Driver Intern Program -Stephenville

Western Dairy Transport Internship Program

The Western Dairy Transport Internship Program provides an opportunity to persons who lack the experience and training to obtain a commercial driver's license. This opportunity will help them become familiar with all aspects of a driver's position.

Requirement to enter program:

• Must be between the ages of 18 and 23 years.
• Have a valid drivers license.
• Consent to a background check before attending driving school or at the time of employment, at Western Dairy Transport's discretion.

Participant expectations are:

• Work an assigned schedule and be on time.
• Take and pass an initial pre-employment drug and alcohol test and later be subject to random testing.
• Check with your supervisor before taking time off or missing work.
• To learn and follow the rules of each progression safely.
• Progression will be approved by a satisfactory report from your supervisor of your duties learned and performed.
• If a supervisor does not approve your progressions or the Intern cannot complete training, testing, or safety practices, WDT can terminate the internship.

Your supervisor will regularly document progression by evaluation forms and four qualification tests per phase.

The progression will be structured as follows:

Phase One: Safety Lane

• The Intern will learn to wear the proper personal protection equipment, fueling techniques (S,V only), tractor sanitation, and communication with the drivers.
• The Intern will learn to perform a daily visual inspection of trucks, trailers, and proper tire inflation (S,V only). The Intern should also learn to properly document and report repairs needed on equipment.
• The Intern will learn USDOT equipment rules and make minor repairs under supervision. During this process, the Intern will also learn the minimum standards for an annual inspection and be familiar with adjusting brakes.
• The Intern will be proficient in duties assigned to the Safety Lane and begin training on terminal tractor procedures and yard traffic management.

Phase Two: Shop/Tire Bay

• The Intern will learn to wear the proper personal protection equipment, communication with the drivers, and safety procedures/policies.
• The Intern will become familiar with the Shop/Tire Bay operations.
• The Intern will become familiar with the components and the maintenance of trucks and trailers.
• The Intern will learn the OSHA requirements for the safety procedure of individual tasks to be performed in the shop/tire bay.
• The Intern will be proficient in duties assigned to the Shop/Tire Bay.

Phase Three: CIP

• The Intern will learn to wear the proper personal protection equipment, communication with the drivers, and safety procedures/policies.
• The Intern will become familiar with the CIP Bay operations.
• The Intern will be proficient in duties assigned to the CIP Bay and begin training on terminal tractor procedures (no backing is allowed in this phase) and yard traffic management.
• The Intern will learn the safe coupling/decoupling of trailers.
• The Intern will learn the OSHA requirements for the safety procedure of individual tasks to be performed in the CIP Bay.

Phase Four: Terminal Tractor

• The Intern will learn to wear the proper personal protection equipment, communication with the drivers, and safety procedures/policies.
• The Intern will learn the safe operations of the Terminal Tractor.
• The Intern will learn the safe coupling/decoupling and movement including backing of trailers.
• The Intern will learn to perform a daily visual inspection of terminal tractors, trailers, and proper tire inflation. The Intern should also learn to properly document and report repairs needed on equipment.

Upon successful completion of the four phases the Intern will be transitioned into the role of an employee and be assigned to a department within the company. Upon reaching age 21, you will continue to the RCTA driver training school in Bryan or Abernathy, Texas. The Intern will then attend a six-week entry-level driver program that will result in a Class A CDL and a tank endorsement.

After Class A CDL with tank endorsement is obtained, the Intern phase will transition to the Driver Apprentice phase. The Driver Apprentice will complete up to 10,000 training miles with a qualified driver trainer. The Driver Apprentice will then transition to a Journeyman Driver status.

The Journeyman Driver is restricted to operate in specified rural farm routes. Driver Trainers will evaluate progression every 30 days and provide an additional 3,000 to 6,000 miles of training. Upon completing one year as Journeyman Driver, WDT will promote the participant to a qualified WDT Driver.