A Rook's Attempt At A Veriha Training Diary

How's your training journey?

Hey PackRat. This week wasn't very productive. Monday I was passenger, as my regional trainer said he does first day with all his students. Tuesday morning we put the truck in the shop, which was pre-planned and made my trainer question why they gave him a student knowing that. It didn't get released til Thursday afternoon, so I was home til then. He drove that afternoon to see how it ran after service. So today was the first day I drove in a week. I did all the driving and backing. He told me I did a good job backing, and I thanked him and said I like his method of instruction. He would say something like, I need you to make your trailer do ..., and I would think and make the move to get it done. I'm confident I will get there. Next week we will actually be on the road and staying in the truck, and Thursday I expect to get some backing practice on my own when he's in a class at the terminal , something I've been wanting and think it'll be beneficial as I can take my time, go slow and GOAL, and see how my steering inputs are really affecting the trailer. I don't know if they will add a week due to how this one went. If I feel competent in my backing after this, I'll feel confident in moving to the next phase.

I also got some more winter driving, which is a big reason why I timed my training when I did.

This is my first experience out of the FL Cascadias I used at the Driver Academy and with my first trainer. I'm now using a Volvo, I believe a VNL760.

Still loving everything I've seen thus far!

Oh, I finished my day by going to the DMV since the TSA finally cleared me and I called downstate to see if the system showed me in there yet, and got the all-clear. Thanks to a refresher on the High Road, I added my HazMat endorsement to join my tanker and doubles/triples. I know tanks aren't for rookies and have no immediate thoughts of pulling anything but a 53' dry van for my company for the first year plus, just want to have all options for the future as I don't know where this career will take me.

Good update Sandman.

Prime requires the tanker endorse for all drivers because we haul liquids in the box that exceed 1,001 gallons. Think beer, juice, bottled water, etc.

My Hazmat endorsement has gotten me a couple nice loads so far plus extra $50 per load.

That's good to know Dennis. Hopefully they'll come in handy for me sooner than I thought then. Congrats on your rehire and beautiful new truck!

Quick update. My co-drive week where I'm supposed to drive with another student is supposed to be next week. But because my first week of training with my regional trainer wasn't much of anything due to maintenance, I'm going to stay on his truck next week and that will count as my co-drive week. Another factor was who they were going to partner me with (the fella I made friends with at class, we were hoping to get paired!) hasn't been picked up for his next phase due to his home location and trainer's schedule. Hopefully it will be me doing it all, aside from learning more backing skills which I need. I think doing it as if I was already solo but with the safety net of my trainer still there will help me feel more confident when I go solo.

After that I should be coming back to the terminal to start the upgrade process, which will include a pre-trip, road drive, backing, coupling and uncoupling with Safety during the upgrade orientation. I'm capable of all that but the backing right now, although I want to make sure my verbiage on the pre-trip is still adequate. Not worried about the backing, I keep learning each day. I was going to spend tomorrow backing at the terminal while trainer's in class but the powers that be said no because I'm still a student so I can't be moving the truck on my own I guess. Oh well.

Our drive to the terminal this morning let me witness bad winter driving conditions from the passenger seat. My trainer wasn't even sure at first if he wanted to drive it, but the fact we were pulling 42k in the box told him to go. Glad it was him and not me! After we dropped that I drove BT the hour or so up to the terminal.

Quick update.

ok, that wasn't so quick!

Good update. Thanks for sharing

Due to weather concerns, my trainer said we are not working tomorrow. So I am home and thus ends my official training time. Those in charge aren't sure yet but tentative plans are to have me ride with a driver up to the terminal on Tuesday, from the drop yard about 45 minutes from my house where I'll park my POV while out and park the truck while home.

This will be to upgrade to solo, of which I feel ok on except for the backing still. My trainer said I improved and he thinks I'm ready; glad one of us does! I've read here nobody feels ready, and I know I just need to take my time and GOAL a million times if needed, but that is a major concern for going out on my own. I'll advise how it goes, when it goes.

Good update Sandman.

Prime requires the tanker endorse for all drivers because we haul liquids in the box that exceed 1,001 gallons. Think beer, juice, bottled water, etc.

My Hazmat endorsement has gotten me a couple nice loads so far plus extra $50 per load.

Your understanding of tanker endorsement reg is incorrect.

First, it's 1000 gallons or more, not 1001 gallons. Second, the volume of individual containers matters. Fir tanker endorsement to be required, each individual container must contain at least 119 gallons. So, bottled water would not be a load requiring a tanker endorsement.

Here's a mock scenario to consider:

You have a load of various size liquid containers going to multiple stops. Your total volume is 3,500 gallons. You have 4 containers with a liquid volume of 200 gallons, 20 containers of 100 liquid gallons, and 700 containers of 1 gallon each. That's over 1000 gallons for the load and individual containers of at least 119 gallons, so tanker endorsement is required, right? False. Once unloading the smaller containers a tanker endorsement would then be required, right? False. The containers of at least 119 gallons do not total 1000 gallons. The reg states that to require a tanker endorsement, the 1000 gallons must be in one tank or distributed among multiple tanks of at least 119 gallons. So, all tanks of less than 119 gallons do not count toward the 1000 gallon requirement, per regulation.