October 19 - October 23

Monday, I arrived at the terminal at 0630 to meet my trainer and to drive a straight truck with at tank on the back. We will have five stops to make in Jacksonville to fill tanks in those locations. My day ended at about 1630. Tuesday, started at 0430. We hooked up to a trailer that was at the terminal that had already been loaded and then headed to Brunswick. We arrived in Brunswick at about 0600 and went to the tank for us to unload. We started unloading and notice the product was not leaving the tanker. My trainer did some trouble shooting and found out there was a clogged filter on the tank. We located some tools to get access to the filter to clean it. We finally cleaned the filter, unloaded the tanker and left at 1100. We arrived back in Jacksonville at 1230 and had another load waiting for us. We picked up an empty tanker, drove to Brunswick, loaded and then drove back to Jacksonville to get unloaded. We arrived back at the terminal at 1830. Wednesday started at 0630, We hooked up to a tanker that was already loaded and headed to Port Wentworth, Ga. where we unloaded and headed to back to the supplier in Jacksonville to re-load the same trailer for Thursday. My day ended at 1830. Thursday started at 0430 with another trainer. We hooked up to a loaded trailer and headed to the same location in Port Wentworth, Ga. When we got close to Brunswick, we started to hear a noise from the engine and the tractor started to lose speed. I pulled over to the side of the road and the trainer called road breakdown service, this was about 0600. He also called the trainer that I had with me yesterday to have her pick me up on her way to Port Wentworth. She arrived two hours later. I left with her, we delivered the load and headed back to Jacksonville to get loaded again. While driving back to Jacksonville, the trainer I was with called the other trainer to check on his progress. He said the tow truck, arrived at about 1100 and that his transmission was shot. Oh, by the way our trucks have automatic transmissions. Friday morning started at 0430 and we made the same delivery that we did on Thursday. I also talked to the safety department, who gave the terminal manager the OK to release me on my own which will start next week.

October 12 - October 16

I received a call from the terminal manager at about 1100 to come into the terminal to get with my trainer. I got about three miles from the house and received a call on my cell phone from the terminal manager. He said the load had be rescheduled and for me to come in Tuesday morning at 0700. So I turned around and went back to the house. Boy, this sure beats sitting in a truck stop. I arrived at the terminal Tuesday morning at 0700, met my new trainer and he told me we were going to a stop in Jacksonville to get loaded and then take the load to a stop in Mulberry, Fl. We will then go to the terminal in Mulberry where we will pick up another tractor for me to drive back to Jacksonville. We arrived at the stop in Jacksonville at 0800 and did not leave until 1030. We drove to Mulberry, arriving at about 1500. It took the receiver four hours to unload the trailer. We left the receiver at 1900 and drove about five miles to our terminal in Mulberry where we picked up the tractor. We then drove about an hour and a half until our 14 hr clock ran out. We stopped for the night in Lake Mary, Fl. The company let me stay in a hotel since the tractor I was driving did not have a sleeper.
We left Lake Mary at 0800 and arrived back in Jacksonville at about 1030. We then hooked up to an empty trailer and drove to Brunswick, Ga. where they loaded the trailer. We then drove to a stop in Jacksonville, where they unload the trailer. We then drove back to the terminal to end our day at about 1700. My trainer had a doctors appt for Thursday, so the terminal manager placed me with the trainer I had last week. I spent Thursday and Friday driving back and forth between Jacksonville, Brunswick and Jesup, Ga. I am supposed to ride with yet another trainer Monday morning. I think next week will be my last week in training.

October 5 - October 9

I went to the Jacksonville terminal Monday morning to pick up another piece of equipment and to find out when I needed to return to meet my trainer. The terminal manager told me to return Tuesday morning at 0415. Tuesday morning I arrived at 0400, met my trainer and did a pre-trip inspection of the tractor. My trainer explained what we were going to do this week. We will be leaving every morning at 0415, drive the tractor to a factory in Brunswick, Ga., pick up a loaded trailer, then take it to a paper mill in Jesup, Ga, unload the trailer there, then return it to the factory in Brunswick and then repeat the same thing over again with another loaded trailer. We then drive the tractor back to the terminal in Jacksonville. My day started at 0415 and ended around 1530 or 1400 every day. I am supposed to ride with another trainer next week to learn other processes.

September 28 - October 3

Drove to Mulberry, Fl Monday morning to begin orientation at CTL Transportation. After arriving in Mulberry, they took me out on a driving test, which I passed and then sent me to get my physical and pee test. That was all I did Monday. Tuesday through Thursday was learning their policies and procedures on safety and the handling of the products they carry. Friday and Saturday was spent learning how to pump the products on and off the tankers. I called the Jacksonville terminal Friday afternoon to find out when I am supposed to report. They told me to come in Monday morning. So my new career with CTL will start Monday.