Truck driver b.s.

10 hr days... I remember when I had a part time job.

Mine are no less than 12.

 

Got over 40 years in behind the wheel, can’t believe I’ve put up with all the bs for so long. Drive dedicated for Blackhorse these days, treated me real well so far, moving to North Carolina very shortly, Hope Mills, all ears if someone knows a good company down there, home daily, no weekends, thanks.

 

Does my 2016 TRD OR count for this thread? Hauling loads…

 

Yea, any more gear in our trucks and the DMV's are going to required us to get CDL's..lol

 

Didn’t pass the physical. Wasn’t sure why it was important!

 

Born to Rock
Forced to Chill...

 

Oh thats fiiiiine... it still holds air dont it?!

 

Who can relate?!

 

What I drive now. Hauling bolts and fastners, 62k loads.

What I've done in the past. Steel hauler.


I did fuel tanker for awhile.
Hauled some machinery.

Did local work for a roll forming company

I did the over the road thing, mostly east coast. It put me through a divorce, and also taught me that all the big trucking companies suck! Your just a truck number, a dot on a screen. So now I drive local and I'm much happier, it's a good balance. I do enjoy driving truck, always have. Some guys hate it but not me. I figured out you just have to be with the right company. Now I work for a company that has trucks, not a trucking company. It's 5 miles from home so I don't put a lot of miles on my new taco.

 

I didn’t have the heart to tell my mother I drive truck, so I told her I’m a piano player at a whore house.

 

I did wanna address this. As far as big trucking companies... I'd say you're half right. My time with Swift i was driver 258553/Truck 95257. I was there 8 months and went through 6 dispatchers... one being an 18 year old fresh out of high school that tried to tell me how to do my job. It was cute. Western Express was much better... they were a big company that didn't act big. My dispatcher knew me by first name, called for birthdays and anniversaries, I even made friends with a few big wigs at the home office in Nashville... then the original owner died and family sold out. ( I have a cool story about when I met the original owner personally... Remind me to tell that sometime) the personality was still there... Somewhat. But then they decided they knew more about Trucking than truck drivers in had some really stupid policies and procedures they enacted. I left promptly after four years.

Then Heartland... by far above and beyond to this day still one of the best trucking jobs I ever had. Unfortunately I pissed it away because I had a drug habit at that time and had to go on an extended vacation from society to think about what I did.

But yeah a local job is definitely where it's at. I do miss the over-the-road environment sometimes but I do like coming home to my wife and kids everyday. Plus the company I work for here is a very small tight-knit Timber Company. We're pretty much like a close family here although there's like 50 of us.

 

So far today just moving coils of heavy wire from one building to another so they can make it into bolts. I'll do 3 or 4 loads like this today and then get on the road for my regular pick up and deliveries.

 

Hi everyone.

Cool to see this thread pop up. I’m working on getting my class A. Studied hard and made an appt, went in with my docs to take the written and get my CA real ID done on the 30th. Second question after “you want to do what?” was “do you have your medical?” Oops, thought it was written first and medical for the license.

Got the medical done the next day, went back on my way home, 2nd rejection “we have to wait until your real ID is mailed out”.

I’ve done 3 “runs” so far:

Denver to Seattle in the Freightliner with an unloaded 15 horse trailer after purchase in KY.

Temecula to Seattle with a dodge 5500 and the 10 horse trailer fully loaded, straightforward and non stressful with the auto and hydraulic brakes.

Yesterday, Vancouver, WA to Seattle with the Freightliner and 15, this time with 2 horses and real traffic.

I was sweating it in traffic trying to get the shift pattern down. Had a few “oh s” moments out there. Starting to get to the point where I don’t have to think about everything I’m doing before I do it. Suppressing the instinct to use my left foot is a little tricky, gassing up for downshifts is too, air brake lag takes some getting used to.

My brother in law has had his CDL for decades and has all his own trucks, I’m just trying to help him out as wife-approved side diversion from small children and the real job (software developer). So far it’s quite the challenge.

I would greatly appreciate any advice and guidance. My bro in law is great and saved me from clipping a sign at the end of our drive yesterday where I had to squeeze through a single lane curbed right turn and park it so he could do final approach to the farm.

I’m scared to death of backing this thing up.

 

1st... welcome to the wonderful world of professional driving. Now you'll really notice how inept most drivers in America are. Most 4 wheelers loooooove to pull out in front of us... because we stop soooo well.

And yes... backing is a terror at first... but over time you'll do it blindfolded if you had to. I got the trial by fire as my first few years of driving was up in NY and New England where the roads were NOT built with the modern semi in mind. I had to literally put up or shut up.

Unless you work for someone you know... you're gonna get the shit runs at first. Just how it is. Me... I did about 2 -2 1/2 years at Western before I got enough tenure to get the sweeter loads. Thing was... I just did my job. I didn't bitch about every little thing. Believe it or not... that gets noticed. Just do your job safety and efficiently... you'll get noticed.

Finally... dont get content with what you know... don't matter if you've done this 20 days or 20 years... there is always something to learn about trucking. Listen to the old timers... they might ramble on about the good ole days... but their stories are filled with great wisdom.

Always always always... do everything the safe way.

 

The driver selfie.

 

My plan is to only drive for my bro in law. So all runs will be fun. Presumably I would only ever be a 2nd driver but I could see times when he wants to run 3 trucks. Right now he has 3 trailers but only 2 trucks.

Which makes it a little tough to stay competent as practice is definitely the key. We are in SD so I rarely get time to drive but I’m taking every chance I get.

The biggest question I have is how best to get my license if I don’t have trouble with the permit. Seems like the 160h class is the easiest option but 4 weeks off work is a tall order. I could also try once without the class but I’m betting I’d likely fail.

 

Photos from today after delivery.

 

Is that an old FLD?!

 

I'm not super sure which model but it's from the 2000's and a Freightliner.

 

I could tell if I saw the front