Yeah, alot of good advice. I'm actually an 11th year coverdriver. And getting a route in my building isn't that easy. We're a remote center, so routes just don't come up. I've seen only 3 drivers retire in my 15 year career. Just had one retire today in fact. May bid on his route. Now don't get me wrong, I've had a chance on 5 different routes I've won the bid on. But to tell you the truth, I have my choice of the premium routes and the 5 routes I could've had would've ate my body up. Probably why out of those 5 routes, they have been rebid a few hundred times. LOL.
Dannyboy, yeah, actually if it's an "emergency situation" they can switch you. But problem comes is they can do it, you can protest but still be forced to do it so you won't get the "failure to follow instructions". Then you can go and grieve, win, but still have had to do route in first place with hard feelings. From what I've seen in past, those who have openly protested have paid price in dispatch. Sometimes it's simply easier to just do it and be in good graces.
Onto more advice. Best thing to do is to NEVER stress out. Once you get flustered, you've lost the race. Just take a second to relax, regain composure, and hit the shelves. I have never been trained on a route (only had a half day ride on my training route since I was an accomplished utility driver who had covered routes for a good year and 1/2 before going friend/t). Plus, we have 2 centers in our building, and I was loanded to them my 2nd day in my 30 days, insuring my friend/t spot (they took me off my training route during my 30 days, which was an instant 30 days when I started driving in late 91'). I was wanted by both centers, so it was my centers way of guaranteeing I'd make it.
But, learn as much as you can from other drivers. As said, have OMS print out pu's and driver records. This will give you an idea of how route is run. Good luck, and give it time. Some people don't pick it up quick. And DON'T look at the WOR!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't worry about it until you get hang of way route is run. Then pump it out to get your SPORH up. Once you're in, then deliver at your pace, whatever that is. Just don't be the type who makes the rest of us bail you out daily. I get so tired of getting msg's on my DIAD asking to take 10-20 stops off the local lazy butt. I see that green light come on and I dread the message.