Comments By Brian W.

Well if they count holes you could put it in the 13th hole and then take a torch and cut the 1st hole each rail making it in the 12th hole.. But in reality since getting some sleep, slide the fifth wheel forward 1 notch.

I was taught in school that downshifting was not that important. The reason being that if you have to stop at a stop sign, there is no need to downshift. The key is knowing the rpms in relation to speed. Instead of coming off the highway onto an exit ramp and trying to downshift through the gears, just slow the truck down to the appropriate speed for the exit and clutch in the gear you need. Same goes for timing traffic lights, let off the fuel, apply brakes as needed, and when light turns, clutch in the gear you need. The less you shift, the fewer mistakes you can make. Especially if you miss a gear and coast for more than 7 seconds while testing out.

Brian, you have got yourself into a "pickle", and I'm not sure what to tell you. It was a huge blunder for you to have that medication on your truck with someone else's prescription - that is a huge no-no. I don't recommend that you try to alter the story, I think you will find that these trucking companies have little ways to uncover what really happened to get that information put on your DAC. You are just going to have to apply like crazy everywhere you can and hope and pray that someone will give you a break. But, seriously you need to stop and take a look at this false start. I'm not saying this was all your fault, but you got in a heated disagreement with a hotel owner, then you had someone else's medication with you - those are two things that you could have avoided if you had tried. You just learned a lesson the hard way, I hope you can rise above it and find some employment, but you are going to have to be diligent and persistent, and have a little good fortune thrown in there somewhere also. Keep knocking on that door, and hopefully you will find someone to open it for you, but when they do you have got to be extra careful about the way you conduct yourself, this career has very harsh consequences on those who don't take it seriously, and you made some classic blunders on your first go at it.

Really couldnt help the heated argument with the hotel owner as he just busted up in my room while I was "chatting" with my wife online, yelling at me that I needed to check out. I responded that I was there for an additional day and to get out of my room. I then went to the office to verify my reservation was for 2 nights and he said it was. I then told him that it was against the law to barge into someone's room without knocking. He replied that it was his hotel and he could do as he pleased. After some choice words back and forth, I went back to my room. But no drugs or alcohol nor any police. But rest assured, I will roll through Lexington, TN again and stop in to say hi. I still don't know why they allowed me to finish training with this report that I was drinking and smoking pot. FMCSA regulations stipulate that all safety-sensitive duties are to be immediately ceased if the is suspicion on drug or alcohol use.

Roll with it and bypass scales. You could try redistributing the load by hard braking to see if it would slide forward. If not, lowering the 5 wheel by disabling air-ride suspension may work.

Donald, just a heads up. You are talking about 6 grand with Roadmaster. I went to a community college and got it for less than a grand. Yes I went for 8 weeks instead of the roadmaster's 2 weeks, but I saved a load. Companies offer to reimburse you for tuition up to 7 grand or so, but they don't tell you it will be $100 bucks a month(that is at werner). Really don't think you want to wait that long to pay off your tuition.

Werner has a dedicated route in Florida with Home Depot.. Train over the road with them and you will be done in about 4 weeks. While training call driver placement and tell them you want to be on dedicated account. They usually have a waiting list but not more than 6 months.

I had a good trainer that told me just remember one thing. It is your license and it goes where you go, it does not stay at the company that screws you. Refuse to haul it and if they fire you for it, then you have some recourse available to you. But figure 8 pounds per gallon of water i believe.

How's everyone..I need a little advice and guidance from some veteran or seasoned truckers about applying for a new trucking job after being terminated. I will give ya the short version of the story. I trained at one of the big three student training companies for 10 weeks. My second week of training, I stayed in a hotel and had a disagreement with the owner and instructed my trainer that I would not stay there anymore and told him why. Trainer understood and put me up in another town on his home time. Well, this company does not allow you to go home during training or you forfeit the bonus they offer when you complete training. I developed an abscess on a tooth the week before my training ended. I rolled in to the terminal to start the testing out and in carried over the weekend. Ibuprophen was helping put I met my mom half way and she gave me some antibiotics. I placed out and they sent me to another terminal to shuttle some new trucks and then assign me my truck. I was assigned a truck and they told me to get moved in and I would be dispatched out the next day. I complied but I had a safety hold and safety searched my truck and found the antibiotics with my mom's name on it. The safety hold came from the a$$hat owner of the hotel who called in August 9th stating that I was smoking pot, drinking beer and he had to call the police on me. I laughed at the story and demanded a UA to prove I was clean. I explained my situation to the safety guy there and he told me that it was a big deal with having a pill bottle with someone's name on it, but more than likely I would just get a one time warning(because it was amoxicillin) as long as my UA was clean. Well, I was sent home to get go to the dentist so I could get some antibiotics in my name and I called back 2 days later to see if they got the results from my UA. Safety guru explained they were terminating me eventhough my UA was clean. Per safety guy, my Dac report is going to say,"terminated due to violation of company policy." I applied to 6 companies and trying to be truthful told them the whole story. None would consider me. My question is this, do I have to divulge the truth or can I alter it to something less incriminating violation like parking on an exit ramp. I have been told that previous employer can not give out specifics of the termination other than what is on the DAC. Also, wondering if I had any recourse since they waited 5 weeks and 3 terminal stays after the report to search my belongings(didnt have any thing on me then). Need some help guys, really enjoy be on the road and the freedom it brings.