Starting At Gardner Trucking

Gardner Trucking transfer is rolling along ! Took a road test today, piece of cake. Guy asked if I can hook up a trailer pfffft YES! lol Walked around checking trailer, found right rear door open/unlatched with about 3/4 a load of cardboard bundles.....Was bit weird doing it in a day cab. Found myself turning like I was in a sleeper cab

Orientation is Friday 8 am will get call night before verify I'm showing up lol Told the lady "Oh I WILL be here, and early like I was today (1 hour early)

Says as told by recruiter will get .47 a mile, 2000-3000 miles a week, western 7 or 8 as far east as Colorado. Told her that's what I'm here for to run the miles. I don't need lotta hometime, it's all bout turning them miles to me. She said "Good tell whoever you get as a DM that, and they will like it, and probably keep me runnin'

1 surprise was a $1000 signing bonus, $500 in 90 days, $500 in 180 days (lump sums).Recruiter didn't mention it. Still haven't got my military bonus from CRST yet.....That recruiter never told me she couldn't read my DD 214 I sent a pic of....Duhhhh the past 6 months she coulda informed me! So I had it scanned ,and sent a clearer pic, not 1 on paper turning yellow from age hahaha....See if I ever get that 1 hmmmm

Anyways, hope it's as good as they say, time will tell, now to just prove myself to THEM.....My DM @ CRST said if it's not, and I come back to CRST, she will be glad to take me back on her board .....Told me to keep her number (She replaced my original DM he's longer there/fired) .....He was cool, always handled issues we had on the road

That's great news Stevo!

Well, Monday was a piece of cake , took their road test weird in a day cab , as I was making turns same as in a sleeper lol Friday orientation was couple hours. Video wouldn't load on screen, the so guy talked us thru it. After we got done doing all paperwork on tablets.

Officially hired 5/1, next week 2 of us under 1 year experience, gotta do few days in the yard maneuvers with this lady trainer, that's gunna be fun, since the yard is so hectic, trucks etc moving around all over, worse than a truck stop lol. don't know a day or 3 of this.

Then some road time with a trainer to learn their way of doing things I.E time sheets for pay etc. Guess they prefer also we fuel up in the company yards, which ever we may be in at the time, than on the road when possible.

No in cab cams, gave us hard hats, glasses, ear plugs, and stacks of papers and new 1 those little FED reg's books.....So I guess this is the process, lol not just hopping into assigned trucks and rolling.....Guy told us to spend a whole setting up our trucks once assigned, so after get rested before 1st loads.

Amazon, Cost-co are their biggest customers and another is being courted at this time. Do haul lots corregated cardboard bundles and huge paper rolls ....They also have other divisions, double flat bed, roller floor trailers....

I did notice they have mostly 14' high cube trailers YIKES!

Anyhoo weekend off and nuthin' to do lol maybe pull more weeds hahaha

Today was a whopping 2 hour day , 2 of us did 3 manuevers, with cargo trailer pffft 90 a 45 a straight back. Some quick breeze thru QC, met DM , awaiting call for our trainers. Guess up to 2 weeks to learn their system, as it is different in a few ways than CRSTs Ok no biggee, think we're getting paid during all this, since we are logging in and out for the days.

Told DM I wanna RUNNNN lol be nice get a regular loop, say 1000-1200 miles each way, 3x's a week

Congratulations on your new job.

Today was a whopping 2 hour day , 2 of us did 3 manuevers, with cargo trailer pffft 90 a 45 a straight back. Some quick breeze thru QC, met DM , awaiting call for our trainers. Guess up to 2 weeks to learn their system, as it is different in a few ways than CRSTs Ok no biggee, think we're getting paid during all this, since we are logging in and out for the days.

Told DM I wanna RUNNNN lol be nice get a regular loop, say 1000-1200 miles each way, 3x's a week

Congratulations Stevo!

Great news!

Thanks, Well got the call got trainer will be local for only 1 week, not 2 whewww Be like an accelerated learning curve to their paper work I'll have it down faster doing local.

Then it's all 'bout gettin' my own sleeper and run them loads lol Need get used to jeans again and work boots ( at the yard ) been in shorts n tennies forever specially since my 2 right leg injuries More freedom of movement. But out on road I'll wear what I want lol

Now back to making money !! lol

Well, so much for 1st day solo going smoothly haha as if ! Got assigned a temp sleeper mini has NOTHING but a bunk and 1 cubby hole above foot Condo was "borrowed" before I got a truck. Ok fine, I'll roll a couple days until the condo returns (guys regular truck had radiator issues to fix)

Next comes trying for hours to find an empty for my 1st load. NOT ! 12;30 pm a guy comes in with an empty, asks if i was looking for 1 so I took it. In the meantime, I tried repeatedly to get fuel card to work, which it didn't after 3 times at pump (in the yard) and dozens of tries I gave up a 1/2 tank is enough for my load out to Tolleson, Az cardboard box delivery.

Get the load dropped without a hitch, fuel is into red zone halfway. Get a hold of my DM , he is trying to find me an empty to get a load outta Phoenix area Reciever had none. So I park at Love's, & grab a bite to eat etc. Still waiting for an empty. Get sent 2 miles to our other terminal , NO empties to be found.

Park outside waiting , finally take a nap for 2 hours, go check again NO empties lol My clocks winding down now at 3+ hours available, I get ahold of DM, he still can't locate me an empty. I ain't mad or upset, it is, what it is, which I tell him, it's all good, stuff happens, and this IS Phoenix ! He appreciates my calm, cool, collected self, I tell him its all good, am outta drive time, so will go back to Love's for the night, hopefully he gets me something tomorrow.....See I learned HERE how to keep my cool and not let the little things bug me.....(which I don't usually anyways haha)

I know it's just the beginning, and things can work out over time. As I told him, I know this virus crap is not helping either with loads etc, at least I have a job. Luckily, I am not in debt, I owe no one a thing, just my living expenses.

Tomorrows a new day, but am used to being stranded in Phoenix area since my training days, stuff comes in, not much goes out,,,, Denver is the same, at least in my short time out here (8 months soon)

Well, so much for 1st day solo going smoothly haha as if ! Got assigned a temp sleeper mini has NOTHING but a bunk and 1 cubby hole above foot Condo was "borrowed" before I got a truck. Ok fine, I'll roll a couple days until the condo returns (guys regular truck had radiator issues to fix)

Next comes trying for hours to find an empty for my 1st load. NOT ! 12;30 pm a guy comes in with an empty, asks if i was looking for 1 so I took it. In the meantime, I tried repeatedly to get fuel card to work, which it didn't after 3 times at pump (in the yard) and dozens of tries I gave up a 1/2 tank is enough for my load out to Tolleson, Az cardboard box delivery.

Get the load dropped without a hitch, fuel is into red zone halfway. Get a hold of my DM , he is trying to find me an empty to get a load outta Phoenix area Reciever had none. So I park at Love's, & grab a bite to eat etc. Still waiting for an empty. Get sent 2 miles to our other terminal , NO empties to be found.

Park outside waiting , finally take a nap for 2 hours, go check again NO empties lol My clocks winding down now at 3+ hours available, I get ahold of DM, he still can't locate me an empty. I ain't mad or upset, it is, what it is, which I tell him, it's all good, stuff happens, and this IS Phoenix ! He appreciates my calm, cool, collected self, I tell him its all good, am outta drive time, so will go back to Love's for the night, hopefully he gets me something tomorrow.....See I learned HERE how to keep my cool and not let the little things bug me.....(which I don't usually anyways haha)

I know it's just the beginning, and things can work out over time. As I told him, I know this virus crap is not helping either with loads etc, at least I have a job. Luckily, I am not in debt, I owe no one a thing, just my living expenses.

Tomorrows a new day, but am used to being stranded in Phoenix area since my training days, stuff comes in, not much goes out,,,, Denver is the same, at least in my short time out here (8 months soon)

Great attitude Stevo.

One day in the bag. Tomorrow is another day!

Still waiting for a full sleeper get out of the shop. Was gunna get a run to Texas Friday, but that fell thru . So off til Tuesday hopefully get my 3rd solo load early ! Last was to Twin Falls,ID, 3 of us delivered 7 large recycled paper rolls (43,720 lbs of it lol

So I drove to CRST Riverside yard to park up. The Chino yard sux a dirt employee lot and drivers lounge has NO amenities besides bathroom and couple vending machines.....At least here there's plenty of showers, food, and laundry

The 3 of us deadheaded to SLC, told was no loads outta Idaho. So reset waiting for load back to Cali. Which was another load scrap cardboard bundles 43k too lol

Loving this solo driving a lot better than teams !! Just to hope dm's and planners can be more efficient. I sit too much "waiting" Keep putting bug in my DMs ear bout maybe hooking me up on like a dedicated 1000-1500 mile runs to get more miles. At least I'm working, and he is pretty cool, just trying to build a good repore with him until he knows me better and see's that I can be counted on. So far he says don't worry you're fine bud lol

Seems cardboard bales and bottled water is a couple of their major things hauled. Cost-Co loads of water, those drops are cool they get you in and out in no time !!

Anyways, Happy Memorial Day, be safe, stay safe !! CHP is out hot n heavy !!