My Journey With Wilson Logistics/Jim Palmer
Topic 26658 | Page 3
Day 6: Got to spend all day on the training pad where we worked on parallel (both sides) and 90 degree ally docking. Took me a few tries with the ally dock but I finally got it figured out. The instructor helped us out a lot. It's down to just two of us waiting on our trainers now. It's crazy to think that just a week ago I had never been behind the wheel of anything bigger than a pumper with the fire department and now I'm gonna be heading out on the road with a trainer. Short update today. If anything happens tomorrow I'll let you know, otherwise it'll be Monday. Stay safe. Matt
I start Monday! Maybe we’ll cross paths!
I probably saw you, but briefly. Haha me and my trainer are halfway to Denver right now.
So yeah, Week 2, day 2: out with my trainer. Unfortunately I can't drive till w go to New Mexico and I have the MVD put the corrective lenses restriction on my license so it matches my permit and physical... They ****ed up when I first got my NM drivers license 7 or so years ago, so I'm kinda upset. Ok. My trainer is awesome, we seem to get along pretty well and have a lot in common, so that should make this pretty easy. His (our) truck is a 2016 Freightliner Cascadia. And it's a 10 speed manual which we did not get a chance to train on last week, but Monday I did a little on the simulator and my trainer said it wasn't bad so that's good. Just can't wait to start driving. I'll keep you posted. Stay safe.
Week 2, day 3: should be back I New Mexico pretty soon to get my license fixed so I can start driving. My pre-trip inspection is coming along nicely. In cab and air brakes are what I need the most work on. Trainer seems to think I've already got it down pretty well, but the way I see it, it could always be better. My goal is to pass on the first try to earn him that bonus. Also the faster I pass, the faster we can get back out there and I can start actually making some money. Good luck to anyone else coming in. You've picked an awesome company. Stay safe everyone. Matt
Pre-trip Inspection:
A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.
Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.
Glad things are going as planned. Safe Travels.
Well well guess who found your posts lol
What up Brian! Haha
Ok. So Friday we had gotten a load to take us through NM. Stopped for fuel in South East Colorado before picking up in Texas, and as soon as we get back on the interstate , BAM!!! A binder comes off a flatbed semi and takes out our hub seal. So we pulled off, roadside put a new hub seal but wanted to get us in the shop to do a full damage assessment. Ok. So they found damage on the hub assembly so they got a new one Friday and w would have been good to go on Saturday, but the threads that holds the hub nut on to the steering knuckle are messed up. So it is currently early Monday morning and we are still in the shop. They ordered the part and it should be in today, we are hoping to get underway this afternoon and get into NM so I can fix my license and start driving. So yeah, start of week #3 and things are not going my way, but nothing I can do about it except keep my head up and continue on because as we all know, S*** happens and a lot of it's out of our control. Stay safe everyone. Matt
Interstate:
Commercial trade, business, movement of goods or money, or transportation from one state to another, regulated by the Federal Department Of Transportation (DOT).
Hey guys. Sorry for the delay I updates. We got out of the shop Monday and got a load Tuesday going to Compton stopped in ABQ two nights to fix my license and for me to practice shifting. Headed out an made California Thursday night and delivered Friday. Yesterday we got a load heading east and are now waiting for the next load. My trainer says I'm doing good so far. My shifting is improving and my backing is a lot better. We are hoping to get back to Springfield fir my test date Wednesday. I've been nailing my pre-trips too so I'm confident I can do this now. I'll try to keep the updates coming. Stay safe. Matt
Congrats on the progress thus far.
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Day 5: Today was more time on the pad, but no time on an actual road. Little nervous but I think I'll be ok. Been doing pretty good so I'm more excited than anything. After lunch we also had a training on chaining up the tires which I'm sure I'll need to do at some point this winter so that's good. Met my fleet manager today. Seems like a cool guy. Found out from him that my trainer just got married and back from his honeymoon. I'm interested to meet my trainer Sunday afternoon or Monday morning. Can't wait to get on the road heading home. I'm sure he's gonna want at least a day or two with his wife if we're going to be back in New Mexico so I'll probably get a couple days at home too. Tomorrow we get to practice pretty much all day so that should be pretty good. The more I can get in the more confident I'll be when out on the road.
We are (supposedly) going to NM right away because I have to renew my drivers license and get them to put the restriction for corrective lenses on it so it matches my CDL permit and DOT card.
I'll try to keep you and in the loop. May skip Sunday if nothing really happens. Hope y'all enjoy it. Stay safe. Matt
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
Fleet Manager:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.