Update On My Trucking Journey

Schneider doesn't have an agility test for dry van.

But being able to get in and out of the trailer is something they'll want you to do and if unable to do it will be a problem. According to when I went through training.

This is a great story Forrest.

Just a thought...in the 6 years I’ve been running Walmart Dedicated, I can only recall climbing into a trailer 3 times twice during my first month (rookie mistakes) and once about a month ago to remove a couple of stray pallets before grabbing an empty Wally Wagon from a store lot.

Sweeping? Never, the store personnel does that. Inspecting an empty? It can almost always be done on the dock because thats where 99.9% of our empties come from. No climbing necessary and I do not recall Swift requiring it (although I’m old...memories fade).

Good luck, I admire your courage and tenacity!

This is a great story Forrest.

Just a thought...in the 6 years I’ve been running Walmart Dedicated, I can only recall climbing into a trailer 3 times twice during my first month (rookie mistakes) and once about a month ago to remove a couple of stray pallets before grabbing an empty Wally Wagon from a store lot.

Sweeping? Never, the store personnel does that. Inspecting an empty? It can almost always be done on the dock because thats where 99.9% of our empties come from. No climbing necessary and I do not recall Swift requiring it (although I’m old...memories fade).

Good luck, I admire your courage and tenacity!

I wish other companies were like that! I've delivered to International Paper where its cut up cardboard and they will leave the floor so dirty where you can't even see it, then have signs up saying you can't clean out your trailer there, although they'll have stacks of cut up cardboard on the ground, or have dumpsters there, that you can't use.

This is a great story Forrest.

Just a thought...in the 6 years I’ve been running Walmart Dedicated, I can only recall climbing into a trailer 3 times twice during my first month (rookie mistakes) and once about a month ago to remove a couple of stray pallets before grabbing an empty Wally Wagon from a store lot.

Sweeping? Never, the store personnel does that. Inspecting an empty? It can almost always be done on the dock because thats where 99.9% of our empties come from. No climbing necessary and I do not recall Swift requiring it (although I’m old...memories fade).

Good luck, I admire your courage and tenacity!

I wish other companies were like that! I've delivered to International Paper where its cut up cardboard and they will leave the floor so dirty where you can't even see it, then have signs up saying you can't clean out your trailer there, although they'll have stacks of cut up cardboard on the ground, or have dumpsters there, that you can't use.

Just another perc. of Wally Ded.

I get about one company every quarter that cleans out the trailer satisfactory enough for the next load.

Definitely something to deal with on just about every load.

Like Rick said, every driver will eventually have to climb in the trailer. The least of my worries were of having to sweep. The hardest part was when 2X4 blocks were air nailed to the oak floor and I had to remove them. Usually the clipped heads would break right off without removing the nail, so I'd have to use a vice grip as a substitute head and pry under that. But I saw plenty of trailers where some driver just beat the blocks into kindling and then pounded the nails into the floor with a 2 pound hammer.

There has to be a way to accommodate Forrest getting in and out. I think a ramp is the best way, but maybe a catapult might work. But we don't want to get him in without a good way to get out.

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.

Bruce Pimping his Aluminum Fabrication Company...

There has to be a way to accommodate Forrest getting in and out. I think a ramp is the best way, but maybe a catapult might work. But we don't want to get him in without a good way to get out.

Like I said...Walmart does have its percs.

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.

Bruce Pimping his Aluminum Fabrication Company...

There has to be a way to accommodate Forrest getting in and out. I think a ramp is the best way, but maybe a catapult might work. But we don't want to get him in without a good way to get out.

Like I said...Walmart does have its percs.

Haha! Aluminum welding is just a hobby, but I might help out Forrest for free if it would let him get in and out. Old School could maybe ask SAPA to donate the materials.

SAP:

Substance Abuse Professional

The Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) is a person who evaluates employees who have violated a DOT drug and alcohol program regulation and makes recommendations concerning education, treatment, follow-up testing, and aftercare.

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.

Bruce Pimping his Aluminum Fabrication Company...

There has to be a way to accommodate Forrest getting in and out. I think a ramp is the best way, but maybe a catapult might work. But we don't want to get him in without a good way to get out.

Like I said...Walmart does have its percs.

Us xpress has a Walmart Dedicated Out if my hometown. I’m gonna call them Monday and see about that. A ramp would be easy 😂😂

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.

Forrest, I'm glad you checked in. I guess the ramp would work for you. The only problem I see is picking up an empty in a location where trailers are parked back to back. Then there might not be enough space to use a ramp. In that case, you could still inspect the trailer and if it was good, you would only have to hook up and pull ahead in order to use the ramp. But that should rarely be necessary if you choose your job carefully as G-Town stated.