New Driver... Local Home Daily

Good morning all, been a viewer of this site for a couple years. Only my second post though. Looking for feedback on a company called W.W. Transport. Long story in short, graduated from truck driving school 3/2017. Started as a driver trainee with a carrier out of school, unfortunately it was short lived, only about 2 weeks. I have four little ones at home who were having a hard time adusting to me being gone OTR. So, I hung it up and got back into the automotive and diesel field as a tech which I've been for about 20 years now. After recently facing some downsizing and salary cuts, I've decided to leave and pick up where I left off with driving truck.

Last week I applied for a local home daily position with W.W. Transport out of North East PA driving pneumatic tank hauling flour. Honestly, I didn't think I was going to hear back as I have only 1 week of training under my belt and most local companies want at least the magic "1 year" number. Well, to my surprise, the terminal manager called me in for an interview yesterday morning. After speaking with him for a while, I was totally up front about my training and experience, he said because since its been a couple years since I last drove, he would like me to go for a road test. So he called a veteran driver up to take me out for a bit to get an idea where I'm at. I hopped in and for the most part, it'll came right back to me.

As I started out in first, I made my way up a few gears while going through the yard to find an empty tank to hook up to. Once we found once, I spun around, backed up and connected to the tank. Hooked up my air lines and my electrical, verified the kingpin locked into place, then cranked up the landing gear and off we went. I made my way up to 10th gear while double clutching and made my way back down to first while only grinding on 2 gears on the way down, but I simply recovered my current gear, tried again, and she slid right in.

When we got back to the yard, the driver said "Ok, I'm hopping out, go ahead and put it back in the hole where you got it." I started backing slowly, but went slightly crooked. He said to stop and asked me what I thought I did wrong. Told him I became fixated on only one mirror. He agreed. I pulled up and tried a second time this time scanning both mirrors and got it right in. The driver said I did great for only having 4 weeks of schooling, 1 week of training and being out of it for 2 years. We went back into the office where he told the terminal manager how I did. The terminal manager he would like to hire me on as a local home daily driver! He said for the first two weeks, he's going to keep me very close to the yard as a jockey/shuttle just moving trucks and tanks to the wash center, garage, to the terminal etc. just so I can get back into the groove of driving, shifting, backing etc. After those two weeks, he said I'll be going out with a driver for a week or two to learn how to properly load and unload the tank. After that, I'll be heading out on my own.

I'm looking forward to the change from automotive after all these years. I'm extremely grateful to be given a chance especially being able to be home each day with my children. The commute from home to the yard is only about a 10 minute drive so I'm very close to home. All of the fellow drivers and employees seemed very friendly and laid back. The manager and his assistant seem very patient, understanding, and kind as well. Is anyone familiar with this company or has anyone on here worked for them? Thanks for the insight and looking forward to hopefully a long lasting lucrative career. - Joe

Hmmm, didnt even make you do a pretrip

Congrats on the job offer. I hope its everything you're looking for.

Hmmm, didnt even make you do a pretrip

When I took a road test for a local company I was about to do a thorough pretrip and I was told the truck is good to go and just check tires quickly. I didnt do a real in depth check but real quickly. It seems, atleast in my area, many employers are the same way as I've talked to other drivers that was the same way despite different companies. Really surprising since you'd think they'd want equipment taken care of . All they want to see in road test is you can safely maneuver the vehicle and what your skill set is to determine the amount of training you need.

Hmmm, didnt even make you do a pretrip

What is this "pre trip" you speak of?

Thanks Rob T. Just like you said, I asked about performing a PTI. Driver said truck was already good to go and had one done that morning. No worries. I said okie dokie. 👍

Congrats. I see then around a lot in the Harrisburg area. The tanks pull easy and you'll learn the system quick. I dont do food grade but I'm sure it's similar procedure and style of unloading. Interested to follow you to see what differences there are if any.

Thanks Rob T. Just like you said, I asked about performing a PTI. Driver said truck was already good to go and had one done that morning. No worries. I said okie dokie. 👍

This might not be a very popular response...but I feel strongly about this. It’s about safety, at the very heart of our job performance.

What kind of message does this send to you? How do they really know if you know how-to perform a thorough PTI? I would have pushed-back and insisted.

Could have been a test... besides, I’ll never put stock in someone else’s word when it’s my skin on the line. If I’m driving I’m checking it...

Not trying to be anything but truthful with you.

I do wish you luck with the new gig. Safe travels.

I certainly understand your viewpoint G-Town. Rest assured, as soon as I begin, that truck and tank will get be getting thoroughly checked day in amd day so long as I have it. I have four young children to get home to each day, I have the motoring public around me to also aid in keeping safe and I have a DAC report to keep clean and clear. 👍

I certainly understand your viewpoint G-Town. Rest assured, as soon as I begin, that truck and tank will get be getting thoroughly checked day in amd day so long as I have it. I have four young children to get home to each day, I have the motoring public around me to also aid in keeping safe and I have a DAC report to keep clean and clear. 👍

Did you ask what the work day will be like? Many local drivers say they work their full 14 hours per day plus transit time to the terminal. They only see the family on weekends cause the kids are in bed.

Jist a heads up for you. Many people assume you will be 9 to 5 or such. Probably not happening.

Yepper. He made it known he needed to fill the afternoon into the evening shift. Said he does best to get your 34 hour done over the weekend. Said he couldn't promoise every Sat and Sun off as there is weekend work at times but if you work weekend, you get rate and a half pay. He was very up front of what he needed.