Location:
Tampa, FL
Driving Status:
Experienced Driver
Social Link:
I mean what is there to say about myself? I was born in Tampa, FL raised in Ocala spent summers in Tennessee. I made the biggest mistake of my life prior to turning 18. I shouldn't of listened to my grandpa and his Vietnam stories. Went to MCRD Paris as a poolee or in the D.E.P program. my 18th was a couple weeks after graduation. did the rest of the training deployed to helmond prov got a medical discharge got some pretty ribbons a pat on the back and a big kick in the ass telling me to get the hell out. couple months later turned 21 and I was at CRST's training school. been driving since June of 2012 lasted something like 10 weeks before I told my DM to either give me a dm who wasn't a complete waste of space or I quit. My trainer there left the same day. he told me about Melton I called and the same day I had a bus ticket.
My name is Larry I am 23 years old. And I like long stretches of highway and that rare moment when you're the only one driving that road. Don't have to deal the bull that four wheelers do or the trolls on the CB trying to stir the pot. I was trained at CRST by a 20 year trucking vet. Taught me the way it use to be. At Melton they stuck me with a....squid,,,Retired Navy, Sticking a grunt with a squid what were they thinking. he was a Blue Knight, he was old school. First thing he made loud and clear was if you see a driver struggling. Doesn't matter what their pulling what company it is. You get out and go volunteer to help them. Be respectful and polite and even when some guys brothers best friends girlfriends dad was a Flatbed operator for 55 years. Don't be rude and just swallow it and be polite. We are all out here trying to make a living and get back home safe. So as apart of the new generation of truck drivers, I am trying to do my part to prove that not every new generation truck driver is a seat warming steering wheel holder. Its a long road paved with stereotypical judgments passed on because they are of a younger age. With no insights of the drivers back ground. I hardly speak to drivers outside of flatbedding. the rivalry is complete crap I've had a Systems guy help me tarp in the rain and in return I helped him. Melton Truck Lines and Systems are a big rival, Especially at EMJ. I mean talking to a driver that thinks wearing your clothes baggy and talking like some kind of gangster makes you tough. I want no part of it. If you were truly a as they say "hard" man you would of enlisted and shed blood with us over seas. No I wasn't a pog or a base humper. 0311 mostly providing "security" for the construction of fobs. So the drivers that like to promote a negative and nasty life style of a driver. Keep moving cause believe me, It has to stop. and sprouting it to me isn't wise
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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DOT Drug Testing: Urinalysis or Hair Follicle?
I also keep my hair USMC issue and man scape. when I took a hair follicle test. they shaved half my leg hair. doesn't need to be 1.5 inches they just need to beable to take enough
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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Two schools & my dog wants to ride along
Lol, I've actually turned down a lot of companys cause i couldn't bring my dog haha. depending on what you wanna do i know Melton takes new drivers and are awesome about pets. $750 deposit but you get it back after you leave if the dog doesn't chew stuff. Going to a new company to advance my Flatbed career. I got a offer from Lone Star but turned it down, no pet policy. and this new career is a rival of them. flatbed/specialized and heavy haul and allow me to bring my dog :D lol
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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Ah GuyX, gotta love the time on the bennies. You old school drivers are a breed of truckers all on there own. You people are fearless. much respect. Although I do not approve of the drug use and excessive speeds I do wish the age where truckers had a brotherhood and followed a strict code of respect was still around but I guess it is long gone. I just wish the new generation of drivers wasn't in it for themselves.
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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Hey Ray bro congrats man. Nice to see you moving so quick but I expect nothing less from a FMF. You better knock out all those test first go around you Grunt.
on a side note keep in touch when your OTR and enjoy it to the fullest bud. you're going to love it out there
Glad to see that despite all the bad truck drivers we get in this industry every day I am going to put my name and reputation on the line and say Welcome I know you are going to be one of the greats and help restore truckers honor everywhere and hold yourself to the utmost respect. Good job brother
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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Going by the rpm's...tsb said I was doin' about 120, when he caught me passin' a big ol'e line of trucks...I'd been goin' down the highway mindin' my own business...when this line of trucks roared by me...the leader got on the cb...and told me" Just stay right there on that porch, Puppy"....well hell...you don't say that kinda thing to a redhead, O/O...drivin' a starship with a kitty under the hood....I swung out in the hammer lane, and mashed the pedal....passed 'em all...and was pullin' in front of that lead truck when TSB came out of the sleeper....I don't think he'd been asleep....he asked me how fast I thought I was goin'...I looked at the speedo, and told him "80, or so"...he said, "you buried that needle a long time ago, by the rpms, you are doin' atleast 120".....I got on the cb and told those hard liners that this puppy was gettin' back on the porch....scared myself spitless....
Oh...and I had a big black hog commit "suicide by Starship" in KY...what a mess that made of our truck !!!
During my training at CRST Van I was with a O/O 13 speed Columbia in Arizona we hear on the CB alright CRST stay in the right lane were comin through. my trainer said floor it.. I got up to 98mph and the line of live stalk pullers BLEW my doors off and I backed it off GPS said 98mps and my pants said change me. You people that hit the triple digits need to see a doctor and your heads examined lol. and I laughed at the Hog committing suicide.
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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Non-CDL straight truck without sleeper
You know Eddie, I'm not sure what got you interested in this type of work, but this current trend of TV reality shows (which are anything, but reality - that is the most stupid name for those shows) seem to have a bunch of people thinking that if they just get a truck they can jump in here in the real world of shipping wars and start making a fortune. I hope you can do well at this new venture, but if you would have come to us a lot sooner we could have pointed you in the right direction. Like I said, I sincerely hope you can make a go of it, but my 30 years of business background tell me you have got some serious troubles coming your way.
I recommend you sell that straight truck, attend one of many private Truck Driving Schools, or go through a Company-Sponsored Training program, and work OTR for at least a few years learning the ropes before you jump in there and start utilizing your own authority. You will have a much better chance at success if you'll follow that path, and I want you to be successful at this.
Maybe you have experience that you didn't mention, but I'm basing my comments on what you posted, and just reading between the lines, I'm thinking you may not have a clue about what you're jumping into.
Well put.
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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Unfortunately, the drivers code has gone out the window. The idiots that get impatient and act that stupid while in a CMV are just a matter of time till they lose there card. All this industry is, is a GIANT hurry up and wait type of thing. Without patients we'd go insane in all the traffic. Stay strong and ignore idiots.
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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Becareful with your terminology :(
Hey, it's the X endorsement for combination tanks hauling hazardous material. Also, you know the hazmat endorsement you have to go through the screening process by the TSA and finger printed and pay like $130 right?
Hopefully you knew, would suck to find out the hard way
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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Rick, I love backing my rig, in fact I will go in truck stops and just practice it at different angles for the experience and exposure to all the little nuances of it. But I've got to tell you, since you are just starting out, it's a whole new game out there in the field when people are honking at you and flipping you the bird because you are holding them up, or when the super truckers are critiquing your every move at the truck stop on the radio for everyone to hear.
You will find yourself in situations so tight that you'll be sweating bullets trying to get your truck in the available hole. Backing is one of those things that it takes some folks longer to get the hang of than others, but it doesn't make them any less proficient at it than their peers after some time has gone by.
When it comes to backing it's best to always stay humble, because the trucking gods have a way of stripping us of our pride just when we are starting to get confident that we've got the hang of this stuff.
Don't you love when a van driver with the tandems together starts mocking you on the CB about why don't you cut it sharper. And you're pulling 10'2 splits. I love it.
On the other note. This is how I back. I stop at the spot I want to back into. I visually inspected it over about 10 seconds. Make sure there is enough room first. Now are there any objects that may put a hole in my tire. then I visualize my setup. I mentally set marker points in my route and use them as a guide line on when to turn which way.
Also I drive a flatbed 10'2 split. So my way may not work for other tandem setups. maybe it's just a one man worker kinda of thing. That's just how I do it. and trust me. There WILL be days when you are a one shot wonder. and then you're so mentally exhausted that you can back up a four wheeler into a football field sized hole. Be patient, don't get frustrated or angry. stay calm and focused, Turn off your CB. set goals and over come them. It doesn't matter if it takes you 10 seconds or 10 minutes. If you got into that hole without hitting anything or losing your cool. You win. Let the CB God fresh out of CDL school try and be super trucker. remember, they don't last long in this industry.
Posted: 10 years, 8 months ago
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Writer seeks information on trucking with pets
Lol totally bumping this thread. we need more trucking pet stories.
not sure if the image will upload but thats my boy. he is a 60lbs American Pitbull Terrier.