Training With Veriha Updates...
Topic 27082 | Page 6
Seems my stock went up quite a bit yesterday. Need to finish out the week strong to be invited back next week...
Well... as you can guess from my recycled avatar... today didn't go quite as planned. It was do or die day.
I successfully backed into 5 spaces in a row. Did the first 4 with no assistance, minimal GOALs and pullups... Backing instructor later referred to the first 4 (easier spot) as a "space and three quarters." I don't think it was anything close to that but it was fairly easy. I was about to ask for a harder one. My (unexpressed) wish was promptly granted!
Next space was later referred to as "pretty normal". It was pretty tight, Untouched snow, yard area was packed snow, rutted and slippery. Pile of tires opposite it. Best guess is maybe 5-6 feet longer than length of rig. Managed to get it in with minimal assistance.
Then spent about a hour and several attempts trying unsuccessfully to get it back in. Instructor (30+ year veteran) had trouble but got it in once or twice himself.
Safety Director came out after lunch, watched me struggle... back blind side drive tire into a tire on edge of pile... I pulled out and started maneuvering to reset - he had me pull around - (Instructor always had me pull up and setup again without driving around). He also gave me a 3-step setup... similar to Schneider 12 O'clock, 9 O'clock, only simpler with stops in between each steps.
Safety Director later said he was a teacher for 30 plus years and did that to give me time to "mentally reset" and give me 3 simple steps to focus on. After I struggled a bit more he went back inside.
Safety Director, Fleet Leader (Driver Manager) and backing instructor met with me and S.D. gave me the news. (Training Program Manager and Owner were apparently also involved in the decision). S.D. said he had spoken with all of my trainers. They didn't feel I was progressing fast enough or consistently enough. Meeting was cordial. He made a few suggestions (drive a straight truck for a while, maybe shorter trailer gigs (said I wasn't really interested in straight trucks))... I mentioned maybe dump trailers... He said it was a business decision... had no issues with me personally (we just met) - acknowledged my commitment and desire... door open to reapply with about a year of experience...
Last night in hotel (at their expense). Really not sure where I go from here.
Guess maybe I shouldn't have deleted the voicemail from a local IT Recruiter who spoke English as a primary language and claimed to know the hiring manager for the IT PM gig that sounded like a pretty good fit. Of course those deals don't usually work out anyway due to the time I have been out of IT and / or other reasons. Was trying to go "all in" on the driving thing.
Oh well. It was fun "playing" truck driver for a while there.
No clue about my "bill" (for training) and non-compete agreement status...
Driver Manager:
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.TWIC:
Transportation Worker Identification Credential
Truck drivers who regularly pick up from or deliver to the shipping ports will often be required to carry a TWIC card.
Your TWIC is a tamper-resistant biometric card which acts as both your identification in secure areas, as well as an indicator of you having passed the necessary security clearance. TWIC cards are valid for five years. The issuance of TWIC cards is overseen by the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
All I can say is that I'm sorry it didn't work out for you Marc after all the training you've received.
Don't be a stranger. 
Sorry to hear that Marc. Take some time to think about what's next. Do you think going back to school would help? If you do that make sure to have plenty of prehires. You've been through a lot. Please keep us updated on how things turn out whether it's trucking related or if you go back to IT or handyman work.
Prehire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Prehires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Man, what a huge bummer. I'm really sorry to hear that, Marc. It seems what you need is a gig as a trailer jockey for a short time. If you could spend every day backing about 50 - 75 trailers you'd have it down. You sure gave it one hell of a shot, though.
Take the holidays to regroup and relax. You'll figure out what you want to do next soon enough.
Oh man I am so sorry to hear this news. I know how hard you have worked toward this goal. I like Brett’s idea. If you can find a warehouse job as a lot jockey it would give you great experience backing. Stay in touch my friend
Marc, I'm at a loss for words; sure know how hard you tried. After overcoming your medicals, you sure tried...it's not over. JSYK, however... Don's (and my husbands) company is looking for hostlers in Wisconsin... if that might be something you'd be interested in.
I've followed your journey, and MAN i know how bad you want this. Spotting/hostling might be something to consider. CDL won't go to waste, no worries about where to chain or 'not ' to, etc...... and your backing (and landing gear) and tandem , et al skills, will get a workout~! Not a bad way to spend the winter, IMHO....
Wishing you well,
Anne
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.
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".
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Mark I’m sincerely sorry it didn’t work out at Veriha.
I agree with Rob...step back and take some time to chill. If you can avoid thinking about this for a few days, it might clear your mind so that you can look at this objectively and decide to continue in some way, or move on.
I think we all can appreciate and understand how difficult and humbling trucking can be. Your story emphasizes that and provides a look into the struggles that even with a superior effort are very real, not to be downplayed or understated.
Good luck, stay positive and have a little fun over the holidays. Peace.
Marc,
I know you dont know me well, but I was following your journey. I just wanted to say that I wish you the best on your path. It's not easy and humbling at times, sometimes seems unfair.
I am going the same, taking a few days away from trucks and trucking to enjoy the holiday. Going to see star wars with the family tommorow and then the holiday baking begins for Christmas Eve (bug gathering and I love to bake)
Merry Christmas to you
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Marc,
I am so sorry to hear about your latest setback. I have followed your journey and your frustrations since I joined TT. You definitely get the award for perseverance.
I hope that wherever the New Year finds you that you may find peace.
Rob.
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Seems my stock went up quite a bit yesterday. Need to finish out the week strong to be invited back next week...