Random Ramblings

When we originally got to Indianapolis the plan was that we were going to be there for 18 days straight. When we arrived Monday they told us that they were changing the class schedule. What USE to happen, is you would do a week IN CLASS, then spend time with your TE (Training Engineer, that's what Schneider calls their road trainers" then for the 3rd week we would be back in class, learning how to work the computer on board and trip planning (which coincidentally was what you learned when you where out with your TE, which I thought was odd) so instead, we did 2 weeks in class room, then week 3 we met up with our TE, which is were we will start this blog.         Was told Friday I would be going to Gary Indiana OC (operating center, were driver services is, maintenance and people park their trucks and vehicles while on the road) little out of my way but just another hiccup to get my own truck, and I would have to drive to Indy OC to pick up a rental car to drive to ...

10/15/2018       Think I slept wrong last night woke up to back spasms (haven't had those in a LONG Time) Sleep came pretty easy to me yesterday which was a welcome trade off from the usual insomniac nights but I guess those will return soon. I get one decent night sleep every couple weeks so, good thing when I get my own truck I will be driving mostly NIGHTS, hey if I'm gonna be awake might as well make money right?          Got to class today and most of them forgot that they had to do log's for Saturday AND Sunday, so had to wait for 20 mins for them to catch that up. Many of them still struggle with this simple process, would be a little more understandable if we were all students learning this for the first time, but we are all here because we already have our cdl's (although how some people got theirs is beyond me) We spent the day INSIDE, doing "soft skills" ie BOOK WORK. Today was using Work Flow and doing trip planning. Basically Work...

October 12 2018             Started out in class went over log books will many people still can't comprehend, it's not brain science or rocket surgery but oh well. So we meet in our groups to drive and go on the yard, this time we they changed it up and put me with two other people that I had never driven with before, ah well no biggie doesn't make any difference to me. While we were walking out to the truck, the instructor told me " these two need another evaluation to see if they should stay or go, and since you have more driving experience then any one else here, I need and extra set of eyes if you don't mind since you have already passed, and need to take 3 people with me anyway" Okay sounds good to me. Well the first guy got behind the wheel that has previous issues driving, he is from Somalia originally and I don't believe he has totally mastered the English language, made evident, when the instructor told him to stop or turn left or right and woul...

10/11/2018 What an amazing day at work. Really loving my new job and new company. We switched it up from yesterday, those who drove first were on the yard, the other's went on the road. Did more "alley docking" 100% nailed it each and every time, and each and every time I felt more and more comfortable about it. Still some employees who are still struggling, and I hope they get it but they might not, and if not who knows what happens with after that. Was kinda funny because Yesterday it was raining all day but it was warm. Today it wasn't raining but was chilly, or so the other's in my class claim. It started out around 51 this am and then moved up to about 55 with a nice breeze. I was the only one out there with out a jacket or coat. Told them if I could get away with it I would be wearing shorts, however because we are on the yard they don't allow them it's cool I will obey their rules, but bet your butt I will be in them all the time in my own truck. ...

October 10 2018          Didn't sleep worth a crap last night, tossed and turned and kept waking up, afraid I was gonna over sleep and miss the shuttle to school. Any way got to school, and updated our log books, and went out to the yard, were we got our instructions on expectations and what we would be doing. We split up into 2 groups of 14 ( we have about 6 trucks we use), half of us went to drive on the road and half stayed on the yard. I got to drive first. We just went around town, when we got to a stopping place to switch drivers. When we stopped he looked at me and said "Okay, you have a little more driving experience then others don't you?" I said uh yeah. He said "Well just hang with us for this short time and you will get along just fine and be a great employee, I don't have any issues with your driving" Well that is humbling, but thank you.     Back to the yard for slow speed maneuvers, MY NEMESIS the alley dock, ugh, how I loathe thee. ...

Oct 02 2018      After arriving at Training Center on 10/03/2018, went in for my DOT Physical, and the Dr. said my glands in my neck were swollen and my throat was hurting and was just feeling under the weather. Well because of the swollen glands and sore throat they decided to send me home. So went to family Dr. who diagnosed me with Viral Sinus Infection, but NO FLU. So sat at home and rested for the week and called my recruiter to get set up for this week. (one benefit of such a large company this orientation starts every week)         10/08/2018        Arrived back in Indianapolis around 20:00, got to the hotel and find out they have no rooms available, and I need to call Schneider Travel center to make other arrangements. So I called them and they had NO Record of me supposing to be here, and no idea what to do. Well I told her I am NOT driving all the way home, and we need to figure something out. So for the time being th...