Yard feeder?

[Dracula]

I think shifting should be done by FT feeder drivers.

Yep. Here, all feeder drivers are full-time, no matter what they do. Why a local would agree to part-time feeder drivers, I can't imagine.

 

[Dracula]

Good luck on the new assignment.A few words from a 14year shifter..
(1)Take your time and use what they teach you
(2)Speed will come later with experience
(3)Ask another shifter,don t be afraid to stop someone to ask
(4)Don t let the feeder drivers get the best of you
(5)Be safe

Our building has 20 fulltime shifters,48 combo shifters,and 26 partime shifters (someplace in that 48-26 shifters you would think another full time job could/would have been created)Another fact is feeder drivers talk down about shifters all the time...When lay off or bumped with many jobs available to go to they always 1bump into shifting.
Its funny when their GOOD BUDDIES see them shifting and down them also
Again good luck and be safe friend.Y.I our moves for 8 hours are 60-100 depending on the person

Why would speed or counting moves an hour even be in your conversation? I get so tired of spotters running around in yards like they're running bonus. There is absolutely no reason for speeding around a yard. It will eventually get someone killed. And for what? Trailers get on the doors when they get on the door.

 

[ManInBrown]

The posts about how bad Meadowlands feeders are from 2007. Things have improved somewhat. The trailers parked in front of half the primary doors are now parked on an angle, so there is now more room to back up.

As for the other half of the primary doors which is in front of what is called Square D, they seem to be now pretty good in not parking trailers to close to the primary doors, so there is now more room than in 2007, but you still need to be pay attention to the front of your shifter when backing in .

Meadowlands also purchased the property of what used to be a bagel manufacturing place and now there is no longer a narrow alley in front of doors 160 to 200. Around 196 to 200(?), there is still a fire hydrant in front of that area so that is a confined area to be concerned about.

Once trailers were parked perpendicular to the curb in front of trailer doors 117 to 159, but now they have pups parked parallel to the curb which gives you a helluva lot more room to maneuver.

Still some tight areas to maneuver in. If you hit the pole on the corner that is on the top of the hill that takes you down to the feeder dispatch office, with a trailer, you wouldn't be the first, and you wouldn't be the first to get written up for it, so don't be that guy. You and that pole need to know where you are both at at all times when you are maneuvering around it.

What has gotten worse is technology and how I mean that is that many of your soon to be fellow shifters are constantly updating their Facebook statuses or watching you tube videos while driving. And this results in lack of attention to what they should be doing, such as only using their 4 ways to indicate that they are backing up. Instead , many of the shifters, keep them on all night so you have no idea if you can pass the limping duck of a driver or if he is really about to back up.

Also, gypsy drivers are no longer allowed on property with trailers, so you don't have to worry about dealing with them blocking up the yard but they still have their shenanigans when backing up in the lot across the street . A lot you may have to enter to get trailers.

Given your seniority, you will probably end up on the night shift and if so, I would try to get one that is half shifting if not all shifting. You're probably not going to be able to avoid the road even in the beginning. You will probably end up going to the rail yard or depending on your job, you might end up with a spring valley or a trenton on the second half of your job.

So to sum up, Meadowlands got easier, but your fellow drivers are now more distracted(especially the shifters), you need to compensate for that and the best way you can do that is to stay off the phone (in more ways than one), and pay attention, particularly when backing over the pedestrian walkway near door 139, (there is a concrete block with a stop sign that has been hit more than once, plus you do have to look out for pedestrians coming both ways, that move needs to be calculated beforehand and ideally executed as quick as possible without hurting any one or hitting anything, but safety always first).

This is not the worse time to come in, it ain't peak and the days are getting longer. More daylight , and less yard traffic. By the time peak comes around, you should have the skills to take it to the next level and that next level will come with the volume and the 90 extra casuals on property trying to make an impression(translation: trying to cut you off to make an extra move).

Great info. Thx Pickup.

 

[Special UPS Operator]

Can you go from shifter feeder to traditional feeder as in hub to hub??? Once you build up seniority???

 

[Special UPS Operator]

Will I have to bid???

Do I hace to stay a shifter for a certain amount of months/years???