I must've missed the sign". More importantly coming 322 south from state college in PA over seven mountains it is an 8% grade with a 6-6.5 degree curve halfway. Trucks need to stop at the top to reduce gear before heading down. He almost drove right by at 40 mph loaded at 78k. "Oh I've never really dealt with this". What about the 3 signs up the hill that said to pull over!! Driving with his high beams on the whole time even with cars coming at him and coming on the highway in front of him. Felt bad for the people getting blinded for no reason other than "it helps me see better".

We pay $150 a day aw training pay. He had an issue with only getting paid 750 a week. When I told him he honestly prob went make much more his first couple weeks until he gets comfortable and they judge what he can handle it was q comment along the lines of "they gunna treat me like a newbie". Well yea, you are to this company and arnt working that fast yet. Drove so slow we finished an hour later. Thinks he can go solo and jump right into making $1400 a week all because hes driven before and that was they number they said he could make. But that's top potential and knowing everything and everywhere your going.

I see a rude awakening and hell either quit or adjust his thought process.

Despite your best efforts, this doesn't sound like it's going to end well... like he will either quit because he's not being paid "what was promised" (as the top end pay he could eventually earn) or he's gonna wreck. Your examples of him not paying attention to signs are frightening to me. I'm not saying you haven't but have you considered asking him what, literally, every sign you pass says? I'm not sure you could reprogram him to pay attention to every sign but maybe.

I've made it a point to bring it up and get him to pay attention to them more. Unfortunately since he has almost 2 years of experience already he thinks his driving is great. He may do better to get me off his back but once he goes on his own itll be back to what he knows and does. With having less then a year of driving experience myself I dont think hell take my opinions or advice anyway.

I was trying to figure out what's easier to train. A new driver out of school that you can mold to finish or an experienced driver that "knows" what they're doing?