Profile For Zen Joker

Yikes!!

Anyone who's spent any amount of time viewing threads in this forum will see experienced drivers preach accountability ad nauseum. I have a real world example from my carrier to support exactly why so many of us that post in here preach being accountable if you mess up. The following information is based on weekly emails over the last 12 months that we get from safety summarizing DOT inspections and preventable accidents for a given weekly period:

DRIVER #1 - During blizzard conditions jackknifed and went off the road resulting in total loss to (older) tractor, trailer, and freight. EST LOSS = $87,000

DRIVER #2 - Took a round about too fast with scrap paper in the back and turned tractor and trailer on its side. Repair to tractor, total loss of trailer and freight..EST LOSS = $72,000

DRIVER #3 - Was driving around at one of our top customers with tandems all the way back and knocked down a sign on the customer's property and never reported it. Customer sent security footage to carrier of event. EST LOSS = $50

So......2 of the drivers above were adamant they made a mistake, were very humble and owned their mistakes. One did not and was immediately terminated. Can you guess which driver was terminated? That's right.. #3! Had a devil may care attitude and didn't think it was important after all it was "just a sign". Drivers 1 and 2 are employed at the carrier to this very day.

So to beat this virtue into every new drivers brain, OWN YOUR MISTAKES and when they happen be calm, accountable, and sincere. Most reputable carriers have zero tolerance for dishonesty, excuses, and big egos.

My motto is always, own your mistakes 100%, and give 50% of the credit for your success to those who support you at the carrier and of course at home.

Be safe everyone!

To echo what Davy said, look for the best training opportunity, the earnings come a little later. If you get good training you will develop good habits, which translates to not hitting things. You've been a Marine and in law enforcement so you need ZERO lecture on work ethic, accountability, and service to customers.

So get good training, see what they are paying after year 1 and then reevaluate options. Keep in mind there are always some drivers that make really good money at lower paying carriers. Conversely there are a LOT of drivers making little money at carriers that are known to pay well.

Performance, performance, performance. Don't hit anything, be on time for your appointments, own 100% of your mistakes, give 50% of the credit for your accomplishments to those who support you on the road and always be professional in your interactions with EVERYONE. Rinse and repeat..

Lastly thank you for serving our nation and your community.

Also, if/when you get a truck GPS be careful what you have the maximum speed set at in settings. I leave mine set pretty conservatively (set at 67 mph but my truck goes 70 mph) as a buffer against HOS violations.

In general however, don't get in the habit of blindly following the GPS for your time to destination OR directions in general. Your GPS is not your brain, the GPS is a very fallible but often useful tool.

Best of success on your trip!

Before getting into trucking I detoxed after years of chronic marijuana use. Prolonged use alters your brain. I've experienced this first hand. After being clean for 6 months, I could more clearly than I had in years. It was like my brain got 5 years younger.

I could NEVER see operating a CMV with the residual effects of THC in the system. It numbs everything. I fully support cannabis for medicinal use and also recreationally for people who have non OSHA regulated occupations and very few adult obligations. There is too much at stake with a 40 ton vehicle which can be tough to get out of hazardous situations even for a well rested and sober driver.

Alcohol wears off in a day. THC lingers perpetually to some extent for as long as you keep using it on any regular basis. For that reason, trying to justify the incorporation of cannabis in trucking in any capacity is more messed up than an X-rated cartoon. You're simply begging to for exponentially more destruction and tragedy on the road.

I've run into this numerous times at Pilot/Flying J and even some TA's. Best thing to do before you go there is to call ahead and confirm they actually enforce their reserved parking.

Another GREAT resource to add to your toolbox for affordable parking is the Truck Parking Club App. Sandman J turned me onto this and it's awesome!

Goes to show just because driving is one's profession does not make one a professional driver.

Tony from Chicago with his fancy boat and his buddy go up north to this river well known for walleye fishing. As night falls they burn down the river, get set up, and Tony starts beaming this insanely bright light into the river looking for schools of walleye near the sandbar.

Tony hears a local across the river yell "Hey man could you please kill the light?" Tony, replies "Not really buddy we came up here to fish walleye deal with it!" The local replies "We really don't appreciate you yuppies from the city bothering us-ins with your fancy boat, this is a quiet river!" Tony snaps back "Well, you and your us-ins can kiss my *** it's a public waterway." Tony's friend laughs as the local across the river says "Hey city slicker it sounds like you need an attitude adjustment! Why don't you get off at the shore and run a 1/2 mile down to the bridge and we'll settle this!"

Tony and his friend start laughing (Tony has a black belt in Jiu Jitsu) and shouts out "You got it hillbilly it's your funeral!" The local on the shore yells back "The name is Clarence NOT hillbilly!" Tony laughs back as he steps on the shore and yaps back "Whatever you say Clarence! You just made a HUGE mistake!!"

A few minutes go past as Tony's friend anxiously awaits his return from the bridge. Another minute passes and Tony looking scared as all get up and sweating, says "Let's get off this river!!" His friend asks "So what happened did you cripple this guy when you met him at the bridge!?!? Throw him over the side!?!? What happened!!?

Tony hits the throttle and goes down river looks back and says to his friend "Nothing happened back there! Clarence's name was on my side of the bridge in black letters!" His friend says "Yeah...and???". Tony snaps back "AND.....I can't choke out a guy that's thirteen and half feet tall!!"

More than likely you may need 6 months Class B with a clean record and a good letter of explanation to potential employers that SINCERELY address 3 things:

1) What happened (the plain truth)

2) That you have assumed FULL and COMPLETE responsibility for these events.

3) What you have done personal development wise to avoid any future adverse events.

Best of Success.

Blessings to you and your family Steve!!