Friday, May 30, 2008
I Am Now Number 9 on the List
This morning I was number 9 on the list. They seem to be getting about 7 trucks done a day so I expect to have my truck by Saturday and to be leaving Sunday. I am tired of waiting. I will post pictures of my truck when I get it.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Waiting for My Truck in Joplin
NY City
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Waiting for Truck
We are in Joplin waiting for a truck. We were 14 on the list this morning. That is up from 28 on Tuesday. That is 7 a day progress so I am hoping for Saturday or Sunday to be ready to go. They have 48 more that will be on the list by this weekend. Needless to say they are busy. Waiting for trucks are not the norm here but Con-Way is very busy. They are the only trucking company that has increased their business over last year.
Saturday they are having a cookout at the Terminal so it will be nice to get to attend that. They have one the first Saturday of each month but it will be rare that I will be here.
I haven’t had the opportunity to go into any detail about my training. I did 8000 miles in 2 ½ weeks. We left Joplin and went to Montgomery, AL. Then we went to Farmington, CT. From there we went to Chicago, IL. We got a load of Dentyne Gum (38,000 lb) and took it to Laredo, TX where it would be relayed to Mexico. Then we went to Minneapolis, MN. From there we went to Hazelton, PA. And form there we went to Gainesville, GA. That is were I left for home and my trainer got a trip to Orlando, Fl and then home.
When I get on the road I will keep this blog updated. I got a broadband wireless internet connecting to use. My trainer used one while we were traveling and he almost always has service. I found the Wi-Fi connections in truck stops not very good and also each brand of truck stops charge for their service.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Finished with my Training
Monday, May 26, 2008
I am finished with my finisher and am waiting for a truck. I was able to go by my home and get my wife and dog and the stuff I need for the road. I hope to be on the road soon.
I didn’t care for, and that is putting it mildly, for my trainer. CFI has some good finishers but I didn’t get one that I liked. But I was able to learn from him and get my 7500 mile done in 2 ½ weeks. I made $669.00 the first week and I didn’t get on the truck till Wednesday night and the week ends on Saturday. The second week I made $970.00. Not bad for being in training. This week will be a little less and so will next week because I am waiting on a truck. I will receive lay over pay for those days of $60.00 a day.
I am finished with my finisher and am waiting for a truck. I was able to go by my home and get my wife and dog and the stuff I need for the road. I hope to be on the road soon.
I didn’t care for, and that is putting it mildly, for my trainer. CFI has some good finishers but I didn’t get one that I liked. But I was able to learn from him and get my 7500 mile done in 2 ½ weeks. I made $669.00 the first week and I didn’t get on the truck till Wednesday night and the week ends on Saturday. The second week I made $970.00. Not bad for being in training. This week will be a little less and so will next week because I am waiting on a truck. I will receive lay over pay for those days of $60.00 a day.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
I Start Earning Money Today as a Professional Driver
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
I Start Earning Money Today as a Professional Driver
Today is the day that I start earning money as a professional Truck Driver. I will leave with my finisher today and start earning $0.26 a mile for driving. That’s cool. After 7500 miles I get a raise to $0.30 or $0.031, I don’t remember which. It doesn’t matter. I get raises, bonuses, as long as I am here. By the end of a year it is in the upper 30’s plus .03 for Hazmat and .05 for NY area.
I don’t know how much time I will have to post but I will when I can. My laptop has WI-FI but I don’t have a wireless card. I am going to get one when I get my own truck and my wife is with me.
I Start Earning Money Today as a Professional Driver
Today is the day that I start earning money as a professional Truck Driver. I will leave with my finisher today and start earning $0.26 a mile for driving. That’s cool. After 7500 miles I get a raise to $0.30 or $0.031, I don’t remember which. It doesn’t matter. I get raises, bonuses, as long as I am here. By the end of a year it is in the upper 30’s plus .03 for Hazmat and .05 for NY area.
I don’t know how much time I will have to post but I will when I can. My laptop has WI-FI but I don’t have a wireless card. I am going to get one when I get my own truck and my wife is with me.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Waiting for My Finisher
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Waiting for My Finisher
I am finished with my orientation at Con-Way Truck Load and waiting for my finisher. He will be in Joplin Wednesday so I have a day to do nothing. I am headed back to the terminal this morning to take care of a couple of things. My security card isn’t working and I need to get a home parking place arranged.
I visited the war room while I was at the terminal this morning. It was quite impressive. They have three large screens about the size that would be in a theater displaying a weather map and other information. Then they have all these people on computers talking to drivers and dispatching loads.
I talked to my finisher. He is not expected to be here before noon Wednesday so I will just hang out will little to do. It is raining today also so I will nap and read to pass the day.
Waiting for My Finisher
I am finished with my orientation at Con-Way Truck Load and waiting for my finisher. He will be in Joplin Wednesday so I have a day to do nothing. I am headed back to the terminal this morning to take care of a couple of things. My security card isn’t working and I need to get a home parking place arranged.
I visited the war room while I was at the terminal this morning. It was quite impressive. They have three large screens about the size that would be in a theater displaying a weather map and other information. Then they have all these people on computers talking to drivers and dispatching loads.
I talked to my finisher. He is not expected to be here before noon Wednesday so I will just hang out will little to do. It is raining today also so I will nap and read to pass the day.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Finished at Crowder
Sunday May 4, 2008
Finished at Crowder
Here is a recap of what has transpired so far:
Last Sunday: Arrived at Joplin on the bus where we are picked up by cabs and taken to Quality Inn where we spend the night.
Monday: Picked up on a Con-Way bus and taken to headquarters. We spend all day at orientation. Around 5:00 PM we are then taken to Noesho’s Booneslick Lodge.
Tuesday: First day at Crowder week long boot camp. Everyone is anxious and wonder if they have learned enough at their school to make it through this week. After learning that we get the opportunity to go through each exercise before testing the anxiety is lessoned. We also learn that the instructors here are good and they work to help you succeed. If you try you can make it.
Wednesday: We do a commentary road trip plus more shifting and backing on the range.
Thursday: 3:30 AM road trip plus more of the same training on the range.
Friday: We were scheduled for skid pad but canceled because of wind. We did more training on the range and obstacle course.
Saturday: Skills test.
Sunday: Finished test and get back to Booneslick early.
Note: we do test almost everyday. The written tests are rather easy. We also do a pre-trip test. It will be about the same as what you have already done but with less detail.
Finished at Crowder
Here is a recap of what has transpired so far:
Last Sunday: Arrived at Joplin on the bus where we are picked up by cabs and taken to Quality Inn where we spend the night.
Monday: Picked up on a Con-Way bus and taken to headquarters. We spend all day at orientation. Around 5:00 PM we are then taken to Noesho’s Booneslick Lodge.
Tuesday: First day at Crowder week long boot camp. Everyone is anxious and wonder if they have learned enough at their school to make it through this week. After learning that we get the opportunity to go through each exercise before testing the anxiety is lessoned. We also learn that the instructors here are good and they work to help you succeed. If you try you can make it.
Wednesday: We do a commentary road trip plus more shifting and backing on the range.
Thursday: 3:30 AM road trip plus more of the same training on the range.
Friday: We were scheduled for skid pad but canceled because of wind. We did more training on the range and obstacle course.
Saturday: Skills test.
Sunday: Finished test and get back to Booneslick early.
Note: we do test almost everyday. The written tests are rather easy. We also do a pre-trip test. It will be about the same as what you have already done but with less detail.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Finished All My Tests
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Finished All My Tests
I finished all my tests today. I had a written test first and then off the road test. I amazed myself at how much more confidence I had today in my driving abilities than I had a week ago. Next I did the backing test, scored a hundred on it. Then the obstacle course, the last test, I was getting cocky by then but did well. I lost a ten pointer because I got greedy and instead of settling for a 8 or 9 points went for the 10 and went past a line by 3 or 4 inches and go a 0 for that score. I still passed with a seventy when only forty was required to pass. I enjoyed the obstacle course. We also did some hook and drops and sliding tandems. It was a short day; we left at 3:00.
Tomorrow will be a short day. A few boot campers still have the obstacle test to complete. I will try to get my laundry done so that I get started on the road without having to deal with it for a while. I hope that I can get out with the trainer Monday.
Finished All My Tests
I finished all my tests today. I had a written test first and then off the road test. I amazed myself at how much more confidence I had today in my driving abilities than I had a week ago. Next I did the backing test, scored a hundred on it. Then the obstacle course, the last test, I was getting cocky by then but did well. I lost a ten pointer because I got greedy and instead of settling for a 8 or 9 points went for the 10 and went past a line by 3 or 4 inches and go a 0 for that score. I still passed with a seventy when only forty was required to pass. I enjoyed the obstacle course. We also did some hook and drops and sliding tandems. It was a short day; we left at 3:00.
Tomorrow will be a short day. A few boot campers still have the obstacle test to complete. I will try to get my laundry done so that I get started on the road without having to deal with it for a while. I hope that I can get out with the trainer Monday.
Friday, May 2, 2008
We Missed the Skid Pad
Friday, May 02, 2008
We Missed the Skid Pad
A lot has happened since Tuesday. It has been a real hurricane week of lessons, tests, and driving. We have covered so much it is hard to take it all in. We missed the skid pad that was scheduled for today and everyone was disappointed. We had a storm front and it has been windy for the last three days. The wind would blow the water away so the skid pad was canceled. Con-Way sends all the drivers through the training so it will be rescheduled but we will miss it for now. Thursday we did the early morning drive and that went well but we did have to contend with the strong winds. Tomorrow we do a road test, the backing test, and get started with the obstacle course test and a written test. We finish the testing Sunday and get the remainder of the day off. It is hard to believe that it has only been a week with all that we have done.
We Missed the Skid Pad
A lot has happened since Tuesday. It has been a real hurricane week of lessons, tests, and driving. We have covered so much it is hard to take it all in. We missed the skid pad that was scheduled for today and everyone was disappointed. We had a storm front and it has been windy for the last three days. The wind would blow the water away so the skid pad was canceled. Con-Way sends all the drivers through the training so it will be rescheduled but we will miss it for now. Thursday we did the early morning drive and that went well but we did have to contend with the strong winds. Tomorrow we do a road test, the backing test, and get started with the obstacle course test and a written test. We finish the testing Sunday and get the remainder of the day off. It is hard to believe that it has only been a week with all that we have done.
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