Question:
Since I went through orientation on the the 2nd of Feb., the adventure has continued. I know PrestonPig is out there somewhere running flats but since I'm in vans, I'll address that.
I was picked up by the trainer on the 9th and we started out with a flourish. heading down the snow packed roads in Wisconsin, we picked up a load headed for Texas. When we finally got to the interstate, the trainer turned the truck over to my less than experienced paws and I proceeded to grind gears and get all flustered....
After a while, I started to get with the program and the learning curve started it's vertical climb into the stratosphere .
When I finally started to get a handle on all the things he was telling me, I felt comfortable heading down the road (sort of) and I said I can do this!!!
Everything was fine and my comfort level was tested time after time as we headed South through Des Moines and towards Kansas City and our planned stop for the night. As we aproached Kansas City, I kept glancing at the trainer, waiting for him to tell me to pull over, he would take it on through. When he just sat there coaching me as to lane position, RPM awareness and how to perfect a scan, I had the terrible, sinking feeling in my stomach that he wasn't going to take over...
As Kansas City and it's rush hour aproached, my mouth dried out, my eyes skipped all over the place, and my hands gripped the wheel in a death grip!!! Somehow, I worked my way through it, and settled onto 71 South, breathing a sigh of relief and starting to unwind. Then the trainer chuckled and said that now I would feel a little better when we got to some really bad traffic!!!!!
Pulling into the truck stop, we parked the truck, and settled down for the night. Wound up tighter than a three dollar watch....!!!!!
We sacked out and had the ICON system running. Around 0245 in the morning, the ICON shut down and all at once, I was almost thrown out of the top bunk!!!
I yelled at the trainer that we'd been hit!!! He yelled back that we sure had and it was a scene out of the keystone cops while we fought for the same space to pull on pants and boots and tried to look out the windows to catch the name on the truck that had backed into us.
As we scrambled out of the cab, we noticed a trailor centered on our grill and a tanker pulled out the it's slot blocking the drive. The tanker driver had seen what happened and pulled out to prevent the other truck from rabbiting out of there.
Our truck's radiator was center-punched and leaking coolant all over with the fiberglass hood a shambles. Needless to say, everyone involved was not happy.
The driver that blind side backed into us acted like it was our fault for being parked where he could back into us. A real attitude case!!!! He refused to give any information other than the company name and phone number. Fine... The police got the information we needed. It really set him off when I took the camera and started taking pictures from all angles.
When the police showed up, we gave them our information and then they started talking to the driver that backed into us. Wouldn't you know it? Once they got his basic information, he left. The officer came up to us and asked if we had seen where he went, but we were too involved by that time with the home office trying to get our load taken off and a different truck transfered in.
What a start to training!!!!
Positives? You bet!!!! I saw first hand what so many on this board have posted about. Both the good and the bad. It took a day for Roehl to get a different truck to us to use, relay our load to another driver and drop an empty trailor for us as well. They put us in a hotel and even though it put a real crimp in the training flow, I was able to be positive about the whole thing. I saw the support system in place when something happens on the road and learned how to be patient.
Once we got back on the road, we had to deal with short loads and lots of drop and hooks while we were fitted back into the flow, but that's all part of the training experience!!!!
It's now through day 12 of the training cycle and I have experienced a tremendous amount of both the good and bad. Both at the shipper and the consignee.
Sitting here in the hotel while my trainer takes his home time, I can't really say how I feel about this total life style change. I know that I like it though and am looking forward to the challenges ahead.
In the last two weeks, I have met people from all walks of life, and find that if you have the patience, and maintain a positive outlook, then you have won over half the battles you are going to face out here.
For those who are just starting out, you're going to find that time management is critical. Subway, can be your best friend as a 12 inch sub can make up two meals. When you feel tired, STOP!!!! Take care of yourself and everything will be so much easier!!!!
Don't expect that your going to do everything right the first time, you won't. The learning curve will saturate you and frustration will build. Take all the time you need to chill and when you fell confused, stop, tell your trainer you don't understand and talk it out.
Most importantly, communicate!!!!!!! With your trainer, your fleet manager and most of all with your family..... Your family is your anchor out here on the road. Your trainer and fleet manager are part of the team working to ensure you can get home safely to your family.
Since we had to switch trucks, my trainer and I have been all over the South and Midwest. I've experienced rush hour traffic and long lonesome stretches of road where it's easy to start thinking about all the negatives. Accentuate the positive!!! It's easier!!!
I'll post more in this thread as soon as I get to another point of internet access. Right now I'm enjoying the fact that I am able to spend a few days in a bed that doesn't have too many lumps in it!!! LOL!!!!
Be safe out there!!!!!

Answer:
Preston Pig is doing fine also. We had a load going near my trainer's home this week, so he dropped me in Marshfield, delivered the load, and went home for a few days. The folks in Marshfield got me a ride with another driver going right past the Oak Creek lot, so I was able to get my car and head home for a few myself. I expect to be going back out either this afternoon yet or else tomorrow morning - depends on when my trainer gets to the area. The flatbedding experience has been pretty good so far. We have had a couple of full tarp loads, a steel tarp load, and a no-tarp load. We also had to do a few local deliveries when the Madison yard got too many trailers with loads for the area. The strapping, chaining, and tarping has not been as bad as I expected - of course, there have been two of us doing it so far! With no weird loads, it has been pretty straightforward on how to secure things - just like the book says, enough to meet or exceed half the load's weight, plus one extra - then another extra for the wife, maybe another extra for the dog - you get the idea.
So far I have been to Texas, Illinoi, Kentucky, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and several others. Fortunately, I haven't been woken up in such a rude manner - yet. No real problems to this point - equipment has all been good, but traffic has been fun a few times. So far, so good!
PP
Answer:
Look at the bright side. You at least now know how to handle an accident.
While I can not totally say that I agree with your trainer throwing you in the deep end on day one with rush hour traffic in KC I can appreciate his obvious thinking on the matter. Sounds like he wanted to make the best use of what little time he has to turn you into a driver from the sweaty palmed bugged eyed newbie. (Dont worry we all have been there done that and got the t-shirt to prove it).
Sounds like you got yourself a trainer who is trying to teach you things you need to know.
PP.........Can never have too many chains and/or straps on a load. I was told by the guy who trained me on flatbeds that the only way to know if you have enough was to roll the truck and if everything stayed in place you had just the right amount. Not a theory I ever tried to prove...but you get the idea.
Well guys.....do your best to keep the greasy side down and the sunny side up.....both on your trucks and with your attitudes, and if you get down into IL and see an old white cabover condo try giving me a shout on the CB and I will make room on the sidewalk for ya.

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Correct on the straps and chains
I have never seen anyone stopped for having to many straps or chains on the load.

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How long do you stay with your trainer at Roehl?

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Hi Joe -
Under the current training scheme, you stay out with a trainer for a minimum of 20 dispatched days. The trainers' home time extends the time period you're out. Afterwards, you are teamed up with another recruit and you operate the truck/dispatches together. You do not team drive at any point. The whole purpose of this phase is to have each student draw from the strengths of the other to get the job done. Hopefully, you are able to get a good partner.
During the period, approximately 20 days, you're with the other recruit, you are very carefully controlled as far as miles, and loads. And before you are even allowed into this phase of the training, you have to pass a very difficult road test. If you fail that test, and the tolerance is very low, then the decision is made to either extend your time with a trainer or say "Thanks for trying, check back in a few years."
Granted, you're given a priliminary road test before you start training but that is just to establish a "base-line" for your trainer to work from and with. Recruits who fail this preliminary test are given a bus ticket home. It happened in our orientation class.
That's what they call phase I and II. For phase III, you are assigned to a mentoring fleet manager and you are still in the learning phase. At this point, you're out on your own and demonstrating your skills in customer relations, planning and vehicle operation. If a problem shows up, you're called back into Marshfield and evaluated again. At this point, if more training is required, that decision will be made based on your record to date and the amount of training they determine you need. How long you spend in Phase III depends entirely on you. By this time, Roehl knows you have been exposed to all the skills needed to do the job. How fast you work to polish those skills is up to you.
Somewhere in all this training, you're scheduled for "skid-pan" training as well. Safety is an ingrained value at Roehl and they are very strict about it. No tolerance at all.
The trucks are governed at 65 MPH and though it's possible to over speed going down a hill, it's frowned on. Too high a percentage of over speeds, and it will affect your bonus.
Hope this helped answer your questions. Also, please keep in mind that I'm still flush with all the information and rules they throw at the newbies so my view(s) may be a little skewed. I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
Lead, Follow or get out of my way!!!

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Absolutely!!! I know how to conduct myself during an accident now for sure.. Not the best time to learn it but what the hey!?!?
As far as throwing me into the fire from the start, my trainer probably sees things that I am not aware of. He's been doing this for a while and has a sort of knack for making you feel semi-comfortable with most situations. He's had me backing from the very first and has been pleased with some of the difficult backs I was able to accomplish with a minimum of coaching.
After every back, we discuss how it could have been done differently and what situations could have been present to govern my choice of set-up.
The experience in KC was good and since then, I was able to build on it with the rush hour traffic up 75 through the "High Five" in Dallas, Highway 90 in Gulfport and downtown Chicago among other locations.
Most of all, I am learning patience. Patience with my own learning speed, and patience with other drivers. I'm also getting engrained with the truism that if you can visualize it, it's going to happen. So in traffic, I slow down, take it easy and don't let other people dictate how I drive. I just increase the following distance, and expect that someone is going to cut into my zone and I am prepared for it.
On the highway, if I start to feel a little tired, I always look for a rest area to take a stretch break and walk around the vehicle. The load will get there when I do and I'm learning to plan long instead of short in order to make sure I am able to take care of me.
We drive with the CB off 99% of the time, except at customers, and no radio music at all. Cuts out the distractions and actually increases the focus on the job.
BTW, we were through Mantoon the other day but on the super slab.... The MIL lives in Shelbyville. I ride for those who can't! POW/MIA - You are NOT forgotten!!
Lead, Follow or get out of my way!!!

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Sounds like things are going well for you. It seems as though you have a good trainer that is actually training you. The lessons learned from the accident will stay with you your entire driving career. Best to learn them now while still in training with a trainer then on your own. I can't wait to read your continuing adventure. Keep up the good work.

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Your trainer wouldn't be "Sparkey" would it?

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The final road test is not really that difficult. Ron in Marshfield is very fair. Your trainer will have you more then ready for the road test. Just dont get all worked up. I only got a 147 on my final. The things that I got gigged on was not shifting into low range for a turn, and I did not actually get under the trailor for a visual inspection on the jaws when I hooked up. I did do a tug test though and looked at the pin. As far as the low range on a turn, during the road test you will be pulling an empty tandom flatbed. 6th gear is more then enough to pull in a turn, even at around 10mph. Ron said my road speed was ok, just that they like to see drivers go into low range for all turns. I did not lug the engine on any of the turns, just lazy on my part of not grabbing down some more holes is all.

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yeah, they promised me skid pad too, but I have yet to do it. they said that it would be before winter, but winter is almost over, I don't think I'll be going, what do you think buzz?

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I have about given up on going to skidpad. I can't figure it out, I know that there was 2 in our orientation that did go to skid pad between phase1 and phase 2 though. Roehl is probally waiting on Opti to tell them when to put us through skid pad. I can see it now, get the go ahead to do skid pad in July.
On a side note about my favorite computer program, aka Opti-stop, or the HAL-9000 at Roehl. This thing has to be the most worthless POS ever. Roehl wants to know where the profits are going, this is a big place. Had me stop and get fuel just oustide KC KS tonight, $1.63/gal and a fill up at 88 gal. Now I know for a fact that #2 is $1.43/gal over in KC MO just a few miles away from our drop yard where I relayed the load. I drove past the the FJ this morning and saw the price. I wonder if they would be up to a little challange, let me try to beat opti and give me free reign. With my laptop I can find the better prices on fuel. Having pre-plans, I know where I am going, I know the weather, terain, and how much I am pulling. I know what my fuel milage is on that trip. I know this is just a pipe dream, but I would be $100 I could beat Opti in cost savings. 2 times alone this week, I saved about 200 miles out of route by going a different way then the way Opti had me routed. Had to call the FM to get the route changed. With over 1000 trucks on the road, you have to wonder how many drivers that either dont have the experience or the tools that I have with the laptop just go the way Opti sends them, driving more miles then they really should have to.
One of these days, I will take the plunge and go the O/O route, dont know who with, but I can guarantee I can make better utilization on fuel cost and routing then old HAL up in Marshfield.

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Hey Buzzdog Dont worry to much bout them taking u up on that challenge before I left hiil bros they started the same thing I continuasly offerd to show them i could beat their deal but was never allowed to show. I leared from working for a very small co to watch prices and fuel acordinly and it stuck with me. I know most co drivers could not care less what the price of fuel is just try asking some sometime even at the truckstop two min after they just fueled they wont know what they just paid for fuel.
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Buzzdog
what program do you use?

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RaceFanRay
You are soo right in what you said. Larger companies have to run using the least common denominator(sp). A company with over 1000 drivers can't rely on company drivers to make good decisions, so I can understand this to a point. The reason I am keeping track of all of these things is my goal is to eventually be an O/O. I have been keeping track of fuel cost, parts, maintaince, etc. Using the company as a graduate program so to say. I have a spread sheet set up to track all of these numbers.
tugg
When the old threads get moved over here do a search on hightech trucking, all of the details on my toys are there. Readers digest I have a laptop and use DeLorme street atlas with the earthmate GPS. For internet I have Verizon Wireless Express Network and also use the WI-FI at the Flying J's. It would be fairly easy to track fuel costs of where I am going etc, and plan accordingly, and also change the plan as needed.
Example, the load I am on now, I have 42k in the box, left out of KC KS up to Denver, CO on I-70. Nice slow steady climb the entire way, but I was driving into a head wind the entire way. My MPG was horrable, only averaged about 5.6mpg. My January MPG was 7.17. I had enough fuel to get here, but HAL up in Marshfield does not know how much weight I am carrying, what type of terrain, or if I have a strong head wind. This is just a case that most large companies are basically looking for steering wheel holders. Don't get me wrong, most of the time when I call dispatch and tell them I can shave off miles they work with me. There are just times it seems that it is not worth it to do the extra work for them if you catch my meaning.