Question:
Last day of orientation. Swift bought us lunch every day and took us out to China Buffet today (in Lewiston ID). We all stuffed ourselves.
My trainer is driving a Frieghtliner FDL, Heavy. I'm jumping into the sht right away...wasn't expecting that! Going out either Friday or Mon. Can't wait! This job has soooo much to learn, and so many ways to screw up!
Orientation was boring the first two days, but there were several experienced drivers there with lots of info to share. Learned a lot. And at least one of them had worked for Swift before and said it's better than the others he's worked for. The benefits aren't too shabby, and I should make at least $500/wk to start once I'm on my own. It was all very encouraging (so long as I don't read all the negatives on the Internet!).
Can anyone tell me about heavy hauling? I know it's mostly within the north west for Swift, and home more often. Advantages? Disadvantages?

Answer:
Lewiston is a good terminal. Make sure your trainer shows you how to get the extra axles up and down, both on the tractor and trailer. Also make sure you physically check that you got your kingpin in the 5th wheel correctly and the jaw locked correctly. It is more critical in heavy haul than just plain OTR.
Make sure your trainer goes over the Oregon bridge laws. Both the highway and the trailer axle to kingpin laws. Oregon is funky about the trailer bridge laws. Get a heavy haul supplement from one of the terminals. Idaho also has some restrictions once you get off the main STAA routes. Most of Oregon and Idaho is just getting familiar with the laws and where you can and cannot go.
You will see lot of roll up doors.
You’ll appreciate all that heavy weight in the snow, you’ll hate it in the summer. You will probably pull reefers on occasion. You will get use to the reefer engine running after a couple of days.
Beyond the weight and the permits, it is the same as everything else.
Leave the CB off, it I has too may negatives as well.
Welcome to Swift.
-JHappy Dwellers Society
Company Driver Division

Answer:
Thanks, J. We went over all the axle stuff yesterday at orientation, but nothing about bridges. Heard some horror stories about the Idaho roads.
I worked on the oil rigs for a few years when I was younger and when I had to pull a double (24/hr shift) the big diesel light plants would lull me to sleep when I had a chance to, so the refer shouldn't bother me. I'll open the back doors so it won't go on and off.
I've heard that Lewiston is a good terminal; at least two people return to it, after going somewhere else, in nearly every class.

Answer:

I know that was a joke. But I want to tell you that if you'd like your reefer to run constanly---just put it on "continuous" insted of "cycle".
Keep the doors shut; someone might steal your T.V. Dinners. It's apparent this place is never going to change....then again; why should it? It gets the clientel it deserves.
Bette Midler

Answer:
I've run into a couple of reefers that won't go to continous.
-JHappy Dwellers Society
Company Driver Division

Answer:

What do you do if it quits charging, or the battery won't hold a charge???

Answer:
Oregon bridge laws? What Oregon bridge laws?

Answer:
The China Buffet? Up on the hill? Is that the best they could do?
But J is right; Lewiston is a good terminal, one of the better ones...You will get sick of Potlatch and TP loads, but you will always have freight out of there. No sitting...
(Oops, my bad; you said you were going Heavy-haul....)
As for reefers, the problem is usually the opposite; can't get 'em to go to cycle sentry...always the case when you get a ten-year old reefer that shakes and rattles like a '46 packard and you have a 1500 mile run ahead of you!
PP
Answer:

Encouraging? A year of indentured servitude for a job that pays $7.14 an
hour? I think I'll apply for a scholarship at Hamburger U. Oak Brook IL.