Comments By Ryan B.

That drive through Wyoming where it looks something like the steppes of Central Asia is beautifully spectacular. Nonetheless, I wouldn't be upset if I never have need to drive through that state again. Like the world's largest wind tunnel existing for the sole purpose of being truckers' bane.

The run down through Wind River Canyon is stunning and a fun drive. So is 191 through jellystone. But yeah, most of Wyoming I hate. My terminal loves to send me with light loads through there multiple times per week. They have a hard time finding drivers who can and will safety navigate it.

My solution before was to park my truck in Dallas or Phoenix and just fly home for home time. It was still more cost effective than being shutdown for days at a time. So I'd just take all my home time in the south, keeping the truck from there. If the truck gets within 500 miles of Denver they will only route me through Wyoming, SD, UT and back for weeks on end.

The loads being in more revenue in the winter in WY because they're more difficult. The revenue makes no difference to me. Constant source of psychological warfare between me and the planners fought by proxy through the DMs.

Just curious. Is there a particular reason why moving further south isn't in the cards? Seems like it would make things easier on yourself.

Okay, let me start by saying I know I'm an idiot. I've really messed up my life and I need to know if there's anyway I can fix it through trucking. I had a marijuana problem mainly as a result of having to move 5 times as a child and from being bullied a fair amount which led to severe depression. I haven't worked in 6 years, although during 3 of those years I was pursuing an accounting degree (86 credits completed). I spent these last 3 years helping my parents move, smoking marijuana, and trying to figure out what to do with my life. I quit smoking marijuana 3 months ago. My question is this: If I work for 2 - 3 years what are my chances of getting into a driver training program and how much will 2 possession of marijuana and paraphernalia misdemeanors affect my chances (they are 7 years old at this point)? I regret being this foolish and want nothing more than to have a decent honest life. I appreciate any advice.

You mention how old the misdemeanors are, but from what date are you counting the years? Conviction date is what matters, not commission date.

Some more advice: the pre-trip is the examiner's first impression of you. Be sharp and know your stuff, that will help you get that "benefit of the doubt" on the rest of the test.

Thanks for the advice! I've definitely chilled out a little bit on the pre-trip as we've been practicing every weekend and I'm retaining it pretty well. My biggest fear at the moment is just leaving stuff out from the repetitive nature of it, though it was a relief to learn that if I forget a part, I can mention it later in the pre-trip and not be marked off. I am going to continue studying, and I have checked on Daniel's study guide and was pleasantly surprised it's very close to the one my school passed out.

Just another update

Just finished week 5 of 13. We've been driving the truck for... three weeks now? We spent the first two weeks doing the ELDT book work, then we took our test the morning of the third week and started on grinding gears (literally) bobtailing. I felt a little embarrassed that I struggled more than I anticipated. I've driven 10 speeds a fair amount on the farm but was taught to float gears. I'm sure it was a combination of both an abused transmission and having not driven a truck (10 wheeler) since 2019, but I suspect a large part was getting the double clutching coordination.

The straight back has been easy. The offset was slightly more of a struggle, but mostly just the learning the timing of when to chase/get under the trailer. I kept getting the tandems where I want them but tend to either chasing early or late. My last two were perfect though, so that's good. Unfortunately we only got 2 90s this weekend because adding the trailer/in-cap parts of the pre-trip ate up the lion-share of the morning and my group's instructor is an older gentleman and he needs to take breaks occasionally. I was pretty happy with my 2nd 90 I got on Sunday, though my instructor did have me GOAL multiple times to show me different things which helped my attempt be successful.

This last Sunday we took the truck with a trailer around town for the first time. It was not nearly as intimidating as I thought it would be. The little bit of semi driving I did on the farm was mostly all rural--so cars, stoplights, and merges seemed like a lot. Really about the only thing I was struggling with was getting it in the gear I wanted before the turn. I assume I need to slow down so I've already downshift to where I want to be? I'm going to ask this next Saturday.

Also noteworthy, two weeks ago we got a real dose of reality. We had bobtailed about 30 minutes from the school and switched drivers. As soon as the next guy got up to highway-speed, our instructor noticed the engine fan was blowing and asked what the water temp was an--as you've probably assumed--it was hot. We'd blown a hole in the line that runs from the engine to the heater core, which left us waiting on the side of the road for the tow truck. I'm only slightly surprised that it was towed to a mechanic instead of the school. It looked like a simple fix to me, but oh well, not my money.

Overall, I'm feeling pretty good about the course. I do see the disadvantage of weekend school and not getting the practice throughout the week, but the three of us in my group are all progressing well. This is probably the first week that I've noticed the 7 full days a week getting tiring, but luckily today is just a work day at the school, so I am getting a little reprieve!

Quick question: Do driving jobs require a resume? I've been looking at jobs, but not really in a position to apply but I can start working on resume/cover letter stuff it those are required in the industry.

Resumes are definitely not needed for driving jobs. Applications are submitted with your work history, accident/ticket history, residence history, and references. Any employer will verify this information, then decide whether or not to hire you. Don't worry about preparing a resume.

Was driving last night down the interstate in the right lane. Coming around a slight bend I saw multiple cars on the shoulder with flat tires. One vehicle was pretty much on the line of the shoulder and right lane. I had to get over.

There was semi in the lane next to me but had distance. No one else around really. He had room to jump over in the lane next to him. I signaled and started to shift over. He decide to speed up and start flashing brights.

He decides as he’s blowing past me to roll his window and chuck something out that smack my window dead on. Didn’t crack it which surprised me. Guy had good aim I’ll give him that. I’m thinking it wasn’t his first time doing such a thing. Seems like drivers are getting more and more aggressive out here as time goes on.

100% no camaraderie among drivers anymore.

There is a newish Rutters truck stop near Bedford, PA. Not too far from the Walmart DC.

I got here at 18:45 tonight and the place is nearly empty! I thought I was dreaming. Look at all this space!!!

Looks like it has been here for about a year, but I haven't been in this area recently. So not sure exactly when it opened.

Not sure how long it has been there, but it's a favorite of mine now when taking the PENNA Turnpike, especially since the Breezewood stops are looking worse and worse every day.

Going through company-sponsored training is certainly the best option because it ensures a job after obtaining your CDL. But, I know from personal experience that those training companies almost never hire people with felony convictions. Yes, there are exceptions, but those are most definitely the exception, not the rule. I went through the WIOA program within my state also. It's not going to be an easy road to get a job, but it is possible. Understand that a pre-hire letter really only means that the company is willing to CONSIDER bringing you in for orientation. It means nothing for the prospects of actual employment.

Try these companies:

Butler Transport

Witte Brothers

PAM Transport

TransAm

If you are not able to get three pre-hire letters, I promise you that the school is not going to turn you away. They don't get the money from the state unless they put your butt in a seat. I wasn't able to get the 3 pre-hire letters that the school said were needed. I got my butt in a seat with the state paying via WIOA. You tell your recruiter with the school that you have done your best, but you are not able to get 3 pre-hire letters. They will make those 2 letters work.

I've never heard of a company that pays actual odometer miles. They go by statute miles or zip miles and practical miles.

I get paid for every mile I turn, even if it's 20 extra miles to go around a mountain instead of taking the goat path over the top, or 46 miles to take the Tappan zee instead of the GWB, or if I miss an exit and have to drive 20 miles to the next exit and back.

For those reading who may not know, Turtle has a substantial amount of driving experience with a proven record. Jobs with all hub miles paid are not easy to find and certainly require a track record of being dependable and punctual. Drivers like Turtle are worth their weight in gold.

That drive through Wyoming where it looks something like the steppes of Central Asia is beautifully spectacular. Nonetheless, I wouldn't be upset if I never have need to drive through that state again. Like the world's largest wind tunnel existing for the sole purpose of being truckers' bane.

Hello fellow truckers. I apologize if this is the wrong forum for this question.

I work at a wet hose fueling company , I usually go to the rack and preload trucks with fuel so other drivers can go out and work. The company is now making me do the pre-trip before taking the truck to the rack which is 200 feet away from our yard. The thing is that I'm not driving these trucks for the rest of my shift, is it legal that I do someone elses pre-trip so the company saves time when the drivers , pretty sure I'll be liable in case I miss something important doing the pre-trip for another driver.

Thanks for your response.

The company can assign you the responsibility of pre-tripping equipment so that they can fix issues before a driver takes any equipment out on the road. However, the CDL holder actually driving the equipment on public roads is responsible for any issues that the equipment may have. How an individual company operates on their own property is up to that company. At the same time, they are not following the law, if they tell their drivers to log pre-trip on-duty time and to not perform pre-trip inspections.

In Ohio, PAM Transport and Dutch Maid Logistics are two companies that may be willing to work with the background issue. Fill out applications and then contact them via phone to follow up.