Profile For Whitetail

@Javon W I hope, very sincerely that everything works out for you. I definitely hope that you like your situation at Stevens Transport, and would encourage you to stay for a long time. If you ever decide to go to another company, keep in mind that all trucking companies go back 10 years for employment history. It's perfectly ok to switch jobs a couple times within that period. It is not ok to do it 5 or 6 times. I understand your trepidations about teaming, but in your situation I would have a bigger fear of my employment history.

I just finished school at Millis Transfer and I'm getting picked up by my trainer in the next few days. It's been a great experience with them so far, but I already have plans for my future that do not include staying here beyond my commitment. I know where I'm going and what I'm doing, because I did a ton of research. And who knows? Maybe I'll decide to stay. But if I don't I'll make sure I land in a place I won't be leaving for a very long time. That employment history means everything in this industry. That, and a good safety record!

I am most likely going to Millis at the end of June. Eden site. Seems like a great company and what I hear from other drivers they work to get your hometime to the best of their ability. My one concern is 85% of their freight from Eden terminal is Miller cCoors and they are closing by years end.

Just curious, did you end up going? Haven't checked in on this site in a while.

Acquired my medical card. Word to the wise for those who are considering school...Get your medical card first, then your CDL permit. I got my permit first. After I passed the written test, and before I was issued my permit, I was asked to self certify my trucking category. The options are as follows: 1) Non-exempted interstate (this is the option that most truckers need) 2) Exempted interstate 3) Non-exempted intrastate 4) exempted intrastate

At the time I was issued my CDL permit, I was forced to select option 2 because I had not yet gotten my physical. Now that I have my medical card, I have to go back to the DMV and pay to have it changed. It's only $3.50, but it's extra time and hassle that I could have prevented. So if you are starting this process, or considering a career, save yourself a little time and get your medical card first.

I would assume (perhaps incorrectly) that all certified examiners would have updated forms, right? I just took my DOT physical yesterday and passed. I'd hate to go through the hassle and expense of doing a second test. I do have a signed card from the examiner, which I just emailed to my company. On what grounds would they recall it?

I wouldn't sweat it. Apparently there is an overlap with the Virginia plant. They are just streamlining.

I am hoping that this helps whoever reads it. I am going to the Trenton, Ohio Millis CDL school on July 5th. I will keep this thread updated as often as possible once school starts. I have acquired my Ohio CPL and I am going to get my DOT physical card later this week. For those who are trying to pick the best company to start, I have this to say... After exhaustive conversations with recruiters from multiple companies, I chose Millis based on my personal needs and goals. Everyone coming into trucking is unique. Your story will be different than mine. Every company has something about them that will stand out for you. If someone tells you that your first company doesn't matter, ignore everything else they say. Don't settle. Your needs are different from anyone else's needs. There are a bunch of really good companies out there that have great track record, and it is a guarantee that one of them will suit your individual needs. Or at least close enough that you can be happy. Pick that company and roll with it. Millis was mine. Prime, Swift, Knight, Celadon, etc might be yours. Don't doubt yourself. There are a lot of negative reviews about the major carriers out there, as well as good ones. The internet is filled with hate and negativity. Every single company out there has pros and cons. Do your research by talking to them, make your decision with your gut. I have discovered that most negative comments are about mileage and home time. I am in a very unique position. I don't care about home time. I am quite sure that anyone in any company will list that as a reason to complain. In a perfect world, I'd love to drive all week and have the weekends at home. But, I am a realist. I want one weekend home a month, that's it. No matter who you choose, availability is what pads your wallet. Even in the lean times.

Hope you all have a wonderful life. Brett, or and other moderators out there, please delete my profile. I'm not coming back. You have access to my email, please confirm that you have done that, since private messaging is gone.

To Errol. I am sorry, I didn't fully explain my statement. "Grab and go" was my way of saying that I just need to pick a company and run with it. That way I can focus on everything else that needs to happen. And I have definitely made my choice. I went very deep with 5 companies, spent at least an hour on the phone with each of them. So now, it's all about the study time.

To Brett. Yes sir, I understand that there a lot of things I need to learn. I have every intention of going through your program at least twice, be assured of that. There are differences in companies though. I am very happy that I spent the time to research. The company I chose has a feature that no other company has, and it was the one feature that sold me. It's not the equipment or the truck features or the pay. In fact, I will be making less with them than some other carriers listed here. But that one factor sold me. I am a nobody in this industry, starting from scratch. Every driver I know has told me the same thing. Your first job sucks. But it can be awesome if you spend the time looking and put forth the effort. I feel like I am going home to a family I never met. I have a smile on my face that you would need a crowbar to remove.

To Sue. My dad's been driving for a while, and your comment about the Internationals caught my eye. Apparently they have an engine that's an issue as well. Cat has apparently gotten out of the making semi engines. Someone has piecemealed together a Cat engine with other parts. I think they are just using the Cat block and using different manufacturers for the other parts. It's a junk engine and it's left him and several other of his company drivers stranded. I will call him tonight to verify, but apparently there is a label on the outside of the truck that designates it as a truck that has that engine. I'll keep you posted.

Is it to keep from breaking traction? Sorry, I just thought of that, and it's the only thing that I can think would happen in my car if I dropped a gear and dumped the clutch.

I completely understand the process of double clutching. I've driven stick all my life, and I've been reading that driving stick 4 wheelers can give you bad habits. So, I started double clutching in my car for practice. Obviously it's completely unnecessary, but why not practice. I have the motion down fast enough that it really doesn't add much time. Here's where I am confused...When I downshift in my car (driving normally), I am doing it for a reason. Either I need to accelerate quickly and therefore get the car out of the sluggish low RPM range, OR...I am trying to slow down and I'm using the higher RPM range to naturally bring my road speed down a little, and coupling it with the brakes. My wife hates it when I do that in her car, but she's never raced so she doesn't understand that it can give you more controlled braking. Anyhow, here's my question. In a car, you just downshift and let the RPMs do what they will. Why is it that in a semi you need to goose the gas pedal while downshifting? I realize that there are no synchro gears in semis but mechanically it seems unnecessary to use the gas pedal. By double clutching you are already lining up the front and rear of the tranny. It seems to me that at that point the engine should behave just fine without the mini boost of RPM that a tap on the gas pedal will provide. I'm unclear on that portion, but otherwise I think I got it.