Truck driver b.s.

Not sure what an “eld” is. Always needed to have a second book to smooth out the hours and keep rolling. Was hard to make a living otherwise.

 

Eld is short for electronic driver log.

 

Between 5-6 for me to get to yard depending on whether I need to dump out ( trash or recycle)

 

Good thing it wasn’t a # one or two tire

 

It sucks when you gotta pull over and do a forced regen . Could be fifteen minutes or an hour. Got shit to do….. WTF!

 

Back when I was with Swift... circa 2007... I got pulled into the scale coming into MS on 20 from LA by Vicksburg. Told me to come in with my paperwork. There was about 4 drivers waiting including myself waiting patiently for the DOT man to finish with the first driver. After me they called a USA Truck in and he came empty handed. When the DOT man saw him he asked where his paperwork was.... this exchange happened:

"What paperwork do I need to bring?"

"Well let's start with your logbook son ?"

"Which one you need?"

"Well hell son how many you got?!"

"4."

We all stopped and looked at him dumbfounded. The DOT man was silent for a good second then looked at us waiting and told us "you boys have a nice day... imma be a while with this guy."

yes... he openly admitted running 4 log books.
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Any truck built before 1997 is exempt due to it not having ECM. Thats why older truck values are through the roof right now.

 

Good story. Imagine four books all looking legit any time he needed. Guy could have been a genius.

Two was good for me. Helped balance a day when I felt like leaning into the wheel and let me rest when I needed it. Took some common sense and a bit of judgement. Seemed an arbitrary clock couldn’t do that.

 

I used to run with 2 log books, glad I don't have to do that anymore. Now I run legal and still make a decent living and I get good rest so I'm safe on the road. When I was running multiple log books it took its toll on me and burned me out, I left that company and vowed to never do that again. Just not worth it to move their freight and I make a few bucks, my safety and the safety of others just isn't worth it, I.M.O.

 

Sorry to hear two logs were to your detriment. They never allowed me to work more than legal, but it sure helped me drive and rest when it best suited me over the course of a day. If driver pay is now such that strict adherence to HOS ruled makes a living, then I’d say the profession has advanced in a good way.

 

From my (total outsider) perspective, the rules are a definite challenge and a big reason for my interest in getting my license. When hauling horses (PNW to So Cal) the sooner they reach the barn the better. So we’re not at all at risk on sleep deprivation or weekly hours as it’s just a 24h haul but without two licenses we would have to stop and wait for hours with the horses stuck in small stalls and unable to move much, also potentially hot.

I’m still working on figuring out a plan. I’m in an odd spot.

One bummer with just having my permit only and no license is I can’t help with the hours problem. But I can at least legally give time off from the wheel which has some value.

 

I just do the not so glamorous job of trash truck driver. No roll-off yet, but i do ASL . Arm comes out and grabs toters with fingers and brings it in and dump into hopper . Blade compacts it. Joy stick operation. Rear loaders for bulk pickup as well.

 

Most under appreciated job there is. Until no one picks up your trash. The company I work for shares a road with the local trash pick up company. We also use the big roll out trash bins and the drivers have to manipulate their trucks through the neighborhood and cars to pick up our trash with the mechanical arm. I see the drivers and their trucks every day as the fleet leaves and returns at the end of the day. So I truly appreciate what you guys do.

 

When I returned a few years ago from my extended vacation from society my CDL was suspended for child support. I dealt with all the legal stuff from inside but I still got hit with the reinstatement fees... a whooping 350 dollars. I applied for a trash company here and slung trash from the back until I got a few paychecks to get it back ( had to get $100 DOT physical too)

So I understand the struggle.

I didn't stay long there... internal politics was unbearable. Got a dump truck job for a month ( worse there) then spent the next 3 years doing rolloff.

 

I live for that shit!
Worse the weather, happier I am

 

Fun when you're NOT driving a tractor trailer.

 

I admit it's scary and not exactly safe but it keeps my adrenaline going!

I'm an adrenaline junky.... I have issues

 

So I actually have a question...

Has anyone ever unloaded a flatbed in a tropical storm?

Mind you it's a 730am delivery of insulation at a job site.

 

Worse I ever had to deal with unloading during a named storm... was when Hurricane Irene beat up the east coast. Hauled water from Maine to literally an empty parking lot in Virginia Beach. I had to help unload by hand while the outer bands were beating down ( we had the human chain thing going... I was outside the trailer.) Then...... I had to drive back north... through the outer bands... back to Maine... to get another load to take to NJ. Driving through New England after it hit... it was an adventure to say the least. At least the NJ stop was a place with a loading dock.

 

That's awesome, always great when people get together and help out.
How it should always be, I always try to do my part and help when I can