Profile For Davy A.

Ive put some thought into building an app (or having one built) that is compiled from truckers that has a rating system, sat photos, lot directions, and parking. Ive got a name picked out and have worked out some concepts on it. I havent put much into it though, because most of the time lately, as Ive been gaining experience, its become less important to me. I usually check google maps, street view and reviews if I dont know the place or am nervous about it. Especially small outfits, they tend to be pretty weird to get in and out of.

I don't have experience with the other companies, but I think as OS said, it's what we make of them. That being said, I've had a great experience with Knight. I've detailed a lot of it here Knight training and squire school. which is from the first day of school through my last load under 30k solo trading miles. Pay is good, the people have been great to work with and very flexible. Great equipment (my truck is a 2020 Kenworth T680) and overall not having a corporate vibe if that makes sense.

Notwithstanding, I'm sure whichever company you go with will be a win.

Congrats! Looking forward to reading your diary. Knight has been a wonderful journey in my experience. Hopefully it is for you too.

My DM totally appreciated the position I took. We talked about it. They definitely don't want us running when we're not comfortable. And they really do seem to care about safety first.

I log 15 minutes on duty for my pre trip at the beginning of each shift, after I've done it.

Some times if I start out bobtailing, Ill do 8 minutes for the tractor and then when I pick up the trailer, I'll do 7 minutes for that. But usually I just pretrip in the am and then log it.

Interesting about below 45. I never thought about that. Good rule of thumb. We don't run if chains are required. At least generally. It's my first winter driving and I do keep with my mindset of building a career slowly and safely right from the start.

You mentioned Knight. They do a lot on a case by case basis, Depends on what the safety Dept decides, while at the same time, Each terminal has some say in decisions as well. I definitely would not classify them as a second chance company, if there is such a thing, but Ive had folks there really go to bat for me when I was trying to get hired on. It took some persistence and diligence on my part as well as cleaning up my tickets, but they were finally able to hire me, when several others would not. Might be worth a try there.

My DM told me he has a load for me going to Glenwood Springs CO, just from our yard in Aurora CO, They havent dispatched me yet on it. I told him Id keep an eye on the weather and road conditions over the pass and let him know. He said, likewise, he would keep an eye for the trailer getting in into the yard as it was coming from Cheyenne.

Ive driven 70 in the mountains a lot, in very unroadworthy vehicles, but never in a big truck yet. I taught skiing at winter park, and lived up in Frasier CO, so not a stranger to the road conditions and weather up there. I checked the road conditions and weather, road cameras up there all morning. Its borderline. Mostly wet, some snow and ice in places. Ive seen much worse, and see a lot of trucks running there. Not withstanding, I messaged my DM that I have some concerns about road conditions in a few areas and sent him screenshots of the CDOT road cameras. I also noted a long line of trucks at the chain up area, pulled off. Part of my concerns is the temp will only reach 33 today, leaving a wet roadway to refreeze in the evening and night.

I understand that Im the captain of my ship, and if I dont feel safe, dont run. But it feels borderline, and I feel like Im being a slacker by not calling and telling him I want to run that load. Is that normal to feel like that? This is the first time that Ive felt it may be questionable to run. Im having a hard time shaking my mindset from years of working construction: You get your a$$ to work no matter what the weather is.

Im bald as a cueball, shaved head. Knight took a few from my forearm. You will be fine.

Not true to discourage you from getting a CDL, but what is the combined gvw of the truck towing the excavator. And is it airbrakes on the truck?

I was a general contractor for years, drove a ton of dump trucks under 26k, towed excavators (smaller ones) and ran them, never required a CDL.

It should work for 5-8 and bellow. Pretty sure Volvo engineers everything for people under 5'9. If you are 6 feet or taller you will hit your head on everything in the cabin twice over.

I thought it was just my truck, but been in few different trucks now while waiting for the sensor.

On right handed curves and turns, it feels like there's a ton of body roll to the left, outside of the turn. Like if you have ever raced cars or even taken hard turns, the car will lean to the outside of the turn.

I usually take turns 5 to 10 under, I'm pretty slow and conservative, and I'm assuming it's just the way it feels because the cab is mounted on air bags and shocks. But it feels like I'm going to roll the truck. I know I'm not, but it's unnerving and I'm really used to a different feeling in turns from racing and from bike.

Is this normal and do you eventually just get used to it?

To this day I still duck walk under each trailer and visually make sure the kingpin is locked and check my kingpin pull handle everytime I come back to my truck if I was out of eyesight.

+1

Same here, every time. Not going to risk it

My companies policy is for no firearms on board.

AFAIK, all big and medium carriers have no firearms policies. At the same time I have never heard or read about any enforcement of these policies and drivers being searched or even fired. But I tried to say that companies are only minor parts of this big anti-gun equasion. Any business has the right to ban firearms on its premises, and I see a lot of such signs at big DCs and small warehouses. Then, of course, there are officers who may want to enforce state and city laws. In my understanding, companies are the smallest threat. Let's hope that a federal reciprocity bill will pass one day, it will solve all the problems.

Hopefully so. I don't know that knight would or not, but I don't want to test it at this point. The laws very state by state, it's up to the permit holder to make themselves knowledgeable about them where they travel to. I don't worry about being searched, it's perfectly legal to concealed carry in states that have recip. As a matter of courtesy and safety for both LEOs and myself, when I'm carrying, I let them know, hand them my permit with my license and let them know the location of the sidearm.

I've never had a problem, most have thanked me for taking on the responsibility and training. I'll usually offer for them to take custody of it during the stop if it would make them feel better. Never had one take up the offer. Most just ask what I'm carrying and we end up talking about guns and ammo

be able to concealed carry

How is it related to the company? Jersey cops don't care what this or that carrier allows :-)

I dont haul in Jersey, nor NY, nor do I ever plan to until NY some how ceases being a communist haven. (I dont like CA for the same reason) But it has nothing to do with which states I can concealed carry in legally. My companies policy is for no firearms on board. If I violate that policy, I risk termination and a black mark on my employment record. Im well versed in which states have reciprocity with my CCW permit issuing state, which I can open carry and car carry in. Those that dont allow it, I would stow the weapon and ammo as outlined in their requirements. If I leave Knight, their weapons policy would play a significant part in the decision. Thus I was stating that while Knight has given hints that they will work around the unconstitutional and immoral mandate, they clearly have shown they will toe the woke liberal mindset on issues as well.

I'm not a truck driver yet, and I'm kind of intimidated by the google image view. How can you tell where the docks are from that?

There was only two places On the building that have a large driveway. The side there and the end on the other street. Then I use the street view function to verify. I also read the reviews. Lastly I called the receiver and confirmed the location of the docks and their procedure, asked what most drivers typically do.

Most of the places I go to are very similar in concept. This was my first experience with this type of dock so I did all the recon I could on it. And I'm really slow and methodical about backing, but as Daniel said, have to be quick and take it. In this case, I felt it in was safer to get out of traffic as quickly as possible while still being safe. I don't want an incident on my record.

No. Knight has shown that they don't seem on board with it, the logistics of trying to test drivers and or jab them would be insane anyway. But if the nonsense mandate makes through court intact, and they tried to enforce it, I'll switch to lease op or switch companies. The only reason I'd consider lease op is that I really like working at knight and I'd still get to keep working with the staff I do currently, yet be able to concealed carry and not have to get jabbed or tested.

I remember the last time you posted a "tough back". You survived.

Lol. I did on this one too.

I got it done. Blindsided it from the road, 1rst setup was too short, quickly pulled out of it and went forward some. Didn't have enough room to get it to pivot without really cranking the tractor counter. Used both lanes, the brick median and a bit of the other lane too. Got it in, two pull ups or so. No GOALS, just swung it til I could see the trailer out my passenger window and used my gut feelings for where it was.

Pulled into the hole, all good....and then realized I never opened my doors

From what I can see, and reviews, blind side 90 off n port Washington Rd. Covered docks. Almost looks like I may be able to dip in and horse shoe blind to straight or even sight angled if it's one of the docks close to the building. (I'll see when I get there).

For now my plan is to take the bus stop, check in at my appointment time, then pull in to their driveway that runs parallel. Do a blind side 90 to the entrance of my dock, then straighten as needed.

Worse case scenario, blind side 90 off the street into the far dock against the wall if they give me it.

They won't assist for traffic and won't spot as far as I've been told.

I'm comfortable doing a 90 even with little room out front. Cautious on the blind side. Also in a very worn out and sloppy international loaner truck.

Javic wholesale. The docks are in the middle of the building. The two on Glendale Ave are not the ones we use, so I've been told.

I keep copies of our bol, my delivery receipt, and trip sheets, all in chronological order, stored in a notebook. The delivery sheet has all the load info and if we end up doing a t-call, we need to leave it and the bol in the trailer clip board. I use the cat scale app on my phone and I just write down the weights on the delivery receipt if I'm dropping it for t call. Everything else is on my phone and laptop.