Greetings fellow May Driver, or soon to be May driver I suppose. They are a pretty good company, especially for an Entry Level Driver. I went solo about 2 and a half months ago. Let's just say we could've done a lot worse in choosing a company. They know we are new drivers and are going to make mistakes and screw up at first, and are very forgiving of that. My miles have been great right from the get go. I've been consistently putting down 2500-3000 a week right from the start. I think you will be happy with your choice.
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
I've heard nothing but good things about the company. anxious to get started training. do you do the 48 or 11 western?
I've heard nothing but good things about the company. anxious to get started training. do you do the 48 or 11 western?
All 48.
I've heard nothing but good things about the company. anxious to get started training. do you do the 48 or 11 western?
All 48.
right on man! that's what I'm going to do as well. I've constantly been told will receive 2500-3000 miles per week so I chose to do the CPM pay instead of the flat pay once I solo out. the thing I hate is they try talking you out of doing that. I'm not gonna bite though. I know you get paid all the miles at the end with the bonus check but bonus checks are taxed like crazy. no thank you. i understand i may not perform the best when i first solo out but i have no doubt that in no time i'll do fine and also be getting the 2500-3000 miles.
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
I'miss on my last week and half of my first three months solo with May. I chose the flat rate pay option when I started. I was getting great miles the first 10 weeks I was out. Went on home time this past week and just got back on truck October 31st. I am now getting short hauls and sitting quite a bit. Giving me 500 mile run that can be done in 1 day but doesn't deliver for 2 days.
What im getting to is I'm actually losing money right now because these short hauls are decreasing my bonus money I get at the end of my 3 months. I had a feeling the company would do this when I first started. I'm very upset that they would do that. Whatever can save company money they do. Greed.
I'm biting my lip and keeping my mouth shut but I'd love to say something to the company. I know it'd hurt me in long run so I decided to vent on TT and let future may drivers know they may also do this to them.
What im getting to is I'm actually losing money right now because these short hauls are decreasing my bonus money I get at the end of my 3 months. I had a feeling the company would do this when I first started. I'm very upset that they would do that. Whatever can save company money they do. Greed.
I'm biting my lip and keeping my mouth shut but I'd love to say something to the company. I know it'd hurt me in long run so I decided to vent on TT and let future may drivers know they may also do this to them.
Okay Freebird, I need you to explain to us how in the world "greed" can motivate a company who makes it's money by moving freight to have a driver running less miles. Think it through before you respond, because it makes no sense to me. Oh, and don't even think that argument about them having to pay you less will hold water. When you are sitting still they are still having to pay for that truck, the insurance, and all the associated overhead that goes along with owning a commercial vehicle. They want that truck moving way more than you do. Greed would be the thing that would motivate them to have you moving all the time.
Went on home time this past week and just got back on truck October 31st. I am now getting short hauls and sitting quite a bit.
You've only been back on the road a few days! Geesh!
You have to understand something about trucking; it's not like working on a production line where you can expect consistency all the time. You're going to have big weeks and small weeks, big months and small months. There are so many variables that go into how many miles you'll get that it's mind boggling.
What you don't want to do is freak out over a few slower days. Don't go publicly blasting your company, declaring corporate greed, getting all huffy with dispatch, and getting into a negative frame of mind because you had a few short runs. You'll be able to run millions of miles for many, many years to come if you like so don't worry yourself to death.
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So after searching high and low for information regarding MTC orientation, and not finding a lot, I can now say I have experienced and would like to share. Keep in mind that I went to orientation at the Phoenix yard and not positive if all terminals are the same but pretty sure they are.
MTC orientation is three days long and in Phoenix starts on Tuesdays. They took us out for lunch each day and the lone person that was put up in a hotel was put in a very nice hotel which provided him breakfast and supper as well at company expense.
Day One: You do your drug test, skills test and road test. Skills test consists of going around a "horseshoe" type course with just enough room to make it through without hitting any cones. Then, you do a straight back. Then, you do a 45 degree back. You can get out as many times as you'd like and pull up as many times as you'd like. Pretty much just looking for you to be safe and G.O.A.L. You're a recent graduate. They know you're not going to do it perfect. Then, you do a little road test around town.
Day Two: Going over MTC policies and what they expect of you. A lot of different "book" work you could call it I guess. Map reading, trip planning was day two I think or day three can't remember now. lol
Day Three: Putting on chains, going over the reefers, sliding tandems and 5th wheel. coupling/uncoupling, some more "book'' work. Find out trainer information.
A lot of great people at the Phoenix terminal. Very helpful. Pretty laid back, friendly atmosphere. You feel welcomed. Current driver spoke to us for quite sometime on 3rd day, gave us a lot of advice for the road and the company. Great guy!
As of right now I'm waiting on my trainer and should be placed with him sometime early/mid next week.
Getting anxious to start the journey! Bring it on!!!
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Tandems:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Tandem:
Tandem Axles
A set of axles spaced close together, legally defined as more than 40 and less than 96 inches apart by the USDOT. Drivers tend to refer to the tandem axles on their trailer as just "tandems". You might hear a driver say, "I'm 400 pounds overweight on my tandems", referring to his trailer tandems, not his tractor tandems. Tractor tandems are generally just referred to as "drives" which is short for "drive axles".
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.