Profile For Drew D.

You know whats funny? I heard someone on Road Dog radio say something similar the other day. We should all become lawyers against the tech companies. Start sending those nuclear verdicts there way for a change eh? Replace all those big rig accident billboards with AI accident billboards. Not so fun when the rabbit has the ****in' gun huh? 🤣

I'll go back to my previous statement when this conversation came up a while back.

I'm going to quickly pursue my law degree so that when the system fails and it kills an unsuspecting motorist, I'll represent the family. I'll sue the tech company, the logistics company utilizing the truck, the truck manufacturer for allowing dangerous utilization of their vehicle, the state for allowing it on their roads and file against the federal government for causing a fatal accident with a product that didn't have human redundancies in place for when it failed.

I figure it'll take a while to get the entire settlement but I'll retire and bring you all with me.

Even in the 3 years I've been in this game, I've noticed a significant decline in domestic drivers. Fortunately, here in Idaho, driver demand is through the roof and my company [Leonard's] is doing great [as far as I can tell]. Freight has been killer almost no downtime. I hope this new English proficiency order helps alittle bit. Also, as someone mentioned above, hope I get my inspection this week. My company kicks $200 per clean inspection of any kind and I'm ready for it. :)

I wouldn't give up but definitely be honest about where you feel you are at. I was fortunate enough to have a killer 6 week training on a 13 speed w/ Doug Andrus Distributing and I also paid for my own CDL training. Don't be afraid of getting additional training. There are companies out there that do 1-2 week sink or swim style training. In my opinion, the six weeks I spent with my trainer was invaluable and I made a friend for life who continues to mentor me even today despite me no longer even working for that company anymore. You will be fine. Take a deep breath, accept that you are new, and learn. That is literally all you can do. The docking will come in time. Best advice I can give you is don't feel rushed or pressured to rush in any situation. Be it backing, driving, or otherwise. Get out and look constantly and never become complacent.

I was thinking about adding a CB to my new truck [didn't come stock] my carrier shop offered to install it all for me. I got frustrated the last year in my previous truck [which had a CB] from all the morons running Ham radio from their base stations states away pushing skip all over 19. I almost never got a driver that had ears on. That said, a CB literally saved me from a pileup in Wyoming back in '22 so I'm a beliver in them. Just wish more people used them

I don't stress about it. I've only been in this racket for 3ish years now, and while I had some initial trouble finding my footing, I'm happily working Northwest Regional with Leonard's Express pulling reefer to and from dedicated accounts. Sure, there are people working tirelessly to remove drivers from the equation and put millions out of a job, but the harsh reality is that, even McDonalds still needs humans behind the counter in addition to the self service ordering terminals. I feel like if burger flippers haven't been replaced yet, we still have a long way. Also, the huge overhaul that would be necessary from a logistical, operational, and legislative aspect from various sectors would be so extensive and slow to put this in place for mass deployment that it doesn't even seem tangible in the even distant future.

However, if my boss rolled up to me and said the gig is up, the gig is up. I enjoy trucking but I'm also not afraid to reinvent myself again if the industry suddenly collapses. All that being said, the illegals on work visas and various non-english speaking immigrants that treat this line of work like a ****ing well [literally and figuratively] and continue to degrade the reputation of otherwise prideful hardworking drivers [because we all get lumped in with the lowest common denominator unfortunately], are going to cause the industry to implode long before AI trucks do. I feel horrible for the owner/ops or small family carriers that can't manage with the fly-by-night rates that these rogue drivers driving rates into the toilet.

They actually DID get a dolly for doubles. I'm honestly kind of over it. If I have to pull doubles in unsafe conditions, I'll just stop. What can they do? Its my CDL and my decision to not risk a potentially fatal accident. If they want to pull them empty on ice, they can unglue their muckity muck asses from the computer chair and do it.

Ill just use this as an opportunity to learn something new and get some additional sweat equity on my CDL record.

I don't see the issue with requiring a doubles/triples endorsement.

It's just a quick computer test. Have you actually seen your company with the equipment needed to build a set? It may be entirely a checklist item, that they want to use in their negotiating position.

For instance:

"90 percent of our fleet have TWIC and Passports".

The hidden meaning? Our drivers can pass the homeland security background check for TWIC and can legally leave the country. But saying "none of our drivers are criminals" would be frowned upon and hurt someone's feelings

Find a good chiropractor that does DOT screenings. They are usually cheaper and don't try to find any excuse to hit you with a short card [3 months]. Also, you sleep like a puppy when they ask you, you DO NOT snore, and despite being in your 30s, you feel like you are 18. Do not volunteer ANY information to them that they do not have to know. Obviously be honest, but this isn't a routine visit to get a complimentary lollipop from your buddy Dr. Kevorkian.

While chiropractors are less likely to do it, many of these urgent care doctors will force you to do sleep studies and other things that cost a boatload of time and money to deal with. I just told a story in another post about how a quack nurse made a mistake and has me in a holding pattern with my DOT card despite both my doctor AND the doctor at primary health giving me the all clear.

Also, keep in mind that depending on who you eventually hire on with, they may require you to take a new DOT physical [they usually pay for it] if their company policy demands it.

As far as the medical card goes, Ruan's compliance department is just doing what any major corporate entity does best: unnecessarily complicate a cup of coffee.

I'll give a brief run down because its been quite a story.

Got hired in and sent for routine physical at the urgent care clinic the company uses. Exam goes well but they detected trace protein in my urine sample. [I've been doing hardcore keto/carnivore for a couple months to lose weight so it didn't really surprise me or my personal doctor]. Anyhow, they issue me a 3 month card and tell me to see my GP.

Fast forward a month or so as his appointments are booked and I waited for my medical to kick in. I goto my doctor and he immediately says that they [the urgent care nurse practitioner] is crazy. Tested my levels, everything is fine. Mind you this little trip cost me about $400 between losing a day of work and cutting into my overtime for the week.

I call primary health to let them know that I followed their instructions and received the all clear from my personal doctor. The actual doctor who answered then looked at my original test and literally told me over the phone that the levels of protein detected at my first visit were within normal levels and I never should have been hit with a 3 month card. He asked me to come in and he would issue me my one year [I have controlled high BP] and all would be well. I do exactly that. Sat and waited for about two hours, but I got the card.

I submit my new card to my terminal manager and all is good right? Wrong! Ruan's compliance department sends me an email and told me that, even though I followed the directions of the doctors THEY sent me out to, I would have to complete ANOTHER exam despite having a fresh one year card because their 3rd party company has to screen it out or something. I know this comes off as a first world problem, but the original nurse's mistake has literally cost me way too much personal time and money. My annoyance is more about the principle and redundancy than anything else.

Drew says:

However, their compliance department is giving me all sorts of grief with my DOT medical card which is an entirely different topic.

What seems to be the problem with your medical card? Usually your medical is ok or it isn't. Can you put more light in this?

Good to know about driving in weather. The main concern I had was driving empty 400 miles in it. My manager is a good guy but way out of his depth when it comes to running what is essentially a beverage operation.

I do plan on sticking around. However, their compliance department is giving me all sorts of grief with my DOT medical card which is an entirely different topic.

I was just a bit caught off guard when it came down the pipe that we would now be pulling doubles and having it be mandatory with no additional pay.

A couple of thoughts;

I once read on this site, "If you don't like a policy your company implements, stick around around awhile. They usually change it back anyway."

Will you absolutely be pulling doubles or does management just want all drivers to get the endorsement?

I pull double tanks daily and it isn't much more terrifying on ice or snow than a single trailer would be. The trip to DMV is way more of a hassle than the job itself.

Heyo, been awhile.

Got something to throw past you guys.

I am currently working for Ruan out of Idaho and are contracted to run all of the state's liqour to various stores and contract stores all over Idaho. Its been an absolute blast and I am actually really enjoying the solid mix of driving, delivering, and building relationships with my various customers. After my foot surgery, I went back OTR for a bit because I didn't want to risk excessive wear on my freshly healed foot, but after gaining weight, I decided it would be better to get back to some physical activity with work. Plus, my buddy who did local beer delivery with me at Molson Coors out of Boise is an assistant manager and really prodded at me for months to join up.

Anyhow, this comes with a fair share of downsides that I assume come with working for any higher profile company. Up until now, I have mostly worked for smaller operations. With the larger scale company comes your corporate trained managers that have little to no knowledge when it comes to what really goes into trucking and what things are like in the trenches. Yes, I know that tale is as old as time. That said, we were just told today that everyone in the fleet is now suddenly required to have double/triples endorsements in order to continue working for the company. Our operation only makes $26 an hour plus per diem for layovers at hotels with some decent overtime. When asked about having our pay raised as a result of pulling additional trailers at much higher risk, the response was "no raise but you get to keep your job" which naturally put a bad taste in my mouth.

I really do genuinely enjoy the work that I do, but is it worth pulling doubles for no additional pay? These guys also have a clear lack of understanding when it comes to winter conditions. I am particularly cautious on snow and ice as I am a native Floridian. And while I have yet to be involved in any sort of collision in my person or commercial vehicle, I don't particularly want to start now. The 95 that runs from i84 from just east of Ontario to Coer D'Alene [the main road we will be driving] isn't particularly known for its good weather either.

Anyhow, what are your thoughts? Should I give an ultimatum? Or just deal with it? I cannot express in words how detached from reality this guy is when it comes to our world of driving.