I've been a trucker for the last ten years but now I am back home at "Camp Chaos" and I will be working at the Fontana terminal as a safety specialist. I hope now that I'm home I'll have a lot more time for blogging!


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Today was job interview day. I had to be at the Fontana (small city just east of Ontario CA) terminal at 7:00. I was going to be interviewed by the head hauncho from Omaha NE.(Werner's headquarters) I also was going to have to stand in front of a video camera and give a talk on any subject I chose. The purpose of the video is so the people in Omaha can see if I have the necessary skills to conduct a classroom. I had to put on a tie!

I chose to talk about how important it is to be alert and focused when behind the wheel of a big truck. This is one of my favorite subjects because I love to drive and don't have too much trouble staying alert because I am doing something I thoroughly enjoy. Many drivers I have talked to over the years look at me and think I am crazy. They are just doing a job and driving is not something they particularly enjoy. I believe that when you are doing something you don't enjoy and it is repetitive like mile after mile of Interstate, it is easy to get bored and the 'alert and focus' is gone... a very dangerous condition! ... so I talked for about ten minutes and the terminal manager sent the video cassette overnite to the 'head hauncho's' in Omaha. We'll see what they have to say...

John, the terminal manager, said he thought the interview went well and he thinks I have the job. Oh, ... also he said I am being considered for a higher level job than I was first advised of. I guess I will be sort of a personnel manager. I am not sure I am qualified for the job but I will do my best. The pay scale will be higher than I was first quoted, so that will be good.

I answered a lot of hypothetical questions... like what would I do if one of my former students came into our terminal and beer bottles were found in his truck. What if I was the only manager on duty at the time and had to be the one to administer the discipline! Not a fun position to be in, but I said I would have to treat him the same as I would treat any other driver. Having alcohol in the truck is a major Federal Motor Carrier violation. It is also strictly against company policy. I stated I would terminate the driver.

If I am chosen for the job I will spent a couple of weeks learning the ropes at Fontana then I have to go to Omaha for 4 weeks of intensive training.

The next few weeks are going to be interesting...
posted by Tom at 9:27 PM