Start in feeders tomorrow. Don’t have a ton of details yet but i think the first week is 40hrs of training and then I do 30 days on my own? I’ll find out tomorrow I suppose.
Anyways, I’ve got a pin puller and a set of gloves. I have an LED flashlight but going to upgrade that to a rechargeable one that one of our feeder drivers showed me that can charge via USB cable in the truck. Anything else I should acquire as feeder driver must-haves?
@HFolb23 : definitely keep a second (backup) flashlight with you. 'quad decade guy's response above is really good. I would add: disposable (nitrile or latex) gloves if you're going to be messing with something greasy/dirty (or to cover your hands if you realized too late, and are now greased up). Elaborating on cleaning supplies: a really good glass cleaner, paper towels that you know are good for glass cleaning (it's been my experience that the company's paper towels are useless for glass/mirrors), and a good strong cleaner/degreaser/disinfectant. A small tube of 'mechanic's' hand cleaner. A pocket notebook or notepad: to keep track of the SLICs used to identify destinations, and your dolly # (that disappears from your IVIS when dispatch "updates" your load information). A stray roll of clear package tape (for loose fitting gladhand connections that will come apart over rough roads, and a knife and/or cutting pliers to cut tape/zip ties/etc).
Items from the company to keep with you: red tags, cable seals (very handy for swing door containers or trailers that are missing a chain/cable hold-back), a couple 'rail bolts' & cone locks, rail pouches, a few of the mechanic's shop rags.
Some habits to consider adopting: before pulling away, a quick checklist; double check number(s) on trailer(s) against IVIS and seal control paperwork, do you have the paperwork (I swear that pouch likes to jump out of your pocket), are your gloves & tire thumper in the cab with you (or did you set them down somewhere else?). Make sure you know where you're going (some loads are routed differently on different days of the week), how you plan to get there, and anything you need to know when you get there (ask other drivers). For example, I had a customer pickup (live load) on a busy 4 lane, 45mph road, that on a satellite view (or to an inexperienced driver or supervisor) looked like you could pull into the driveway in front of the receiving dock, drive through the parking area along the front of the building, pull out into the street in front of shipping dock, and back straight in. Well that only worked if you had a 45' trailer, and none of the employees parked where they shouldn't have. Fortunately I had been warned the 2 options were (a) wait in curb lane with flashers on for a break in traffic to blindside in (and make the acquaintance of a local or county cop who wants to know why you're blocking traffic), or (b) go past the stop, turn around, come back and wait in the median to get a feel for the timing of the traffic light, and flow of vehicles in both directions, then pull into the oncoming traffic lanes towards the curb before swinging out for a sight side back; with a lot of horn use either way.
