3 Weeks Down In OTR Training, Lovin It!!!

Topic 6352 | Page 1

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3rd Generation's Comment
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Started orientation on 11/03/14. Went OTR with a trainer by the end of that week. After the 2nd week, me and my trainer had decided to run team. Together, we ran 4625 miles that 2nd week. We get along very well and he trusted me to drive while he slept before the end of the first week. We have already approached the terminal manager and got approval for teams. He told us we can definitely run team but that we are welcome to change to solo drivers at any time that either one of us decides to.

Running teams has a couple of benefits that solo doesn't. My company pays a little more for running teams. I also feel having two drivers provides a safer work environment, especially when driving northern routes in the winter time. And, our company doesn't use APU's but they still have a pretty strict idling policy, but not much of an issue when running teams. These are just some of the reasons I prefer teams right now.

I will be completely off training status and pay by the end of this coming week, thank gawd! I'm going broke on trainee pay!

Side note: Was "out" three weeks and just got 5 days home time during Thanksgiving with my wife, son and the rest of the family. Its was like my wife and I were having our honeymoon all over again. Very nice! This works for us.

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.

OTR:

Over The Road

OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.

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.

Dexter F.'s Comment
member avatar

Wow, glad to see it's going well for you man! Keep up the hard work and keep on truckin!

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