Indecisi0n
Well-Known Member
There is soap at truck stops? I thought the dispensers were filled with lube?
Ask a Feeder Driver, Feeder Driver FAQ
- Thread starter 104Feeder
- Start date
gatorkev85
Active Member
So I was finally given a packet to study, how in the heck did everyone learn all this stuff word for word. I have to know both pages and study my cdl book for a test on Tuesday. Why do they wait until the last minute to give us this info? I feel like they are setting us up to fail
jaker
trolling
We all go though it , if you want it bad enough you will do it
When I went to class we had 4 days to learn all of it to dmv test , Monday was my first time in a tractor and Thursday I tested
Knothead
Yep.
Some of had many years in package to learn all that stuff before we had the seniority to move to feeders. You're fortunate to be in an area that needs feeder drivers badly, but are behind the curve as a result. Put your nose to the grindstone and study hard. If you want this bad enough, you will make it
gatorkev85
Active Member
So everyone is given a packet 3 days before class starts? I feel like you should get this study packet at least 2 weeks in advance to study.
Johney
Well-Known Member
CDL test on Tuesday? They let you drive without your permit?
During my first week we were given new stuff every day that we had to memorize and be able to write down verbatim for a test the following morning. It kinda sucked but I wanted the job so I did it, if you want the job you'll do it too. Life aint perfect.
Indecisi0n
Well-Known Member
Agree. I must have wrote out the ten point and 5 seeing habits 100 times in order to help me remember it.
8 rules of backing, yard safety, conveyor security, all that crap plus a whole bunch of new feeder specific stuff. My wife would stand there at night with the sheet double checking me while I rattled it off. Then me and another guy in the class carpooled in together and we would take turns reciting it during the ride.
burrheadd
KING Of GIFS
You should apply at Swift don’t think you need memorize all the nonsense over their
Yaba Daba Do
Donkey Punch Extraordinaire
When I went thru 3 years ago they told us we had to know everything word for word but when they actually tested us all they really cared about was the 5 seeing habits and 10 point commentary. Everything else they told us would be “extra credit”. But when they said word for word they meant it, that included punctuation too. I lost 5 points because I forgot a period.
barnyard
KTM rider
I got my packet of materials on the 1st day of feeder school. I had a day of layoff and took the test for my CDL temp and passed on my 1st try. There is a study booklet in the DMV office, thumb through that, at the end of every chapter, there are bullet points. Those bullet points are the test questions.
As for everything else, if you do not want to be a feeder driver, don't bother. It is not for everyone.
The hardest thing for me was completing the log book sheet. My bosses wanted perfect lines, with perfect corners and no smudges. After working on it for 2 hours, the supe said, "Do it at home tonight, or you are never going to drive." At home, with less pressure, it only took 4 or 5 more tries.
I also found that if I was giving an honest effort, the training supes were very helpful.
As for everything else, if you do not want to be a feeder driver, don't bother. It is not for everyone.
The hardest thing for me was completing the log book sheet. My bosses wanted perfect lines, with perfect corners and no smudges. After working on it for 2 hours, the supe said, "Do it at home tonight, or you are never going to drive." At home, with less pressure, it only took 4 or 5 more tries.
I also found that if I was giving an honest effort, the training supes were very helpful.
Dracula
Package Car is cake compared to this...
Here, we have bid cover drivers and variable cover drivers. We don't have that BS on call drivers. All feeder drivers are full time. You're either a full time driver, or you're not a driver. Sometimes, if volume is real low, they might lay off the lowest drivers, but even then, those drivers can go back to package car, or work in the hub.
As far as cover drivers go, the bid cover drivers have a set start time and cover call-ins, vacation days, optional holidays or drivers who are off that aren't injured for more than a week at a time.
Variable cover drivers cover vacations and injuries, whether work comp or disability.
Dracula
Package Car is cake compared to this...
You can always spot a rookie. He's the one with his fog lights on.
barnyard
KTM rider
or someone having their annual ride.
Dracula
Package Car is cake compared to this...
This whole q list and on-call drivers is nuts. I never knew how good we had it until I started talking to other drivers around the country. We also carry our package car seniority into feeders.
barnyard
KTM rider
Here also.
Dracula
Package Car is cake compared to this...
Other than a pre-trip, my fog lights are never on. Of course, all of our Kenworths don't even have them.
Dracula
Package Car is cake compared to this...
I think most hubs don't.
