Profile For Art M.

I don't want to be owner operator unless I learn everything about the system. After 2-3 years I may consider to being owner operator.

Best Regards

Bora

You learn, when you do. You do, while you learn. If you are going to agree making money for what and when you will have to sacrifice your 2 3 4 weeks away from... you should be single, care less, and homeless.

Hello. I am new here and seriously looking into at getting into trucking. I am a medically retired police officer after 16 years of service. The injury was back related and I have permanent work restrictions. These restrictions are no repetitive bending or stooping and no lifting, pushing or pulling over 25pounds. I am well aware that many places require drivers to load/unload their trailers while others have "no touch freight."

The question is, based upon my restrictions, am I un-employable as a noob? Thank you for your responses. Don't worry, you can burst my bubble. I need reality, not cherry in the sky. I really want to drive but if I am wasting my time and resources (CDL school), I'll kill my dream now. Thank you again.

Oh, dear. Sorry to hear about your injury.. That is.. but livable, if you are willing to adapt and sustain, no sugar will help. Here my thoughts, what you are asking about.. If, or when you get your CDL, do not ever worry about "unloading", reefer or dry box will be your choice only.. check in, back in, wait, phone call, check out, done. Do not get into Volvo, your back will scream at you' no recline.. To "sweep".. get yourself a nice battery powered blower, no sweeping required. I use Makita highest blow model, takes 3 minutes to "sweep". And no, you are not a "noob", you have driven most of your life, it is just a beefier and longer thing to watch behind yourself, widest angle possible to turn. Wish you luck. When you learn to "back up", watch your trailer tire trajectory, not a trailer itself. If any concerns or questions, I stop by sometimes.

What is the rear view mirror in THE truck? Just curious

Have no clue what is going on here, medical card, once i am passing it goes to the DOL, electronically, everything else is void

The freight shaker I was in had a phenomenally horrible ride, but it handled far superior to the other trucks I was in. It was very confidence inspiring where others felt too soft and wallowed to the outside of turns in comparison. Perhaps the harsh ride was the price of planted suspension. Cabinet layouts that give space sacrifice storage space, etc.

Davy, looks like you are a soft and easy going person. The question I have.. what would you prefer, soft and wobbly ride, or control? Second question, did you ride a Volvo, that junk, that friends of son's of mine on 2019 already replaced all injectors? I drive ONLY FRLTR since 2000, why, I drove one for 15 years, easy going, 70k a year, then took a break 5 yrs, doing my thing.. now from 2020 when Corona hit, I had no choice, paid 8 grand for a FRLR Century, fixes and updates on the way.. breaks, AC, tires.., but had no other issues ever. Yes it is "ugly", yes it is not pulling "well", BUT.. I am making same as the new anything. I am sitting home and enjoying my kids and family more, than "anything", in 9 month since New Year I've being home 4.5 month, everything else, I can deal with:)

Nobody was born a Super Trucker

I'm sorry to entertain, even though I am a Super Trucker, born, marked and baptized... I still take it easy;).. Because it is what SuperTruckers do)

Ppl forget, it is a job, not a rush to a BBQ party, main thing is to deliver a load in one package, that was put on your trailer.

Even after such a long time from 2000 I still have nerves tied up when backing in into tight spaces) GOAL is a useful thing, even I "think" I'm fine, I use get out and look. And yes, if you are not able to get in on first 3 tries, don't. Go else where..

What about fumes?

What fumes? Ppl are cooking around the world on gas stoves, inside. Just crack windows open, it is a loooot less than any closed space heater)

I'll be living on the truck other than occasionally crashing at friends places and motels while I save up to buy a place. How did you establish residency in one of those states and what service did you use?

Missing lot of info.. What lines are you going to run? Where your friends live? What are your plans for future residency? Etc.. Meanwhile, you can sell off all of your "stuff" from the place you reside now, "move" in to one of your friends, who lives in the area of your future desirable residence, just to have your mail and license registered to, rest of it is technical. WA and NV are expensive, like really. If you don't mind winds and freeze during winter, may as well consider Matt's advise. Otherwise wish you make your mind up without rush and with lots of option considerations.

I was wondering how many of you OTR do your own food preparation? What items do you consider as essential to the task?

It depends what you like. My truck has not much space, so me has just a gas burner, 3Ltr wide nonstick pot, use it to fry meat, eggy meals, boil soups, or make salad in it. Trying to stay away from processed foods amaic. Have fridge in the truck, packing when I can at any accessible Walmart or such. As far as "washing" my two plates, pot and cutting board, just like others have mentioned.. basic hand paper towels clean everything no worse than running water. Works like this)..

I'd strongly recommend to look into Walmart, as they have top pay, wide parking areas and accessible docks to back in at DCs and stores, and the main plus, there is no need for the big fridge, as at every store delivery there is always an option to go in and buy fresh food.

You can look at this page at average pay by company to work for, may help with making your mind up.

Easiest way to learn to back up, in, out.. is to get to understand, that my steering tires when I am moving forward do relocate to the rear of my trailer when I start to back it up. I steer my trailer tires and watch trajectory where they move.

Pianoman, watch Dr. Sten Ekberg on Tube, might help with your disease a lot. As far as fb loads, they are easy, if you take it easy. I've had tarps 50lb each, helped a lot with keeping my back, it is very dangerous to jump from the 2-3 days of sitting in the cab and grabbing those to carry around without "prep" exercise, Never rush yourself, look 5 times before making a move when securing a load. With your condition avoid long term physical overload.

Robert, I've driven enough of Volvo trucks to know what they are. You are right about the power, the Jake break is phenomenal, quiet during wind, looks good too, but that's about it for me. I'd gladly "sacrifice" a bit of power and looks for better handling on highway, they are swimming, shaky steering wheel on every little bump, gas pedal requires foot twist work, cuz it sits up high, back pain from the sit, cuz it requires driver to be positioned in L shape all the time, no recline, do not like the idea of sleeping on top, bottom bed has thin foam pads, which is a no no for a good rest, and most irritating is a low frequency engine sound with crazy vibration on hills, when RPM go down to 1k before shifting down. Otherwise, yes, they are nice.. my son just recently spent almost 10k to replace just a clutch on I-Shift.

If I am a driver, I don't have a choice and don't even care what to drive. Whatever company has and gives to me to make money on, I'd drive. If I am an OO, different story. I'd get something, that is not prone to break a lot and fix expensive if it does. Staying away from Volvo as far as I can.

what a nice truck is this Volvo!

If you are a driver, why would you care for scary stories about the Volvo maintenance and repairs? You like the space, you like the drive, enjoy.