First Mentor Trip Completed

Well its been a busy first trip, with my mentor coach Ian we left from the yard Sunday 22nd November after the pre trip checks and headed bobtail for Moncton, New Brunswick to pick up our trailer.

A quiet Confederation Bridge heading west towards New Brunswick.

On arrival at the cross dock we found our trailer did the checks, hooked up and set sail for Massachusetts, not before grabbing a coffee from Tim Hortons! We decided that breakfast would be had at Woodstock and on the approach to the truckstop came across this.

 Lesson number one, "don't come on and off the ramps (sliproads) too fast" Ian tells me, there are no long run off's like in the UK and the other thing is that there are no countdown markers, just the sign at the junction's. After breakfast we headed for the US border at Houlton, Maine. Now if you want to be made to feel like a criminal, the guards in the border gate are experts, I only went in for my I94 card which allows me to enter the USA (and must be renewed every 3 months @ $6 US), I came out feeling like I was on Parole!!

Anyway off we set for a fairly uneventful run through Maine, New Hampshire and into Massachusetts, we decided to call it a day about an hour from our first drop and parked up for the night.

Monday morning, up nice and early and remembering we were now on Eastern time headed for our first drop, Wallmart store to drop off 150 fresh christmas trees, Problem was no one at wallmart had advised they had closed the store down and moved it to the other side of town!!!!!

We were on to our second and Ian pointed out this place.

 

                            Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots NFL Team

After unloading all 800 trees we get the message to head for New Bedford to collect a load of Clementines for Toronto, so we reached our pick up point to be greeted with about 30 other trucks collecting for the same place. 10 hours after we arrived we finally get the call to go onto a bay! We ran for a few hours then parked it up for some sleep.

We headed for Toronto crossing at Buffalo and into Niagra Falls and up to Milton to tip the following morning, met up with two more drivers from Bulk who were also tipping the same place as us. Another early start and after a wait of a couple of hours we were empty and heading for Brampton to drop our trailer and wait for the call to collect a loaded trailer for Charlottetown, we arrived Brampton thursday morning

                                                      Time to relax and a bit of shopping

 and finally left 9pm Friday night. We ran for a few hours clearing Montreal and parked up for the night. We decided the following morning to team run back to the Island. The return trip took us through Ontario into Quebec and into things to come.

It was just a light dusting of snow then as the miles went by turned to rain and that was the story all the way through New Brunswick and back on to the Island. We eventually arrived back 10.30 Saturday night.

Went into the office today and was passed off training and was allocated my own truck so on Tuesday I get my Hiring pack and all my gear to go out on my own. I would like to thank my brother and his wife as my new GPS arrived today as well so thats saved me a few hundred bucks, cheers guys. Well i'm off to bed now as I have to have my Drug and Alcohol test tomorrow, then, well who knows? Stay tuned to find out where I end up on my first solo run.

First Mentor Trip Confirmed

Ok its official, my first mentor trip is a 5 drop to Massachusetts. I had a good day yesterday, got sent out on my own to collect a load of frozen lobster from Souris, it was nice to finally get out on my own and see how I measured up to driving alone. I was pleased that everything went ok, still can't get over the amount of dials and switches they have in the trucks here.

Just getting all my gear ready to leave at 7am tomorrow, So will detail the trip when I get back unless I can get free wi-fi out on the road.

Sorry its late but, Passed My Road Test Yesterday.

Wednesday November 15th @ 12.15pm (local time) my examiner shook my hand and informed me I had passed the Class 1 roadtest.

Phew, was I glad to hear those words, I had done it I had achieved what I set out to do, become a fully qualified North American Truck Driver. I had forgotten how good the feeling was, its been 18 years since I passed my UK class 1. But to do the Canadian Class one in two and a half weeks was something else.

Now the real learning starts, I always remember a very close friend telling me after I passed my UK Class 1.
"well you have only satisfied an examiner in controlled conditions now you will start to learn for real" Those words were as true 18 years ago as they are today.

So after going in to the test centre and parting with $50 and my photo taken I walked out with my Canadian Class 1 license. Now here's a tip for those of you who don't check things when your given them, CHECK IT! and double check. It was only when I returned to the office was it pointed out to me that my air brake endorsement had not been added to the Class 1 license, I could still not drive a truck without it. Oh well another trip to the department of transportation. They were great and sorted that out within 15 mins. A very big thank you to all the people who have made this possible, there are too many to mention but you know who you are. But one person I must mention is my wonderful wife for believing in me, this is for you honey xxx.

Thursday 19th November.

Well its been a real busy day today getting things done around the shop, and then I get the news I've been waiting for "your off on your first mentor trip and your leaving Sunday morning", not sure where to yet but will find out Friday.  Also heard that one of the other lads out on his mentor trip is on his way to Nevada!!

I only brought winter gear!

Well we'll know tomorrow, then this Trucking Big Adventure really gets into gear (sorry about the punn).

End of Week Two

Its been a fairly uneventful week, got to do a fair bit of driving out with Greg.

I have to say this guy has nerves of steel, he must have when i'm driving! lol. This is him waiting for the guys to finish packing a load of spuds so we can take it back to the yard..

We have spent a fair bit of time out on the road this week and I have got to see a bit more of the Island, it truly is breathtaking, I have to say its on a par with the Welsh coast and countryside. Its been a beautiful week weather wise here on PEI this week, with clear blue skys, and very warm temperatures, even to the point where we were working in t-shirts outdoors.

Friday was a great day spent the morning doing some house keeping in the workshop (cleaning to me and you), also washing out the trailers ready for loading next week, took some photos of the trucks enjoying the sunshine,

A couple of the new Prostars I had been using to move trailers.

Old Meets new for a spot of sunbathing.

Well lunchtime came and Melvyn, Donny and I jumped in the truck and headed for the plaza to get lunch.

I grabed some chicken tenders (bonless pieces of chicken breast in a KFC type coating) and a large side of wedges and a honey and garlic dipping sauce, food in hand Donny said we were going to the woods to eat the food. Well nothing prepared me for what happened next. We drove back past the yard, past Donnys lot where he's building a house, on to a dirt track, ok I thought he must have his current house up here, then he turned through a gap in the fence into a field! so off we set over this field and started heading for the woodland, as we got closer to the treeline I could just see a small opening through the trees in we went and turned through some trees which opened out to reveal this.

Donny and his friend had cleared the trees and built this cabin.

Melvyn on the left, Donny on the right outside the cabin.

What a spectacular setting, you almost expected to see bears wandering past (we don't have them on the Island) and other wildlife, it felt as if you were miles from civilisation, but in reality we were only 10 mins away from it, so back to work we went, the most enjoyable lunch I have ever had. At 2pm we got a call to collect a load of lobster from a company up in Souris, so that was the rest of our day taken care of, we took one of the prostars, that was a nice change to drive after the 9400i.

Saturday 14th November.

Today was my first venture to the shopping mall in Charlottetown, Now its a real bugger when you don't have your own transport here, because some bright spark in the transit authority has decided not to run a bus service from Cornwall to Charlottetown on a saturday!!!!! So I had to take a cab, $12 each way compared to the bus during the week of $2 each way. Had to start buying the stuff for my truck like new bedding, satellite radio, towells,etc. Also bought a new mobile phone as the wankers at orange (no the future is not bright) have still not sent me my unlock code despite 2 requests. Now I just have to wait for my number from Rogers the phone company and can activate my phone. Had a nice time out shopping, had a Wendy burger for lunch, a little treat to myself then off to Canadian Tire, Old Navy & Wall-Mart. Called a cab about 7.30 and back home for a pizza and a few cold ones!

Sunday 15th November.

A drivers work is never done! Laundry day, I do enjoy this, put the washing liquid in, put clothes in, close lid, insert $1.25 and switch it on, simple, return an hour later transfer to dryer, insert $1.25 select crease free, switch on and walk away, return an hour later fold clothes, job done NO IRONING!!! love it. The wife will love that aspect when she gets here and we are in our own house. Going off to get some groceries and a pack of cold ones now so I can have a relaxing day watching TV. Hope to get a date for my road test tomorrow, so stay tunned for the next installment of Steves Trucking Big Canadian Adventure, comming soon to a screen in front of you!  P.S. I would like to thank my wife for pointing out my spelling mistakes whilst writing this blog, love & miss you honey xxx    

First Day Of Driving Training

Well today was the day I finally got behind the wheel of a North American Rig for road training. After a bit of shunting in the yard, washing out of a reefer trailer and a bit more shunting, Greg rolled in and announced we're off to pick up a load of mussells, so off we went, pulled out of the yard turned left on to the TCH 1 and the tunes began, the gearbox was playing a whole host of tunes none of which I knew!

Ah the joys of a crash box, it brought back memories of 18 years ago when I first used one, I was crap with that one as well!!!  Anyway as the drive proceeded I started to find gears without crunching the box and leaving a trail of stripped teeth from the gears all along the TCH.  I really started getting the hang of changing up, its changing down and the split from 5th to 4th thats really f***king me up I just cant seem to get my revs right, oh well its only day one, Rome was not built in a day I thought.

Now before I carry on with todays report, I have to show these photo's to prove to my Wife that its not all burgers and doughnuts over here and eating healthy is possible.

It only just fitted in the pan

Could not believe the price on the steaks out here, this piece $4.50 or £2.81, try getting a steak like this in Tesco for that price!

Anyway we got to our collection point and one shunt and I was on the bay.

So with our load on board off we set back for the yard, an hour later and more tunes from the gearbox we arrived where we dropped the tailer put in a DP door and hooked up to another trailer this time heading to pick up 25 pallets of Potatoes from a farm in Mount Stewart. When we got there I put the trailer on the bay and both Greg and I had a walk round the potatoe store and watched how they prep the spuds ready for packing. We had a bit of a delay whilst we waited for them to finish bagging the last 2 pallets and paperwork in hand we set off back to the yard.

On reflection a good day but still a lot of practice needed to master the gearbox, oh well lets see what happens tomorrow.

Passed The Airbrake Test Today

Well all the studdying paid off,  today I passed the air brake test. Yippee.  I was unhappy with about 5 of the 50 questions as they were not specific to the answers and you had a 50/50 chance of getting them right.
I pointed this out to the guys in the test centre, they agreed it was misleading and a new question sheet is to be introduced any day soon.

Well its the end of my first week with Bulk Carriers and I have to say i don't think I have enjoyed my first week anywhere as much as I have here in Canada. The guys in the workshop have been fantastic, Melvyn, Donny, Blaine & Greg have the patience of a saint. I have been helping out with the servicing of the trucks and getting to know a lot more on how North American trucks work in relation to the European ones I have been used to driving for the last 18 years. True there are many simularities between the two in the mechanics but operation is a different kettle of fish altogether.  It has helped me no end in the passing of the Airbrake Test (have I mentioned that already :-) ?). If i had any questions these guys would stop what they were doing and spend the time explaining and showing me the answers, thanks fellas coffee's on me Monday.

After the test, Blaine and I headed off to Wall-Mart in Charlottetown so I could pick up some safety shoes, and coffee from Timmy's on the way back to the yard. No sooner had I put my overalls on Greg the Island Shunter calls me to say we had a trailer swop in Charlottetown, so off with the overalls and off we went.  He asked if I wanted to drive and I declined saying that I would rather observe how the truck was driven properly, not spend the next 20 minutes playing him a tune on the gearbox and terrorising the locals on roads I was unfarmilliar with. He makes it look so easy, so with trailer hitched up off we go back to the yard, great lunchtime I'm starving.

                      Some of our International 9400i tractor units enjoying the rain in the yard

After dinner jumped back into my overalls and no sooner had I done this, yep you guessed it, Greg called me, "come on we got a call from dispatch to pick up two loads of potatoes from two different farms on the Island". Again I declined the chance to drive as I wanted to carry on observing and getting to know the roads. Got to the first collection (after stopping to pick up a coffee), one truck on the dock getting loaded. Waited 20 minutes then backed onto the dock.

                                                Loading Spuds at our first collection point

45 minutes later spuds on board, then had to wait for the OK off the potatoe inspector (you need his clearance or the spuds don't go). All paperwork done off we go. A lovely drive up to the east coast of the Island, well it would have been if it was'nt for the howling wind, rain, sleet & snow flurries. Got to the second collection, backed on the dock and loaded in 15 minutes, then had to wait again for another spud inspector, ok all sorted and by now it was dark, thank god Greg was driving, If I had been driving I think we would still be out there somewhere! So different here in the dark, no street lighting in the sticks!!! 
Back to the yard where the driver was waiting for our trailer, the destination for our spuds - Boston for 6am the next day!
With the unit parked up it was time for this taff to call it a day, off back to my motel for a well deserved coffee (cough, cough).

One week in, do I regret making the move across the pond?  Not on your chuffing life!  I do miss Maxine and Elliott especially the weekends cos thats when I would be home with them in the UK. But I'm not in the UK and I know why I'm/we are doing this. Its a small sacrifice for I hope a life time of happiness.

Off to enjoy my (cough cough) coffee now.    10-4 Good Buddies

First Day as a Bulk Carriers Employee.

Mike picked me and Ian up at 8am and set off to my new career, It was a beautiful sunny morning here in Cornwall, I think the gods were looking after me today.  Arrived and Helped Ian unload his bags as he was flying back to the UK to go on holiday to Florida with his family, have a great time mate, enjoy. 

First thing after saying goodmorning to Mel, Donny & Blaine, ride shotgun with Blaine to change trailers at Canadian Tire (its like a Halfords Mega, Mega store) in Charlottetown. Took one of the new prostars with a 53' tandam, I was amazed just how smooth and agile these rigs were, in the right hands Blaine made it look so easy.  

Spent  the rest of the morning talking to them about various truck related issues, getting to know the layout in the engine compartment, running gear, braking systems etc. Ian was also a great help answering questions showing me things I would need to know, was introduced to a few of the other drivers, then off for lunch.

After lunch, got my head back into my air brake manual, then was asked to help Donny tourqe some trailer wheel nuts up, right he said thats the service finished can you go drop the trailer and park the unit up, well you did not have to ask me twice, so i jumped in the drivers seat, confirmed a few things about the controls etc, did not know they have their version of powered take off in the Prostars, nice, liked that. finally coaxed it in to low gear and off we went, now I have never driven a truck with a bonnet, sorry hood! so I was a bit cautious leaving the shop, mindfull of the 53' of trailer behind me. out into the yard swung round to the left and looked to put it in the last but one bay on the right. It was then my one and only brain cell decided to revert to European mode! I had now lined up to reverse in on my blind side!!!!!! Supid thick welsh......., Anyway, a quick move and I was ready to bend the trailer in on the correct angle, I am very pleased to say I only needed 1 shunt to get it in to a space with only 2 feet either side of the trailer, more important so was Donny who was watching from across the yard.
Dropped the trailer and parked the unit up and back to my study's feeling slightly pleased with my first experience behind the wheel of a north american rig.

This is just a quick update as I have to get my head back in the air brake book. As I have my air brake test 08.45 Friday.
Steve 

From An Idea To A Reality

June 26th 2009, the day that changed the direction of both mine and my family's future. Another job gone thanks to the recession. This can't go on any longer were the words I said to my wife that evening when I got home. Maxine my wife then said over dinner why don't we move to find work, I told her why move to somewhere in England to have this happen again at a later date. Then the Idea was born, not England she said, Canada!
That was me sold, the next 4 months have been a blur, research,research, applications for criminal record checks, driving history reports, research,research, job applications sent, phone calls made, very long days sat in front of my P.C, gallons of coffee, cigarettes, late nights, research, research, research. All applications were met with, "thanks for your interest, but we are not hiring right now". Brick wall after Brick wall.

We had finally decided on two locations we wanted to settle, Favorite:- PEI.
Last resort:- Lethbridge, Alberta.

September 2009.   Breakthrough, interest from Bulk Carriers PEI & H&R in Lethbridge.
Spoke to both and the feedback was very positive, we had everything crossed for Bulk Carriers (did not like what I was reading about H&R). Got confirmation of the interview with H&R in Gateshead (there is another story in itself) September 27th 08.30. Ok so no news from Mike at Bulk Carriers in the meantime, so it was looking like H&R as the last resort, then out of the blue, an e-mail from Mike at Bulk a week before we were due to fly to Newcastle, a few phone calls to PEI and the deal was done, "How soon can you be here" was the question, my reply "how soon do you want me there!".

October 2009. The countdown was on, Thursday 29th was the agreed date to fly to Canada. The next few weeks were spent shopping for warm winter gear, finalising everything back home, goodbyes to say.

Thursday 29th October 2009. Started at 04.30am Everybody up after 3.5hrs sleep! on the road at 6.30 into Clapham first to drop off one of our puppies to its new Owners, 12.30 arrive at Heathrow, checked my baggage (23kg allowance, actual weight 33kg got away with that- tidy!)  then the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life, 13.30pm say goodbye to my Wife and Son at the departure gate in Terminal 3 at Heathrow. I will never forget the look on their faces as I left them behind, but in the lead up to that point we kept reminding ourselves what we were doing it for, it still did not make it any easier, lots of hugs, kisses and tears, yes i'm not ashamed to admit it some of them were mine. A quick stop via duty free for my 200 cigarettes and to gate 26 with 5 minutes to spare, phew, nothing like cutting it fine!. Boarded the plane and at 14.30 we were off on route to Montreal, arrived 17.30 local time, through customs, then Immigration. half an hour and Cad$150.00 later, TWP was in hand, YES!!!!. Right have to kill 3 hours before my connection, first thing - a smoke,  checked baggage again, then security, no problem, off to gate 21A. Some kind person had put a bar right in front of the gate, oh well when in Rome, so a few Buds later, well several actually we got a message, "The flight to Charlottetown has been delayed by 30 mins". Great I had been on the go for 21 hours and now a delay! 22.00 local we took off, I remember taking off then the flight attendant waking me on approach to Charlottetown.

12.05 the cab picked me up for the Motel and the driver was a bloody Croatian! They get everywhere! 12.30 got my key, 12.35 was met by a skunk outside my room, 01.30 unpacked, undressed and in Bed. 24 hours from Bed to Bed I was Knackered.

30th October. Surfaced about 10am, showered, shaved, dressed, Mike picked me up about 11am then off to meet the Guys at Bulk, its the most weird feeling actually seeing the company in real life after all the build up and just seeing pictures and phone calls. 
The guys were great, off then for my Social Insurance Number, lunch at Harvey's then to Canada Trust to open my Bank Account. No appointment, No problem said the lady on the desk, 20 mins later account opened, bank card in hand, money deposited, and out the door, Jeff at the bank was a star, Lloyds, Barclays, HSBC, etc you could learn a bit from these guys.  Back to Bulk, all paperwork sorted, then had the last hour with the guys in the workshop. 5pm off home then grocery shopping, how many types of milk do you need? 
Spent the rest of the evening reading my Air Brake Manual.

31st October. Happy Halloween everyone, spent a lazy day on the internet talking to my lovely wife on Skype, what a tremendous invention its going to save me a fortune, and the wife just loves to see me when talking to me, its made us both feel a hell of a lot better. 
Well its 12.45 am Sunday November 1st and thats the story so far. Now the next chapter begins, Getting my licenses and getting behind the wheel, Stay tunned, for the next installment, comming soon to a computer screen in front of you. Lol. 

The Trans Canada Highway runs through Cornwall.

An Old International in Cornwall, driver's gone to get Coffee!

                                            My local shopping plaza in Cornwall