TForce | Starting feeder school at the end of Jan.

I've been driving package cars for 14 years, and won a bid for a package/feeder job. Do my package route and then cover for our 3 feeder drivers when they are vacation. One of the feeder drivers is going to retire in about 18 months and then I will move into feeders full-time.

I'm looking for any tips to get through the 3 weeks of feeder school. I have my CDL permit and UPS conducts the school and even does the state testing for your CDL license.

Good Luck Driver! I think a good piece of advice for someone who drove a pkg car 14 years is to forget everything you learned about getting that pkg car around your delivery area. I had a heck of a time getting that pkg mentality out of my feeder driving routine when I first started. I kept cutting corners on my turns and hoping curbs. Now your going to be driving something several times longer so pay attention to your mirrors on every turn.

Pay attention, focus, think, study, think again, concentrate, focus, pay attention, stay safe.

What I see with the people here who came from pkg to feeder is that the most important thing for them was first, delivery, then second was driving ability.

You see new folks revving the engine while releasing the clutch, because that is what they had to do to get that old P800 moving. The torgue in a diesel engine will take a clutch out real quick if you try that with a fully loaded set. Also learn to not push the clutch all the way to the floor, as that will destroy the clutch brake.

Take your time; you are paid by the hour, not by the mile. As drake said, study, listen, ask questions as there are no stupid ones when you are starting out in this trade. Dont be afraid to ask for help or advice; most drivers are more than willing to help when asked!

I often wondered if your feeder drivers were paid hourly, and now I know. I say that b/c I use to see a long line of UPS trucks traveling together slowly.

Brown67: Congrats on the upgrade. As others said, never get in a hurry! Always atleast check the tires, 5th wheels jaws, and tandem slider pins before leaving. I get paid by the mile for another carrier, but I learned the hard way to not hurry.