Profile For John M.

Big milestone that most don’t see. Congrats!

I just wanted to share a story that just hit the local news waves regarding a positive meth test. At the local horse track, a Horse tests positive for METH. The gaming commission did an investigation and came to the conclusion that due to the handler (before and after race) testing positive for meth it's safe to say there was residue on their hand that unintentionally transferred to the horses mouth causing the positive result.

I guess my point is it is possible that secondhand exposure did result in your positive test. I am sorry for being skeptical of your story if what you posted is indeed the truth. However, with the safety sensitive nature in this industry there is absolutely no place for drugs. In all my years on this forum we've heard many far fetched excuses of test results.

I hope things are working out well for you kal-el

So I’m just seeing this thread and the first thought that came to mind for how would be possible if she regularly had it on her hands and then went to preparing food? Don’t know if that’s been mentioned I skipped around a bit. But of the posts I’ve read of op I have to say they ring true to me. Don’t blame anyone for being skeptical either though.

How much of a safety factor is designed into fuel level gauges? This morning I pulled into the truck stop with my gauge just hitting the beginning of the red zone. In theory, that would put me at 1/8 of full. I’ve got a 200 gal capacity, but it only took 125 gals to fill the tanks. So, at 1/8 full I still had approximately 75 gallons left. But at 1/8 full, that’s technically only 25 gallons. My question is this: is that because the manufacturer builds in a safety margin? I have a Frightliner, is this the same for other manufacturers? Just curious. I get real nervous when the needle hits that red zone.

I’m in a Freightliner too and had to roll 55 miles on red before and could only put 142 gallons on when I got there. I was sweating bullets but fuel and routing assured me I had enough so I assume they know the gauge isn’t very accurate.

I have to ask, did this load pickup out of Inwood WV by any chance? Btw I’ve not weighed loads that weighed more than that, put they were usually pulling very smoothly. Whoever loaded that trailer didnt know what they were doing.

I decided to part ways with Cowan after only 9 months. There are many reasons. The biggest ones have to do with not getting home on a consistent basis and not for as much time as I was told I'd be home. "2 days home during the week" was more often only one day and a "full 48 hours every weekend" turned out to be more like 40 hours. The pay was great! The personnel were pleasant. If I didn't have other options I would have stuck it out with Cowan. There are worse jobs in this industry I'm sure.

I just ran my first load with Barr-Nunn. They are a smallish company based in Granger, IA, operating around 500+ tractors, mainly in the Eastern part of the country. They operate autonomously under the Swift/Knight umbrella of trucking companies.

What I find most interesting is the way they pay some of their drivers. In my area-and for the region I work in (Northeast)-they offer Shift+Load pay. Meaning, I get a flat rate of $260 for each day I'm on duty, plus $90 for every load I deliver. Yesterday I drove a total of a little over 260 miles for one load. Today I'm looking at around 350 miles for the load I'm currently planned on.

When driving OTR it's all about getting more miles...longer loads. Now I'm hoping for short loads. The miles don't matter.

I'm running Northeast regional with weekends at home. Barr-Nunn also offers local routes, home daily with weekends off. That pays $200 per shift plus $90 per load. They also have OTR positions. Not sure what the CPM is for that. I'm not trying recruit here. Just providing info in case people want to explore different options.

I’ve always been intriqued by their pay scale and bonuses, unfortunately I’m out of their hiring area and don’t really want to do the jet set thing they have. Too bad they don’t run in the south, I’ve always heard good things about them. Let us know if there’s any catches you find on that gravy train, gl and safe travels.

I’ve never done hiring for a carrier but I would think the older you are getting started the better. The farther you’ve made it in life the more you’ve proven yourself to be generally responsible. Lot’s of drivers have started in their 60’s. I started again at 41 just down the road from you btw, went to Bishop State in Mobile. Give em a look if you decide to pull the trigger.

COL in PA is higher, a lot higher. Hence the diff in pay.

It's gotten a lot higher with people flooding in from NY/NJ.

I’d guess that it pays better up there right now because it’s a little more seasonal due to the winters. I just ran across Hwy 22 in PA the other day and that road looked like a dump truck mecca but I doubt It looks like that in the winter, pretty hilly around there.

22 is an alternate route to the turnpike, to a degree. With the tolls increasing, and depending on if you're running placarded hazmat 22 is the best option.

That would make sense. I knew there was an inordinate amount of them for some reason.

Guess I should have read all the replies first. Ty Dennis.

What is a capybara?

Not sure how to post pictures but google it and supposedly they’re the world’s largest rodent. Not native to North America. Was instantly recognizable due to shape of head and overall size.

I’d guess that it pays better up there right now because it’s a little more seasonal due to the winters. I just ran across Hwy 22 in PA the other day and that road looked like a dump truck mecca but I doubt It looks like that in the winter, pretty hilly around there.