Graduated, Got CDL-A And Going To Start With West Side Transport

Hi Everyone, I start with West Side Transport the first week of December! I went through my hysterectomy surgery last Tuesday! Only 5 weeks left in recovering! Sue D, what is it like working for West Side Transport? What do I need to know for the physical? I'm going to get a sleeping bag with sheets like you did, but anything else I'll need for the 5 weeks out?

Congratulations!!!

One of our regulars, Sue is a West Side driver (you may already know that). She'll be happy to hear this...

Good luck and safe travels.

You will love West Side and I'm glad your surgery went well. Basically a weeks worth of clothes, a sleeping bag, pillow, and you are good to go. They seem to really like female drivers there. They bluntly say statistically women are safer drivers because they typically engage in less risky behaviors and are more cautious.

I also carry a good heavy flashlight, leather palmed work gloves, and neoprene gloves for fueling. We aren't required to wear work boots or steel toed shoes.. comfy tennis shoes or hiking boots will do. Heck, I often wear slipon driving moccasins.

The pay during training is $490/week and as soon as you go solo youll be eligible for the guaranteed pay committment. Right after you go solo, theyll assign you a load that will get you home for up to 4 days. If your trainer takes hometime during your training, you still get paid and they will put you up in a nice hotel, so bring a swimsuit. During orientation youll stay at the Clarion, which has a nice indoor pool too.

They will treat you like family and should you have any unlikely issues with your trainer, Anna will take care of you.

We have APUs in all trucks. Youll train in a Freightliner 10 speed manual for 30 days, however will be issued an automatic when you upgrade. It will either be a Volvo, a Prostar, or a Cascadia. All trucks are double bunk condos. I loved my Volvo, but turned it in when I began teaming, because they wanted us to keep Michael's training truck since he may be asked to train from time to time and it was newer (2016) and my Volvo was a 2015. The word is for our 2017 trucks they are considering Kenworth or Western Star along with the Freightliner Cascadia. I've been begging for a Western Star like our owner's truck lol.. yes, the ole man still drives.

On rare occasions, they might ask you if you're willing to team up for 1 load.. I did that once with another driver to get a hot load to Denver for them. They are a solo focused company, but WILL accomodate you if you ever meet a driver you would like to team with. We only have 2 teams.. me & my codriver, and a friend of mine and her bf, so we are a bit of an experiment but after some painfully slow months, they finally got the kinks ironed out and we get consistent good miles. As a solo driver, you will be kept extremely busy, but they get you home as scheduled.

I'm sure I'll meet you in Cedar Rapids!

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

APUs:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

Lol I forgot. The physical. Theyll take everyone in orientation to a clinic in West Liberty, IA where one of the nurse practioners will do your exam. Quite basic, fill out medical history, check weight, height, bp, eye chart and test for color blindnesss, check abdomen for hernias, measure your neck, have you duck walk and stand and touch your toes.. Whispered hearing test, p in a cup to check for sugar or protein... Quite simple. Theyll place everyones medical card and long form in an envelope and hand it to whoever drove you there. Once you are officially hired and have been issued your employee ID and fuel card, theyll give you your long form and DOT medical card.

Congratulations!!!

One of our regulars, Sue is a West Side driver (you may already know that). She'll be happy to hear this...

Good luck and safe travels.

Thanks! I can hardly wait!

Lol I forgot. The physical. Theyll take everyone in orientation to a clinic in West Liberty, IA where one of the nurse practioners will do your exam. Quite basic, fill out medical history, check weight, height, bp, eye chart and test for color blindnesss, check abdomen for hernias, measure your neck, have you duck walk and stand and touch your toes.. Whispered hearing test, p in a cup to check for sugar or protein... Quite simple. Theyll place everyones medical card and long form in an envelope and hand it to whoever drove you there. Once you are officially hired and have been issued your employee ID and fuel card, theyll give you your long form and DOT medical card.

Hi Sue, I can hardly wait so excited I think it will be the first week of December when I start just depending on how my stomach feels. I have about 15 staples and stitches that will dissolve. Can't wait to meet you! Thanks for all your updates and stuff!

We get through cedar rapids every few weeks or so to get the truck checked out. Im one of only 2 team trucks so im easy to spot.. When im around during weekday office hours, youll find me hanging out with Holly from safety (she will do your road test most likely) or Anna, the student coordinator. Youll meet both of them in orientation.

We get through cedar rapids every few weeks or so to get the truck checked out. Im one of only 2 team trucks so im easy to spot.. When im around during weekday office hours, youll find me hanging out with Holly from safety (she will do your road test most likely) or Anna, the student coordinator. Youll meet both of them in orientation.

Is there still an agility test and is it for 75 lbs that we must lift?

I never had to do any agility test. Simply a duck walk during the physical and during orientation theyll have you climb into the back of a trailer. They will show you how they want you to do that.