Squire Training With Knight Transportation
Topic 1800 | Page 1
Hey Sandman. So is "Squire Training" what they call the road portion of the training? I thought the Squire program was all of the training from day 1, including the classroom, backing range, and local road training. Or are you just starting a new thread for the road portion of training?
And congrats on getting your CDL!! Awesome!!! 
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
Congrats Sandman that is great.....Sounds like you got a great deal on the trainer....Be safe
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
At the Knight school in Olive Branch, they refer to the CDL training program as simply that, the CDL training program. When you complete that and pass your state CDL exam, you begin the Squire program. Knight also hires graduates of independent CDL schools, that do no have any OTR experience, and place them in the Squire program.
After you have obtained your CDL, either through Knight or another school, you will be assigned a trainer. When your trainer feels that you are ready, usually 4-6 weeks and about 10,000 miles, you will return to the Knight terminal and have to complete their testing to be assigned a solo truck. During this time you are paid a $400/week training wage.
Once you have your own truck, you begin being paid per mile and if you used the Knight CDL school, they will begin subtracting your contracted amount for your training. If you attended an independent school, you may receive tuition reimbursement at this time also.
Initially, for about 30,000 miles, you are dispatched by separate dispatchers that only handle Squire drivers. After that, you will be assigned a regular dispatcher at your home terminal and become a full employee at Knight.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
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.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Dispatcher:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.
It has been busy and a lot of miles since getting back with the trainer. Our first run was to LA and back to Memphis. We went across I-40 on the trip west. It was getting pretty darn windy across CA. The wind was so strong blowing up the valley, I almost didn't need the engine brake going down Cajon into LA. We were keeping an eye on the weather and decided to take the more southern route on our return. We managed to stay ahead of the worst and made it through the Phoenix area before the dust storm and major accident.
Our next load was a tight scheduled run.The trailer is supposed to be loaded and ready to go at 3:00 PM for a 7:00 AM delivery. The trailer didn't get loaded and released until 5 hours after the scheduled time. We let dispatch know that we would probably be about 3 hours late for delivery, but managed to get it there at 7:05 only 5 minutes after the scheduled time. On the return route, after 2 other stops, we spent over an hour going only 5 miles due to an accident which put us into the rush hour traffic in Kansas City.
We got back into Memphis around 4:00 AM and did a drop and hook for Phoenix and LA. The tractor needed a scheduled maintenance, so headed over to the terminal in Olive Branch, caught a few hours of sleep, got the service done and headed out. We are currently in Phoenix, waiting for a 7:00AM Monday delivery, then on to LA for an afternoon delivery. Plan is to hit the consignee's gate at 6:30 and get unloaded and on the way.
This has been a great week and a half so far. The trainer is great and I am learning a lot of information on all aspects of driving. We have been dispatched as a team truck, an a dedicated account delivering new engines and parts, and then returning with core parts for repair and overhaul.
Consignee:
The customer the freight is being delivered to. Also referred to as "the receiver". The shipper is the customer that is shipping the goods, the consignee is the customer receiving the goods.
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.
Drop And Hook:
Drop and hook means the driver will drop one trailer and hook to another one.
In order to speed up the pickup and delivery process a driver may be instructed to drop their empty trailer and hook to one that is already loaded, or drop their loaded trailer and hook to one that is already empty. That way the driver will not have to wait for a trailer to be loaded or unloaded.
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
At the Knight school in Olive Branch, they refer to the CDL training program as simply that, the CDL training program. When you complete that and pass your state CDL exam, you begin the Squire program. Knight also hires graduates of independent CDL schools, that do no have any OTR experience, and place them in the Squire program.
Ahhhh I see! Thanks for that explanation.
This has been a great week and a half so far. The trainer is great and I am learning a lot of information on all aspects of driving. We have been dispatched as a team truck, an a dedicated account delivering new engines and parts, and then returning with core parts for repair and overhaul.
Awesome to hear! Life is "go! go! go!" on the road, isn't it? The days are long and every time you think you're going to get a few minutes to catch your breath something else pops up - repairs, paperwork, a big wreck, terrible weather - it's always something. You just take it one moment at a time, handle the challenge that's in front of you, and try to enjoy yourself as much as possible. Keeping your sanity out there, especially that first year, is more challenging for most people than shifting or backing.
But it sounds like you're rolling along great. Looking forward to hearing more from ya!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Everything is moving along quickly and ahead of schedule. We are currently on our way back from LA to Memphis and are far enough ahead of schedule to allow the trainer to stop for a night at home. We have about 2 ½ hours from here to terminal.
It has been a great trip again. The skills all continue to improve with the additional driving experience. The qualcomm has not given us too much grief. Needed to call safety one time to get a changes made. While we were sitting at a terminal waiting for trailer to be loaded, I was on line 1 off duty. When the trailer was loaded and ready, I checked the log to check available time and to my surprise while sitting and waiting the qualcomm had put me on line three for 35 minutes, then to line for so the hour and a half wait didn't get registered as my 30 minute break I was expecting. 
A call to safety, the log showed that some how the tractor had transported itself to a town about 30 miles away and then had driven to the Knight terminal in Olive Branch. 
The whole while we had been waiting at the shippers terminal in Memphis. So the safety manager got it reset.
Well, my trainer has been talking with the head trainer and the Squire manager and has me scheduled for road testing when we get back to the terminal in Olive Branch. This is the last step to getting assigned a solo truck.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
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.
Qualcomm:
Omnitracs (a.k.a. Qualcomm) is a satellite-based messaging system with built-in GPS capabilities built by Qualcomm. It has a small computer screen and keyboard and is tied into the truck’s computer. It allows trucking companies to track where the driver is at, monitor the truck, and send and receive messages with the driver – similar to email.
Well, my trainer has been talking with the head trainer and the Squire manager and has me scheduled for road testing when we get back to the terminal in Olive Branch. This is the last step to getting assigned a solo truck.
Nice!!! That's awesome. Before ya know it you'll have a truck all to yourself. Steppin up to the big time!!!
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.
Sounds like your doing very well. Glad to hear. Stay safe
OK, you may have guessed, I passed!!!
Got back to Memphis and dropped the loaded trailer and bobtailed back to the Knight terminal. My trainer said pull up to the diesel pumps and fill the tanks, spin around and fill the DEF and he would be back with an empty trailer number and location. Filled the tanks, found and connected to the empty trailer, did inspections, then went into terminal to wait for the instructor that would do the driving test.
After lunch, we hit the road. About the same as the road test for the CDL. A little bit busier road as it was around the industrial area with a lot of other trucks, with and without trailers. A little different braking and shifting, empty trailer versus the one we just dropped with a 38,000 lb load. But, the tester said I did fine and signed me off.
Next step, going to the Knight terminal in Gulfport, MS, which will be my home terminal, to pick up my assigned truck.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Bobtail:
"Bobtailing" means you are driving a tractor without a trailer attached.
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.
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Getting started with the Squire training with Knight Transportation. You can read the diary from Knight's CDL training program here: CDL Training with Knight.
I completed the CDL training and passed the MS CDL Pre-trip, Skills and Road Test on Monday, Oct. 21st. I then drove myself back home and got to spend 3 days at home after being away for the 4 weeks of training. Really needed the break and some down time.
I was originally scheduled to be assigned a Squire trainer from the Gulfport terminal on Friday. Late Wednesday, I got a call from the OTR trainer from Olive Branch asking if I would be willing to do the training with him. He had talked with the head of training and had it approved if it was OK with me. Since he was a great trainer and we got along well, I jumped on that. Didn't want to have to "break-in" a new trainer!
So, Friday jumped the Greyhound to Memphis and met up with the trainer Saturday around noon and headed for our first delivery. Memphis to LA and back.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
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.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.