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Post by oldbuddy on Aug 30, 2004 22:16:33 GMT -5
After 6 months + of reading this message boards and others. I just signed on the dotted line today. I believe that future drivers or people that are looking into driving as a life style (career) need to do as much research as they can before taking the plunge! I had my heart set on SNI and there school. By the time I read over 100's of post from different boards it came down to going to a school in my area and picking a company that would fit my lifestyle. That was not my intensions when it all began. My mind was set on SNI and there trucking school and nobody was going to talk me out of it. So I just want to thank everyone that has helped me on all the boads to make a wise desision based on my life style. If it was not for you I would be tied to a company for one year and 5,000.00 without a job and hating this industry. Now at least I have a chance at making it. Why? Because the experienced drivers gave me all the negatives and positives I needed to make a wise desision over a period of time I needed to get all my ducks in a row. I could not have don it without you. ALSO, THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT PASSED ON GORDON TRUCKING TO ME. THEY ARE A GREAT COMPANY AND I AM SURE THEY WILL BE A GREAT FIT FOR ME. YOU CANT BEAT THE NEW .30 PER MILE FOR NEWBIE DRIVERS THEY JUST BROUGHT OUT THIS WEEK AND A 600.00 SIGN ON BONUS FOR STUDENT DRIVERS. JUST ONE MORE THING I WILL LIKE ABOUT THIS COMPANY. TAKE CARE ALL AND WILL BE POSTING AS OFTEN AS I CAN TO KEEP YOU ALL INFORMED ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING!
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Post by Haures on Sept 5, 2004 17:05:23 GMT -5
Best of luck to you! I'm in the initial stage of researching a career in trucking. So far, I've read nothing but good things about Gordon. Please keep us posted on your experiences. Take care, man.
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Post by truckertom on Sept 5, 2004 22:40:40 GMT -5
I have had many of my students come back after 6 months driving and tell me they don't know why they didn't do it earlier in their lives. Heck, I have been recently thinking about hitting the road myself.
Training drivers can take its toll on you. I am glad that I have a vacation coming up. Good luck and let us know how you like it.
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Post by wheelwrangler on Sept 6, 2004 19:31:52 GMT -5
HMMMMM? You have me thinking now...... I am waiting for SNI to call me back as to my application.
SNI has A yard about 100 miles from where I live. I don't know about Gordon and where they have yards. Any in Bakersfield, CA?
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Luman
New Member
Posts: 9
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Post by Luman on Sept 18, 2004 18:14:52 GMT -5
I just joined Gordon (GTI) and finished my training with them. Next week I am going to finish the last 2 days of orientation and be assigned my own truck. I am very happy with them so far, and the new raise and sign on bonus was a nice addition. I went to the NCA fleet wich covers NV, CA, and AZ. Their main terminal is in Pacific WA. They also have smaller terminals in Medford, OR, Turlock(sp?), CA, and I think in Salt Lake City, UT. They have drop yards in many major cities. I live in the vegas area and that is where I will base out of, but my home terminal will be turlock.
I have found that they are very safety oriented. All of their equipment is kept in good working order, and all of the drivers that I met where very positive about their job at GTI.
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Post by oldbuddy on Sept 18, 2004 22:17:59 GMT -5
I am on my 3week trainning with Gordon now. It is the hardest job I have ever done. I am running with my trainner from Bellingham, WA to Woodland, WA every 6 days the will start next week with a run to Denver. I find they are very concerned about safty and waqnt thier trucks and drivers as safe as possible. Yes if you want the best you go to Gordon. They do charge more for deliverying thier freight but they make sure you get it when you want it. It is nice to know I work for the top of the line company with the lowest turn over rate than anyone out there (48%). It has its ups and downs but so far I am enjoying it very much. I am so glad I did not go with Swift , SNI or any other ones out there. My plas were to to a quick trainning with some compnay and hit the road. If it was not for this board I would have a job then quit. You guys told me to pay for my own and give it a try. If I dont like it then walk away. That was the best advise anyone could give. The rest was up to me. I chose GORDON and I am glad I did. Does anyone know how basic Gordons standards on to pass there one month trainning period? Can you stilll grind a gear or so and or miss a few back ups here and there?
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Luman
New Member
Posts: 9
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Post by Luman on Sept 19, 2004 10:16:41 GMT -5
Don't sweat the road test. Personally I don't do well with tests. I told my trainer not to tell me when he was evaluating me for my road test...just tell me after the fact hehe. He said not to worry about it because it's no more than you getting from point A to point B. Do the job to the best of your ability and you should do fine. Try to not let tests intimidate you. At the end (despite what the paperwork implies) you are not going to have a "final" test so to speak. You have proven yourself over the course of your trainer to your instructor. If you are having difficulties in a particular area you might goto a finishing trainer to work on it.
Everyone grinds a gear from time to time...even my trainer. I don't know how your trainer is teaching you, but in my case I was taught not to use the clutch aside from starting and stopping. It sure makes driving a lot easier. Don't worry about getting a back the first time every time. The key is getting a good setup and understanding what your trailer will do. It takes practice and even the best of them have to do pull-up from time to time.
The 4 weeks of training seems long, but it will be much better once you are on your own. The first few months will be a bit stressfull, but once you become more confident it won't seem like such hard work. Anyway's, good luck out there...you're almost done!
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