Driver Intern Program -Stephenville

Posted Monday, February 21, 2022 at 6:00 AM

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 program will help participants become familiar with all aspects of a driver’s position.

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

• Learn personal protective equipment (PPE), fueling techniques (S,V only), tractor sanitation, and communication with drivers.
• Perform a daily visual inspection of trucks, trailers, and proper tire inflation (S,V only) and document repairs needed.
• Learn USDOT equipment rules and make minor repairs under supervision; learn the minimum standards for an annual inspection and brake adjustment.
• Become proficient in duties assigned to the Safety Lane and begin training on terminal tractor procedures and yard traffic management.

• Learn PPE, communication with drivers, and safety procedures/policies.
• Become familiar with Shop/Tire Bay operations.
• Become familiar with the components and maintenance of trucks and trailers.
• Learn OSHA requirements for the safety procedures of individual tasks performed in the shop/tire bay.
• Become proficient in duties assigned to the Shop/Tire Bay.

• Learn PPE, communication with drivers, and safety procedures/policies.
• Become familiar with CIP Bay operations.
• Become 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.
• Learn the safe coupling/decoupling of trailers.
• Learn OSHA requirements for the safety procedures of individual tasks performed in the CIP Bay.

• Learn PPE, communication with drivers, and safety procedures/policies.
• Learn safe operations of the Terminal Tractor.
• Learn safe coupling/decoupling and movement including backing of trailers.
• Perform a daily visual inspection of terminal tractors, trailers, and proper tire inflation, and document repairs needed.

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

After obtaining the CDL with tank endorsement, the intern phase will transition to the Driver Apprentice phase. A Driver Apprentice will complete up to 10,000 training miles with a qualified driver trainer and then transition to a Journeyman Driver status. The Journeyman Driver is restricted to operating 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.

After completing one year as a Journeyman Driver, WDT will promote the participant to a qualified WDT Driver.